Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-06-08

AEAcfWdfU N une rdNln rOOIn. xneir
eonversatien was limited to the sim
vlest commonplaces. The return Of the
men eased the tension. Percfyal ex-
e1sed himself almost at once to write
some letters, and a Mackenzie made
evident his eagerness to get Evelyn By
herself Mre. Robertson seized q
chance TO steal away TO her WI room.
For some time after her departure
one girl and the man we're silent. This
was the first time In Mares life that
his heart had been really touched BY
o woman. and 10 spite Of his years
and experience, he was almost as
hAshful a. 4 young bog.
AT length their ayes met, and the
s1Ti's lowered, while the color mount
Cd tn a food TO her hair.
The man was by her side In an In
slant. He had read in the shy, retreat
ing glance what he longed to see.
Evelyn! I-I-I-believe you care
for me. ! really believe you do" he
exclaimed. "You do, SWEET" he de-
manded, his voice trembling.
Eyes" whispered Evelyn.
~Now. isn't It strange" asked Mar
Gus. after they took up their converse
ton again, shat while l was gone I
always thought Of you, but not just
like this. Honey, girl. how long have
yOu loved met Before-before todayT'
II think always" confessed Evelyn,
with a growing flush.
What q fortunate man Marcus Mac
Kenzie considered himself Just at that
momeRti He had won the prettiest
girl In ithaca; and she loved him.
"And to think I only came home
last night" he exulted. "This time
yesterday you were free, my Eve. At
shis moment no power can take you
away from me"
Dreadful ~recollections of Oscar In
truded upon Evelyn's new happiness.
Oh, II she only had the courage to tell
MArcusi Would he keep on loving her
and help her to get free. or would he
She glanced into his face. There
were upon 1t the marks Of breeding.
Of pride In himself, his wealth, posi-
ton and power. She knew how highly
he regarded the conventions Of society.
II she should disclose to him the
secret of her marriage to the farmer,
he would see nothing but the blot upon
her and turn away In disgust. No, she
couldn't tell him. Despair over
whelmed her and made Mack nzie's
arms burdensome. With an effort she
smiled family and withdrew from him.
II don't want to let you 60, darling"
he laughed. ut seems like a beautiful
dream |"
Eve wished passionately that she
e at liberty TO make the dream
come true.
"You are my beloved" asserted Mar.
ems, and with the girls whispered
~yes," he allowed her to leave the
room.
Evelyn went Immediately to her
mothers apartment and. opening the
door, slipped in and sank down. upon
me floor at Mrs. Robertson's side.
1--we told him I'd marry him. she
said, with trembling lips. Mother
dear, oh, please. mother dear, don't
y0u think you could borrow some mon
,ey from Robert for mel I must have
L. After I'm married to Marcus, I
could get It all back for you. I know
I could. I've just got to have a lot
Of money, and you can't expect me to
ask Marcus"
Mrs. Robertson drew away with a
SILVER.
IF you so forgot yourself, your
family and your name al to do such a
thing, 7 should disown you, Evelyn"
ahe said, finality in her tones.
Evelyn rose YEARLY. She could
imagine the heights Of her mothers
scorn If she discovered the actual sit
nation. She felt that she would rather
tell Mackenzie than the unsympa-
fhetic, frowning woman in the chair.
There's no use, mother, in trying to
talk to you." she muttered. "T1l a
age some way, though only God knows
how"
Mrs. Robertson took up her book and
gazed sternly at her daughter over the
top Of IL.
"yery well, Evelyn" she said, un-
graciously. You're Of age. If that's
the way you feel about 1t, there's moth
ing more to be said"
Whereupon the speaker began TO
read, and a very hopeless girl crept
ont Of the room.
When Evelyn was repairing the raw
ages made by her emotions, Polly
Hopkins crept into the Robertson gar
den. Her fear of Mrs. Robertson was
mingled with a thrilling happiness.
She had seen Granny Hope and Wee
Jerry eat the fresh eggs; Daddy's
promise would keep him out Of trouble
with Old Marc; and the beautiful
stranger would help theml
She gave a piercing little trill, the
signal she had always used to call
Evelyn from the house. Almost at once
a figure stepped from the door to the
porch directly in front Of her, and ter
rifed, she shrank back among the
vines and chung there.
S%ilhouetted against the bright light
was Robert Percival He stood gazing
straight ahead Of him at the dark
driveway, but. turned when Evelyn ap-
peared beside him. Polly heard the
.murmur Of their voices, that was all.
They then disappeared into the house,
Evelyn la~ughingly pushing the soldier
ahead Of her. Quickly the girl came
out again; and Polly could hear her
s~wfft-Soming breaths as she ran softly