Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-21
4 CHAPTER xxxH
.,vs = Co,,ld only Die!"

y. ~. Iilith either; she had just
" "a bed and lain there in the
-. = shivering with excitement and
.s.nsion, trying to see into the fu :
~. and find some penetrating hsnt III
sttsrs sblackness. ,,
\. Ia went away with Wharton
. ,vould marry I.ilith; she stuck to
~. thought with dogged obstinacy
!. =. went away perhaps John would
: little sorry; perhaps thcn he
ssM remember that she had once
M him. - .
~.ethins to talk about; she laughed
. y. thought; she knew so well what
4. would say--that It was all one
a .rpect from DanserAeld; look
n. way she had been brought up,
~. ~! Look at her father and
.s.it was only a wonder she had
~ lane something much worse!
~ Ashford would be sorry per.
.he hod been such kind friend.
Ashford would try to defend her
l.d Is now John was going to London |;
hssrt had seemed to stand still
~. she heard that message; 1t seemed
W Fste was hurrying til hings on
.si.s her on to a precipitate .end |;
IN john away there would be nothing
Y s.sn her from making her plans for
~ fufire.
p..hsns she would never see him
IA nsrhaps these "few minutes for
3iA he had asked would be the las.
M he and she would ever speak to.
ssSsr she crossed the room and opened
~ door.
yiith never came downstairs till the
slsie world had aired itself ready for
- reception; Molly averted her eyes
= Ia passed the door of the room
Hsrden stood in the hall he wore
n travelling coat and a packed suit
- stood near him: he came forward.
a. stopped on the last stair; her
Ma tightened its hold of the balus.
aYou are going to London?" she
Her voice was Indifferent; it would
/ hye been impossible to guess from 1t
1 m her heart was racing.
"Yes; can you spare me few mo.
rents? I won't keep you long,
Vhe followed him into the library.
After moment, az he did not speak, +,
Ae asked question:
''Shall you be away lOng?'
-, ,oiov n TnnICn I shall Sto "
here q few days. You can tell every
soe that / am away on business. At the
nd Of the week l shall write to you
Ast I have been called abroad
America, anywhere---what does 1t mat
hr!--and then-----'
Molly turned her face to him; she
ws very white, and her lips felt stiff
" she tried to speak.
"You mean--yOu mean that you are
not coming back?" she asked.
He made gesture OF impatience. .
III you like to put it that way, yes
How con SO on staying here as things
sse-the situation Is impossible, and
you know it as well as / do. For the
hst two months I've just dragged OIL
from day to day, hoping that some
thing will happen tO--to change things.
o. might as well hope for miracle,
\ would be miracle now, I suppose.
And % I'm going away; you are free
~ DO AZ you like; you can stay here
e I'VE where you choose; you can have
eny money you want; you will not find
that shall be mean, anyway
'And-and Mrs. Fernald?" Molly
laked in shivering whisper.
She is here by your invitation" he
answered. "You cannot blame me for
having brought her to the house. II
was not my wish; it's been terrible to
have to sit by and see you two to.
gether. II, you wanted to hurt me past
sndurance. it may give you u little sat
htacti0n to know that you've done it BY
bsinying Mrs. Fernald here His
voice was rough; when he stopped
!psaking she could hear his heavy
hsathing.
J 10 waited a moment.
u shall have to 20 to catch nv
t]ah," he said more quietly. If there
Y anything you want to say to me,
!aan be only too pleased to do anything
fo Iou at any time"
4 There Is nothing-thank YOU"
i was IN effort to answer; her lips
bat 50 II they were cut in Ice.
Then l will suy gO0d-by!" II,
cane toward her, bur she did not raise
be- eyes.
He held out his hand.
AT least let US part friends, Molly" !"
M said with touch of humor in his
sseiee. "You rather liked me once, you
She felt as IL she must scream, but
tne stood with her hands clasped be.
and her back, not daring to even raise
her eyes;
'Tood.by!" she said.
She could not trust herself to touch
lie was moving now--now he had
reached the door: she heard his fingers
% the handle-a second--he turned.
81 am not taking Wharton" he said.
one looked up and her white face
!fsw crimson from brow to chin. Not
!Mxlng !! Wharton. Why had he said
Mat' What did he mean? Could it be
That be knew!
ue nalf smiled, meeting her eyes.
nave told him he is to join me
.sssl, .p he said in the same quiet voice.
Dat somehow I think we both know
Molly" ~
Ahd he had really gone. The door
u, rs smut between them; 1t was all over,
.h MOLLY moved across to the window;
,.s ,~,.s stood there clutching ut the heavy
'sI%'hS she felt as If she would fall.
aae whole world seemed to have
sstUppea hying; over and over again
RIl.Ntn ~.
to her. 'A' "o'u' ne hau s"'u
and us been terrible to have to sit by
w.n, zee you two together; II you
m.a 'ea 10 hurt me past endurance, It
Iy InHyu, give you n little satisfaction to
N" mat mat you've done it by bringing
told h.n man admitted it at last he had