Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-11
CHAPTER XII.

1t was late morning before ! awoke
some one was tapping OH my door. /
Jumped out Of bed and turned the key.
The maid stood there with my break.
fast.
"It's 10 o'clock. ma'am." she said
as she saw my surprise.
laughed vexedly.
"Why didn't you call me sooner?"
The girl looked apologetic.
"Miss Elsa said you had headache. -.
ma am; she told me to let you Sleep
Where is Miss Elsa?" I asked. But
knew. before the girl answered. that
she had gone out driving with Richard.
dressed and went downstairs. Fran.
cis crossed the hall; he stopped and
looked at me with that insolent smile
that always made me long to strike
him.
"You were tired this morning." he
sud.
"Yes. my head ached."
He followed me into the morning.
room and closed the door.
The result Of midnight Issisna.
tions," he said. "You should re more
careful when you want to play Romeo
and Juliet, my dear"
turned slowly and looked at him.
"a bedroom window In the frcnt Of
tile UOuSc ID q SuAeoOA0 opSSp =
should have thought" he went on. ~
!. happened ! .1Psl tS be coming back from the
...At midnight" I asked.
"yerS 'S aSS"sei we'll. then; was watching
you, if you prefer to put 1t that way,
he said brutally. II saw the little
tableau."
"Then you know how harmless it
was?" l interrupted. Mr.. Tempest
did not even see me- =.
"Oh, no; Tempest is blind, of
course" he sneered. He lost control
of himself and caught my arms In a
grip that bruised my flesh.
you're my wife," he said. II know
you hate the sight of me, but you're
my wife. If catch you looking at that
fellow again rs you did last night
He stopped, drawing his breath hard.
met his gaze without faltering.
What did l care what he said or did?
Francis let me 60 so violently that
l nearly fell.
"i'll make it impossible for you to
play any more balcony SCENES he told
me. his voice shaking with passion.
"I'll put an end to midnight meetings
and sentimental sighing.'
ne Walheu W lhe uoo' ~Ae ~Ns ~
wide.
"Francis." called in terror.
"Where are you going?'
He stopped and looked back at me.
~ am going to ask Mr.. Richard
Tempest what his intentions are to-
ward Elsa" he said
The door banged between us.
The day following was Elsa's birth
/ had no heart for the long. plan.
ned festivities. felt as II l were liv.
Ing on the edge of mine. Francis, in
his sulen jealousy. was terror to me.
What might he not say or do!
went about the house to see to the
final arranging and experimenting,
and then went back to my own room,
and began to write these memories.
Elsa and Richard Tempest came back
from their drive in the midst OF it all,
and | had to leave my work and 50
downstairs.
Elsa looked radiant and happy. She
told me that they had driven to Oxhey,
and walked through the woods. no.
ticed that there was a pink rose IN
Richards coat, and that Elsa wore
some In the belt of her frock.
What a tragic situation IT was.
did not know Wnctner euhvtco ho's
from jealousy of her or. shame FOL
myself as ! saw my daughters bright
young face, and the timid ances she
cast at Richard.
When she went upstairs to take OF
her hat he followed me into the garden
Gay strings of flags huns above the
gate and up the winding drive: rows OF
fairy lamps outlined the flower beds anc
were tied to the trees.
1--WE snail have a frne day. think
I said, as we walked down the lawn
''It seems impossible that ! have
daughter SO DID,
Yes" he said absently.
He was looking about him interest
edly. This was your home when yor
were a CIR 2" he asked.
! nodded,
YES. My mother died here--she wa
thrown from her horse In the hunting
field. saw her lying dead on thu
table In the dining room. Oh: wha
years and years ago 1t all seems!"
"It IL q beautiful old place."
| CONTINUED MONDAY