The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-05

ply. II was so good to hear him
say that. For a moment she was
weak and told herself, perhaps
he's speaking the truth after all.
It's natural enough. II a young and
pretty girl falls into the arms Of q
man, and II they've been familiar
and Raging together. as they do
nowadays, well, OF course, they kiss;
it's part of the rag. Why shouldn't
they, bless EN-? Why should
l be such a fool as to smash up my
own happiness when I'm not sure?
Would he protest SO much unless
he cared for met"
Mrs. Caldecot's destiny might
have been changed II Rodbourne
had not perceived his slight advan.
tage and tried to press 1t. Il love
you," he said. you are the only
woman In the world for me, for
ever"
His protest broke the little thread
that was spinning between them to
bind them once more. For everT
How could she bind him for ever?
She still haG some youth and much
beauty, but was she holding himf
How would she hold him when those
things were gone? In a sort OF
despair she decided to test him.
Bob, IL I said to you now, we
love each other; we know each
other very well; we know just what
we can give each other; we've been
very much to each other and we
b. still are; we know that we can to-
gether pass the rest OF our lives.
Well, let's drop this secrecy. Let's
have done with all this hiding. Lets
go abroad, you and I, and live to-
gether happily the rest of our days.
For a moment Rodbourne did not
reply. Then, "Well-all right. II
you'd like to. I'd love to. you know
that. Only it's so difficult just now.
We've got to remember that I'm in
Parliament and that I'm committed
to-
For the first time Mrs. Caldecot
laughed. He loved her laugh. that
was high and clear, but today a
note of agony rang through It and
hurt him. She must have felt that.
for she stopped. Don't be angry
at my laughing. Oh, my dear, my
dear, I know all about that; I
know I'd make you happy In a way.
and you know 1t, too. And still,
you haven't said yes While
eight years ago, don't you remem-
Der that for three months. every
day, had to fight you to prevent
you resigning your seat? To pre-
vent you from packing me up in q
crate, as you used to say. and
shipping me to Italy. Don't you re-
member that you didn't get me I'M
til you promised that you wouldn't
smash everything up?"
II don't see what that's got to
do
ooh, yes. you do. It was ] who
kept you in Parliament; 1t was ]
who compelled you to keep things
quiet, and you were kicking and
chatting against 1t. In those days,
my dearest, you wanted only me.
You didn't want fame, or a career,
or anything. You we're mad. You
wanted only me-"
Rodbourne did not reply at once.
His eyes were tender as he remem-
bered those days of mad music and
strong wine. II seemed so hong
ago, and he felt small before this
lovely. beloved woman, by circum-
stances transformed into his &C.
cuser.
You make me ashamed" he
said.
Don't say that, my dearest, I
can't bear it. After all, what is Il
that I've always wanted for you?
That you should be free, and proud,
and strong. Oh, I'm not lecturing
you, but you know I don't want
those silly little things that people
call proper pride and decency to
come between us. and that sort of
nonsense"
oh. well. I suppose I've done
wrong" he replied in a tired voice.