Evening star., 1922-03-26

suggested Ford Harry at meals
three times day and on deck all the
rest Of the day becomes monoto-
nous. On a closer acquaintance with
Harry, he seems to be a decent sort
Of young man; at least. he seems to
have been at one time very much in
love with her"
WELL" sighed the doctor senti-
mentally, "she is certainly very much
in love with Harry"
Ford shook his head nome ,nsmi.
tingly Il don't know her story" he
said. Don't want to know it,"
The ship was in the channel on her
way to Cherbourg, running as
smoothly as clock From the shore
friendly lights told them they were
nearing their journeys end, that the
land was on every side. Seated on
steamer chair next to his in the SEMI
darkness Of the deck, Mrs. Ashton
began to talk nervously and eagerly.
"Now that we are so near" she
murmured, 1T have got to tell you
something. If you did not know
would feel had not been fair"
"You mean," said the amateur de-
tective. that your husband has de-
serted you; that If it were not for the
baby you would not try to find him.
Is that it,"
"Yes," she whispered. that is it."
There was long pause. When she
faced him again the fact that there
was no longer a secret between them
seemed to give her courage.
Maybe" she said. you can under
stand: maybe you can tell me what it
means. 1 have gone over it and over
it until when go back to it my head
aches. L can't find any excuse. I
have no one to talk to. no one could
tell. I thought maybe a man could
understand" She raised her eyes
appealingly. eff you can only make
ii seem less cruel! Don't you see,"
she cried miserably. Il want to be-
heve; l want to forgive him? 1 want
to think he loves me. Oh, want so
to be able to love him. but how can I?
can't! can't!"
TN the week in which they had been
II thrown together the girl uncon-
sctousiy had told Ford much about
herself' and her husband. What she
now told him was but an amplifca-
tkon Of what he had guessed.
She had met Ashton a year and
half before, when she had just left
school at the convent and had re-
turned to live with her family. Her
home WAS at Far Rockaway. Her
father was a cashier in a bank at
Long Island City. One night, with a
party Of friends. she had been taken
to a dance at one of the beach hotels.
and there met Ashton. At that time
he was one Of a firm that was max
ing book at the Aqueduct race track.
The girl had met very few men and
with theAa she was shy and fright
ened. but with Ashton she found her
self at once at ease. That night he
drove her and her friends home in
his touring car and the next day they
teased her about her conquest. It
made her very happy. After that she
went to hops at the hotel, and as the
bookmaker did not dance, the two
young people sat upon the piazza.
Then Ashton came to see her at her
own house. but when her father
learned that the young man who had
been calling upon her was book
maker he told him, he could not asso-
ciate with his daughter.
But the girl was now deeply in love
with Ashton. and apparently he with
her. He begged her to marry him.
They agreed that In August, when
the racing moved to Saratoga, they
would run, away and get married at
that place. Their plan was that Ash
ton would leave for Saratoga with the
other rasing men. and that she would
Join him the next day.
They had arranged to be married
BY q magistrate. and Ashton had
shown her q letter from one at Sara
toea who consented to perform the
osreuony. He had given her an en-
sAgement ring and two thousand dol
lara which he asked her to keep for
him. Lest tempted at the track he
shouiA lose It.
But saae sssurs4 Ford It was not
(such materiAi things ~ . latter. a
E..-- - = eefFs ~ mar, a,y that had 1aa