Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-26

1 looked at her companion and shook
her head.
| ''Mr. Tallente," she said, II am
very much woman Of the world and
Jane Is q very much stronger person
that an, in some things. and q great
baby In others. You and she were such
friends, and I have an idea that there
was a Misunderstanding"
There was," he sroaned. 1T was
Never mind whose fault IL was,"
each other. You have 80 much in com.
mon. Don't drift apart altogether just
because one has expected too much or
the other been content to give too lit
tie. Jane has a great soul and a
great heart. She wants to give but she
doesn't quite know how. And perhaps
there isn't any way. But two people
whose lives seem to radiate toward each
other, as yours and hers, shouldn't re-
main wholly apart. Take day or two's
holiday soon, even from this great
work of yours. and 20 down to Devon
shire. It would be very dangerous ad.
ferent sort of man, but have a fancy
that to you. It may mean something,
and ! happen to know--that Jane 10
miserable"
The car stopped. Tallente held Lady
Alice's hand as he had seldom held
the hand of a woman in his life. A
curious incapacity for speech checked
the words even upon his lips.
THANK you," he faltered.
Upon the moor above Martinhoe and
the farm lands adjoining, spring had
fallen that year as gently as the warm
rain Of April. Tallente, conscious OF
an unexpected lassitude, paused as he
reached the top Of the zigzag climb from
the manor and rested for moment
upon block Of stone. Below him the
forests Of dwarf oaks which stretched
down to the sea were tipped with deli
cate green. The meadows were like
deep, soft patches of emerald .verdure |;
the fruit trees in his small walled gar
den were pink and white with BIOS
azure lake into which the hulls Of the
| passing steamers cut like knives, leav.
| ing behind long line of lazy foam. Lit.
tie feecy balls of clouds were dotted
across the sky, puffs Of soft wind
cooled his cheeks when he rose to his
feet and faced inland.
Soon he left the stony road and
walked upon the springy turf border.
ing the moorland. Little curled up
shoots of light green were springing
from the bracken. Here and there a
flame of gorse filled the air with its
faint, almondlike blossom. And the
birds! Farmlands stretched away on
his left-hand side, and above the ten.
der growth Of corn, larks invisible but
multifarious filled the air with little
quiverings Of melody. Bleating lambs,
ridiculously young, tottered around on
this new-found, wonderful earth. A
pair of partridges scurried away from
his feet; the end Of drooping cloud
splashed his face with a few warm
raindrops.
Tallente, as he swung onward, car.
rying his cap in his hand, felt a great
glow of thankfulness for the impulse
which had brought him here. Already
he was finding himself. The tangled
emotions of the last week were loos:
ening their grip upon his brain and
consciousness. Behind him London
was in an uproar, his name and future
the theme Of every journal. Journal
lists were besieging his rooms. EN-
bryo statesmen were telephoning for
appointments. Great men sent their
secretaries to suggest a meeting. And
in the midst of 1t all he had disap-
peared. The truth as to his sudden
absence from town was unknown even
to Dartrey. At the very moment when
his figure loomed large and triumphant
upon one of the great canvases in his
tory he had simply slipped away, a dis
appearance as dramatic as it was op.
perfume. And all because he had a
fancy to see how spring sat upon the
moors--and because he had walked back
to his rooms by way of Charles street
and because he had met Lady Alice.
The last ascent was finished and be-
low him lay the house and climbing
woods-woods that crept into the bosom
tipped with tender green's melting into
the softest of indetermnate grays as
the breeze rippled through their tops
like fingers across a harp. The darker
line of mOorland in the background,
scant as ever of herbiage, had yet lost
its menacing baroness and seemed
touched with the faint color Of the earth
beneath, almost pink in the generous
sunshine. The avenue into which he
presently turned was starred on either
side with a riot Of primroses, running
wild into the brambles, with here and
there belt Of b!uebells.
The atmosphere beneath the closely
growing trees-limes, with great waxy
buds-became enervating with spring
odors and n momentary breathlessness
came to Tallente, fresh from his
crowded days and nights of battle. The
sun warmed wave Of perfume from the
trim beds of hyacinths In the suddenly
disclosed garden was almost over
powering and he passed like a man in
front door. The butler who admitted
him conducted him at once to James
eanctum. Without any warning he was
ushered in.
"NIr. Tallente, your ladyship."
He had strange impression Of her
as she rose from q very sea of news
papers. She was thinner-he was sure
of that-dressed in indoor clothes, al
though It was the middle of the morn
ing, suggestion of the invalid about
her easy chair and her tired eyes. II
seemed to him that for a moment they
were lit with gleam Of fear which
passed almost instantaneously. She hat
recovered herself even before the dool
was closed behind the departing servant
"NIr. Tailentev' she repeated. "You
but how is this possible?"
Everything Is possible" he an
swered. II have come to zee you
Jane
She was glad but amazed. Even wher
he had obeyed her involuntary gesture
and seated himself by her side, ther
was something incredulous about he1
expression.
"But what does it mean that you art
here lust now?' she persisted. "Ac'
cording to the newspapers you shoult
be at Buckingham Palace today"
Tomorrow he corrected her. 90
hired very powerful car and motore'
down yesterday afternoon. am start