Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-03
n e WILL NEVER DIE
By JOHN HUNTER

four hours. Aunt Ella rose and camc
across to meet Harkress on his entry,
and he could read In her face that,
whatever Constance Brent might think
Of him, this simple old lady approved
Of him unreservedly.
t. y t eli hqs: ". h .s,. Tass: omsn t-e w,s child
old enough to Be- his mother, and tho
girl who clung toe his arm, believed in
him. trusted him. They should not let
him see how strong was their faith
In him. Was he not Jim Harkness7
They should know something Of him.
Surely his reputation was sufficiently
bruited in clubland for It to have
penetrated, even II slightly, to this
Sissw:ts, Siisswsssi, OF ono OF Ens''nd'' great
But they did not know, and Hark.
ness realised something Of the task
In front Of him as he forced himself
to recognise the fact.
II am sorry my sister is not here"
said Aunt Ella, ss her hand rested
momentarily in Harkness' fingers. "But
she will not be late, II you are in no
hurry to get away. She Is dining with
Lord Conninston. She and he are
Harkness noticed the slight hesita ton,
and wondered at It. Also he wondered
at the friendship which existed between
Lord Connington, the man Of spotless
reputation and worldwide fame, and
Constance Brent, whom people Of Con-
| nington's acquaintance must regard a.
an adventures. He concluded there
must be something behind It Of which
Audrey was ignorant, but about which
Aunt Ella was fully informed.
Audrey seated herself at tho plano,
and sang q short, wistfYl song. She
sweet and clear, and the melody haunt.
ed Harkness for many . day after.
He sat back in his chair, and looked
out through the window on the gray.
soft countryside, and found himself
had missed.
A. Audrey ceased playing Aunt Ella
hop: you ss people, p!,, will L. Excuse Sv :s,.a m.
she added: II always 20 to bed very
early, but please don't. allow that to
influence you II you wish to stay. I
am sure my sister will be glad to see
you"
HARNESS got to his feet. He rc.
fected that with the people he knew
this would have been Unprecedented
behavior. Aunt Ella would never have
left himself and Audrey alone in this
way. It brought home to him more
and more tho simplicity OF the folk
with whom he was dealing.
Aunt Ella kissed Audrey good might,
and they heard her slow footsteps As.
cending the stairs.
Now tho two were alone, and Hark.
ness knew that his hour Of greatest trial
had come.
Audrey turned round on the piano
stool and faced him.
II won't play any more" she said.
II want you to talk to me-"
Hardness eyed her steadily. His
voice was curiously strained as he
answered her.
"wi!l you come over and sit near
me" me; h. he ;! said. "1-want to talk to
Audrey came, and as che passed him
her fingers lightly touched bis hair.
She sat down facing him. Hardness
gathered his words. He hardly knew
how to begin.
Audrey" he said quietly. And am
afraid that what I am going to say will
hurt you more than at one time I
imagined It could"
Audrey's face whitened. In her
disaster threatening her.
"Yes, Jim," she murmured.
Harkness took a deep breath. Even
then he was tempted to evade tho
innate strength, which had brought him
to prominence even in his wildness.
drove him unfalteringly on.
thought you were a nice, pretty girl,
and I wanted to have your company
understand. UNI m He stumbled, and flushed
beneath his bronze.
Audrey's eyes were wide open. and
all they expressed was a great surprise.
on Mdnt. hit 'csRGed caRse then rSels S's"esEsd wsi
the music and the sunshine. 1t all
affected me. have been thinking about
1t, and"
He could not say. It. He realized 1t.
With the eyes Of the girl burning into
his he could not control his thoughts
or his words. His determination was
still strong, but his sell: control had
weakened woefully. Yet he had said
almost enough.
Audrey shrank within herself, as
thongh he had struck her.
"Jim!" It was almost a moan.
ooh, jim! You don't-love me?"
Harkness for the first time in his
life. found himself unable to meet
auother persons gaze. He bent his
head. and there was an interval Of
Audrey stood up. He was aware
that she was shaking like a leaf
that her lips were working pitifully.
"You cannot mean it, Jim" She
was painting, dry eyed, with breast
hcaving tumultuously. You cannot.
Il don't don't believe you could possibly be
She stepped toward him.
Jim! Look at me! Don't you
realize that you have kissed me? Have
you forgotten what you said just now?
Can you tell tell m me 1t was a lie from
She stopped speaking abruptly, and
He could not drive the blow right
home. He must temper It, must lessen
its force. II that were possible. even
while he still adhered to his decision:
II thought I meant It," He would
never have recognized his own voice In
the hoarse accents which fell on His
ears. II thought l did. Honestly.
Audrey. Butt have learnt that !
didn't. And-after oil, YOU would
"The truth Audrey echoed the
meaning. Hardness could sec in her
a struggle between a pride which bade
her tell him to 60. which endeavored
to force her to appear indifferent to
what he had said. and her love for
him which drove her 10 fight, which
urged her to cling desperately to any
chance to hold him.