Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-02

and-and-Farmer as you are now with
me and Meta. Why, when I frst met
you. you were just as scared Of me-"
THAT isn't true" said Elizabeth,
"and you know It isn't. I was never
scared Of you, not even from the first
minute. There was something about
you" She stopped, realizing the
hopelessness Of her position. How
could she explain herself to him, and
what was there possible Of explana.
That she loved him, that was all.
An explanation so simple and yet one
which could never be made.
~ suppose you're right" she said
at It that way, but--but thought
somehow you would come and see me
sometimes-or that-that I could come
and an gee you; however. IL you don't want
Whether ! want to or not is be.
side the point" he said gently. "With
Nine. Senestis you will meet people
who-to put 1t plainly--will look down
on me. In the ordinary course Of
events Farmer and I do not speak.
The other night was an exception,
because he wished to be introduced
to you. From his point Of view, he
Is right; he's rich man and gets
about in places where ! should only
be found II some one wanted to learn
new two: step: It's no use, my
the distress in her face, ''if We live in
as 1t is. and you'll soon realize that
I am right. You must 60 with the
tide; It's no use trying to swim
against It II you want to be success.
full. II I'd been a rich man, as I al.
ways imagined should be, things
might have been different, but then
l should never have met you, 50, after
all, there are cOmpensations, you see,"
he submitted whimsically.
Elizabeth did not smile; she sat
with her hands clasped tightly in her
lap, her cheeks very flushed, and her
eyes downbent.
When: quite suddenly. she raised
them, there was a spark. Of fire In
their grayness.
"And supposlng I prefer to choose
my own friends?" she asked slowly.
Royston's face seemed to take color
from hers; he could read her thoughts
10 well, understand so exactly, and
though he might easily have taken ad-
vantage of her youth and ignorance,
there was nothing but the keenest desire
IN his heart to protect her from herself
and make things as easy as possible for
her.
"If it is of me you are so kinoy
thinking" he said gently, there is
something else I must say which
would rather not have said. it is
just this, and I hope you will forgive
me, and--and not be offended. l am
a married man, Miss Conyers. and YOU
world does not look very favorably
upon friendships between a girl like
you and man in my POSITION"
And In the silence that followed,
Elizabeth wondered II he could hear
the heavy beating Of her heart be.
fore she said. almost in whisper
"Netta-Netta said 1t was only peo.
pie In the country who-who were
shocked at things like that"
Meta talks q great deal OF non
sense" Royston said in a hard voice.
but his eyes were wistful rs they
searched Elizabeth's flushed face, and
bitterest envy filled his heart.
She was 50 young and untried, with
teeth as he looked back on the act
OF folly that had ruined his life.
He had met Enid SANGER toward
the end Of a short leave from France
he had been lonely, and at q loose
end, and she had pretended to care
for him. They had drifted from
mild Irritation into a foolish marriage,
as many another couple had done dur
Ing the disastrous years of the war,
and in less than twenty. -four hours,
Royston's eyes had been opened to his
irretrievable folly.
80 It's Good. by for q Little While"
She had married him for tho money
which she had believed would come to |
him at his fathers death, and It had |
not come!
Royston WINGED as he thought of |
the vulgar abuse and recriminations |
that had followed. and Of the intoler- |
able bondage which bound him hand |
and foot.
With a strong effort he turned again
to Elizabeth.
Were letting dinner spoil while |
we discuss the morals of the world"
he said dryly, and Elizabeth smiled !
family.
She had failed in her desire to keep |
this mans friendship, she knew, and |
II seemed to matter nothing at all II |
she failed in everything else as we'll.
She made poor pretense of eat
ing, and left her wine untouched. She |
was glad when the meal was ended,
and yet her heart was sick at the |
thought of the parting to come.
She looked at Royston with eyes
that were heavy with unshed tears.
He was grave and little pale, but
he smiled when he met her glance.
~ think we ought to be going" he
said.
Yes" She began dragging on her
gloves with nerveless fingers. She felt
as If she was walking in Il dream when
presently she followed him out into the
street.
1t was cool, starry night, and
there were not many people about.
Shall we walk or find taxi?"
lfoyston asked.
II would rather walk"
She tried hard to think of some.
hing to say with which to break the
silence following. but her brain felt
stupid and woolly. Royston made one
'r two desultory attempts at conver.
sutton, but he seemed to find 1t as
lificult as she did, and 1t was only
when they were but few steps from
Mrs. Silcum's that Elizabcth's misery
'ound vent in one last appeal.
MIR. Royston, what's TO become of
ne II I'm not a success after all?"
She would have given half her life
10 have heard him answer unhesitat-
ingly: why, you will come back to
me, OF course" But he only said,
IN an obstinate voice: "You will not
fail"
She gave it up then. and neither of
house.
All its windows were In darkness,
and the street waa deserted. thay mi0ht |