The Washington times., 1922-04-09

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transitory hass, then a steadfass
cloud. then black, all-enveloping fog.
Stephen Britford did not yet
know where his passion was taking
him; he did not realize that in his
extremity nothing would save him
n an opportunity came; neither his
manners nor his habits, nor the
law itself, IL the chance came. He
would be capable of all crime, of all
the red outrage, OF all the Shiny
tricks which for half lifetime had
appeared before his eyes merely as
interesting cases, affecting vague
people; cases that were reported IN
the newspapers as true, but had the
quality of fiction.
"Oh, damn said Britford aloud.
Whats the good?" He rang his
bell decisiveIy. The clerk came in.
They discussed a case and Britford
decided to suggest settlement out
of court. He thought, "Her ears
curl back little" One might pull
one forward, just little, and lodge
ones lips as In a nest In that per
fumed, rosy place. that was warm
and sheltered.
stephen Britford a year before
would have been incredulous II any
one had prophesied to him to what
extremities his passion would take
him. II was with a sort OF skeptl-
cal self-content that he found him.
self now rejoicing in traces Of her
II he could not obtain more; In
few cool, affectionate letters she
had written him, accepting an in.
vitation or condoling on a cold; in
a mediocre photograph Of her, ten
years old and unequal to Der pres
ent beauty.
This was sentimental and exquis.
lite, and though sometimes he was
tempted to destroy these poor
tokens of a hopeless desire, he
could not. They furnished him with
q noxious self-indulgence; when he
examined them II was with sense
Of secrecy, of succumbing to vice.
He was to sink further into degra-
dation; see his middle-aged dignity
rival the follies OF adolescence. All
that was hers being invested with
charm, he found himself once or
twice going out Of his way 10 pass
her house, TO look up and notice
that the geraniums and marguerites
were willing In the heat, TO glance
quickly down her area and see her
servants having tea. All the feeble
sstisfactions of the aspiring lover
were his at fifty. He did not know
how pitifui he was.
One night, at the end Of July, he
had dihed quite close, in Lowndes
Square. II had been dull, dull; he
suspected that already the wine was
disagreeing with him. Having left
at eleven o'clock, he pictured him
self returning 10 his lonely rooms !;
a depression rose swiftly In him,
epveloping him entirely. He hesi-
tated q moment In the square. He
wanted to be strong and free, bat
be felt so alone and so suddenly
old, so dependent, so much In need
OF a word, the touch that comforts,
that In spite Of the hour he won
defed whether Mrs. Caldecot would
be In. Just to see her for a mo-
ment, to hold her hand and say
gcod-by. to 80 away again, despair
Ing and hopeful, but somehow IN
vigorsted.
He thought, its eleven o'clock.
Don't be absurd. She'll be out or
in bed" Also he despised himself
as he decided that he'd go straight
to Hyde Park Corner and find q taxi
then turned north. After all, II
wasn't much out Of his way. He
went up Seville street on the side
OF the road opposite Mrs. Caldecot's 3
house. He walked fast, as II con.
vincing himself that this was really
q short cut. OF course, he couldn't
do anything. He'd Just 60 past and
look up at her window without stop
ping. But as he reached the front.
age he knew so we'll he walked
slower. He stopped.
Now, indeed, the temptation was
terrible. for lights shone in the