Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-17

|
be useful And your fathsrI Don't
you. think he might find pride in his
SOM I am sure he would. II I ever
had a son I should think more of him |
than I would Of any money"
You don't know my father" II |
was the first time Hardness had even
attempted to defend himself.
Perhaps you don't know him your.
SELF .countered Audrey swiftly.
Hardness groped for the mantclshelf.
ne took another cigarette from the
he threw IL away.
Audrey put out her hand az though
to touch his arm, but drew back In
time. She was treading on more dan.
gerous ground than she knew.
will you try?" she murmured.
will you tell Lois everythingw
II repeat that It Is none Of your
business Harkness' voice was low
Audrey % famed: 1T shall max. IT my
business. I shall see Lois myself. You
have no right She fumbled with
her words and her face became crimson.
body, and-and all kinds of things, as
only you can say them-hard things,
hurtful. But I shall 60 to her just the
same" The anger died from her voice.
Don't make me do this. After all--
perhaps 1t is interfering. But I could
not bear to think that you-that she
should be unhappy like am. 1t would
be cruel to allow It, knowing what
do
A knock sounded on the door and
Hardness reused himself. Excuse
me-" he said, and called. Come in I"
| His man entered. "A telegram. SIR"
Hardness ripped open the envelope.
psr thsn uss s in'HRse erunp.a fsss ss
telegram and pushed It into his pocket.
ITS It bad news?" Audrey's anxiety
was patent in her face.
Harkness stared at her. and for an
atom Of time he faltered. then said
laconically: Nothing important"
| Harkness, with the coming Of the
telegram, seemed to have completely
recovered himself. His manner was very
easy.
at the Arcadian about this time, II you
care to g, g, round r.. there. Shall I have
Audrey WINGED. 'You are sending
me 9way!" she said :, in low y. ycics: &C. .,.
gravely.
Audrey went. She wondered a little
that her last and most definite emotion
was sorrow rather than anger. She did
not offer to shake hands with him, and
yet she knew it was not because she did
not wish to do so, but because she was
afraid.
Out in St. James she hailed a taxi
and told the man to drive her to the
Arcadian.
Hardness stood very still for some
minutes after Audrey had gone.
Her accusations and reproaches, the
pitiless criticism Of his life. had been
like SO many blows in the face. Her
appeal to him had been torture almost
unbcarable. He cursed himself and
away unanswered, which would not
humble itself and admit that the greater
part of her argument was correct.
He was unworthy. More than ever
he realized 1t. More than ever the fu
|; tility of his existence came home to him
, To be q good fellow he had thought tl,e
, greatest thing in life. To have the mon
with whom he consorted speak Of him
as a decent chap-what moro could q
, man strive for? But now he understood
| the emptiness Of 1t. A man could carr
, the respect of his fellows by a different
, method from mere wild spending ant
, reckless generosity. He could make him
, self man indeed. That must alway!
, win respect.
S "Unstable Ms water" The phrase
flashed through his mind. He was un.
stable. He. who had boasted Of his
strength. was shifty and changeful n.
7 pool when the wind blows across its
surface.
Yet-did it matter? Why should hi
take up n load of care and work and
worry?
He thought of the te,esram then and
; took it from his pocket, spreading II
carefully once more before his gaze.
! 1t had been handed in at Sheffield,
and was very short.
Father dangerously Ill. Come at
once.--HILARY."
Hilary was his fathers private secre-
: tary.
lie took up an A p c and turned to
the train for Sheffield.
, Constance Decides
Tho following morning, after Audrey
; had left for town. Constance wandered
3 alone into the garden. She attended
Aunt Ella came to her.
[ "Where Is Audrey?" she asked.
. "Gone to town to see Harkness,"
9 answered Constance.
Q Aunt Ella looked at her. "Wha'
does that mean?'
i Constance shrugged her shoulders
. II don't know. She did not tell me
@ OF one thing I am sure. she hasn'l
). gone to plead with him. DO you know
. Ella. Audrey Is rather beyond me-"
Aunt Ella nodded sagely. 1.-THE
n Conningtons always were beyond you
; Constance. You are wise In your
, worldly way. but they are wise in the
spirit. Theirs Is an inherited wise.
ness, if the phrase be permitted. And
Audrey is a COnnington, although she
; has all your beauty of face
Constance bent over tine roses. '"This
!, matter is not easy" she said at length
!. What matter?'
"This matter Of Audrey. l had
planned and planned. and It Is al
going astray. The visit of Audrey &c
:. Hardness typifies everything. ! did
q not want her to go, but she has gone
I I could not even find it in me to try
! to dissuade her. 1t seemed futile. The
else. Despite my wishes. despite my
a scheming, | seem to have been thrust
i aside and allowed only to stand antt
q watch a current Of events over which
4 | should be exercising n vital influence
4 l looked on Audrey as child, and
. find her woman who acts and think
. for herself. DO you know that Preslov
proposed to her on Saturday night"
o Aunt Ella blinked behind her glasses
r 1t was always n sign of intense agtta
n ton. "What was her reply?'
q "She did not know what to say Z
e him, and has left him half satisfied. II
a will come again. Perhaps he Nigh
e win. But do you realize the sisnificanc