Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-19
avn HERE IT CONTINUES

Nmrs was the. romantic love tnat
ices forever--without a cloud without
Observation-Disclosures changing
..,,r altcring--is that it?' ...
Ths Fortune Hunter spoke fast and
Ns,fly, and there was mockins smile
| ia Ms, eyes
y thought you loved your mother, y
i. ssid. "It's not like you to make
nm Of her. John" , >.
trore ont hoarsely. "I--Lord! 10
,s.te anything real or lasting in this
vSrld?" ,, .b.
mId sadly. ..-.---- a.. ,.,.,
,r,,tins a little old fashioned ring on
W. finger. The Fortune Hunter had
aNsu noticed II before, and wondered
Nv she wore il. He drew the punt
ooIs G IA now, and leaned down to her
soSdenly, catching her hand In his.
"Wbr do you wear that" he asked.
Th.re was a faint jealousy In his mind,
a. n tremb!ed on bis lips TO add that
N. fihs was poor and shabby looking
.ra unworthy OF her, but something
aVhsr eyes checked him. She drew
hsek. and he saw her lips tremble as
she answered:
'.I wear II because I promised you
that I always would, that's why
He let her hands 60 abruptly and
turned away. Fool that be had been
not 10 guess for a moment he could
not steady his voice sufficiently to an
swer her.
"It's never been of my hand since
,ou nut Il there" she said duly; her
voice sounded almost ns II she were
r.peating something she had heard and
nothing in which she had ever had
mart. But now" For moment
shs looked up into his face, then shc
deliberately drew the ring from her
hurer and dropped it into the river.
The Fortune Hunter had made q
movement to stop Anne's impulsive
action, but hc was too late; the little
ring went zigxagging down into the
clear, still water. and disappeared into
the dark rushes In the bed OF the river.
Anne looked up into his white face
and laughed, though there were tears in
her eyes.
~ never believed I could do q thing
like thst!' she said. But now--I m
glad It's gone! I'm glad it's gone -
"And some day the Fortune
Hunter said Erimly, some day you will
throw me out Of your life In the same
way"
Her face famed into passion.
And II do" she cried. whose
fault will 1t be? Why, yours, yours
only"
perhaps yours a little as WELL" he
answered her. You've judged me un-
heard"
She turned around, looking up at him
directly as he stood behind her. the
water dripping from the punt pole.
which he had taken up again.
"Unheard ~ she echoed bitterly.
When ] have begged you, and begged
you, to tell mo the truth. Whatever II
'hat-that you tind you don't care any
nore--now you've come home.
He gave little stihed cry of protest,
but she went oil ruthlessly;
"l'll tell you something now-some =
thing that I meant to keep to myself,
because I hoped-I was foolish enough
to hope that you would tell me about il
Yourself f I waited But now I know
you never will. and so--it's just this
that day you went to London-I know
why you went. | know whom you met.
iud so-that's why I threw your ring
lswty'
The Fortune Hunter cried out
fercely:
Foster told you, The sneakng
hound! He came back here and told
your'
She closed her eyes for second as
It in actual physical pain. "lt was
the truth. then! You did-go to meet
la woman
Il did I'm moi denying It, but il
Su for a very different reason to the
one you are thinking. Anne-I swear
% YOU He bent and touched heI
md. but she shivered away from him.
You swore to me once before that
m photograph was not yours she
aid family. That you did not even
know her.
III 1T was the truth. If ] could only
Explain everything--' She gave cold
little laugh,
! 1T would make no difference.
wall never believe anything YOU tel
tue sunshine had clouded over. anC
NW drops OF rain began 10 splash
newly down. The punt had drittet
0u into midstream again, and ther,
vas no shelter at hand.
Inc Fortune Hunter picked up hi!
KN and put 1t around Anne's shoul'
M You'll get wet-oh, my Goa
.cnt hurt. you" he broke out ironi
aay, as she protested.
ohe submitted then and held 1t closel
Wound her shoulders. A cool brcez,
~ come up with the rain clouds, ant
uence OF the river was rufied.
t looks like lasting" the Forum,
ntsr said, ,slancing up ct the sky
Msl make for home?"
Il don't think ID will be much
set under the bonk the trees viii
Ms did not want 10 90 back +,
muse there was kind of fore
~ng 10 her heart that this was I,
one OF the few remaining hour
,Wn she woul id have this man to her
~ Although she guessed nothing o
rear tragedy between them, in
a0 told her that the end of yet an
dresm was near, and. woman
INC clunS 10 1t tenRciously.
Isere was 3 FAINT scent OF tobacc
@ As elinglng TO the coat he had Pr
Suno her shoulders, and the touch o
nurh surface against her throa
,,,hded hcr Of that night in the earde
VT the Fortune Hunter came home
W. ne bad taken her in his arms 70
nrst lime. She thought OF her owi
ssn1o ss 70 him; Now 7 am quite, quit
now foolish when surely nobody /
TotId vas ever quite happy.
fortune Hunter had turned III
my ABOUT, and was making for tn
IHvss wnere tho trees dropped over th
Ins Win thick, sheltering branches
M" leaves were falling already. an
Iths,s OF the water was strewn wit
IliEE reen' brown and yellow. lik
wy fairy boats.
IL And so Enptnr 4olA ,.a,. L. ALI. ~.