Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-05

That II was not for him he knew we'll
enough, but he knew nlso that he would
have TO open It. And he took it with
l1m out into the garden, walking away
from the house down the flower -bor-
dcred pathway as he opened it.
He had received 70 few letters in his
life. 1t would have been difficult dur
ing many of his rowing years to have
given any one an address to which TO
write.
"Somewhere in Australia" :" "In the
slums of New York" I'm the lanes and
fields of Englnnd"; it would have to
have been something vague and impos-
sible like that. And it gave him n
curious feeling Of respectu6ility as lie
looked down at the obviously feminine
writing that credited him with such an
address.
He opened the envelope, aud took
out its contents reluctantly.
'Dearest-I have been in London
more than week now. and so fur
you have not kept your promise or writ
ten to me. though I have carried out
everything you told me to do, md ain
at the address you gave me. I would
not have written even now, but that
! am ut the end Of my tether. I have
hardly any money, and London's
pretty dull place for woman situated
as ! am.
Come and see me. John, if you love
me. 1t seems an eternity since I saw
you, and they cant want you all the
time down there. You said you were
sure IL would be dull place and that
you would soon get tired Of It. Perhaps
It Is not so du u fas you thought II would
be. or is II that you find the girl at
tractive, after all? Anyway. come to
me or write, or I shall have to come
to you, and ] know you don't want
that. / can only think Of the past
and the happy days we spent to.
gether. Do you ever think Of them,
too, or. have you quite forgotten?-
The Fortune Hunter caught his
breath hard. Trenie This, then. was
the woman Of whom Anne had spoken
He glanced back hurriedly TO the
heading Of the lettcr-"Savoy Hotel" "
She was apparently well Oft, then. If
she was able to stay there. in spite Of
the fact that she said shc had no money.
He thought he could visualize the type
of woman so we'll: he had met them
many thousands Of times in his wan
derings; we'll dressed. handsome and
sufficiently amusing; women who will
follow a man half around the world
and back again as long as there ia
anything to be gained by it.
And so John Smith had loved her.
or pretended to do SO, and She--had
she loved him or had that, too been
pretense?
lie read the letter through again
carefully. There seemed TO be an ar
tifcial ring about it, nc thought. as
If the writer had only been trying to
assume sincerity.
Probably it was only money she
wanted. He crushed the letter into his
pocket. 1t was another link in the
chain already binding him--another
stumbling block TO eventually throw
him.
The breakfast gong rang through the
house, and. as he turned hurriedly to
retrace his steps, he saw Anne coming
down the pathway behind him.
She carried big bunch of flowers,
and was stopping from time to time to
add to it from the beds on either side
Of the pathway.
The Fortune Hunter walked up to
her; he knew quito we'll that she mad
seen him already. and his voice was
jerky and nervous as he spoke. Its
lovely morning, Anne"
1t was a futile thing to sny. he
knew, when SO much tragedy lay be-
tween them, and yet for the life of him
he could find no other words.
She looked up; her eyes were heavy
and shadowed, as IL she had been cry
ing. and her lips trembled as she an
swered him.
Yes: you were up early. saw
you coming in from the village while ]
was dressing"
II could not sleep
A little bitter smile curved her lips.
They say guilty conscience keeps
people awake" she said lightly.
The Fortune Hunter laughed harshly.
so Fernie has already informed me
this morning" She looked up. startled.
"Oh, has he been here?"
NO, ] met him down the road"
She drew a quick little breath of re-
lief. II hate that mani" she said
vehemently. "I-I-' She broke off ::
she was afraid to tell the Fortune
Hunter that lately in her mind her dis.
like of Fernie had been strangely mixed
up with him. It was an inexplicable
thing, but the dread was conviction in
her heart.
The gong rang for second time and
Anne turned.
That means that uncle Is waiting,
and he hates to be kept waiting.
They walked to the house together.
As they neared it the Fortune Hunter
said in desperation:
'Anne-are you going to forgive
me?"
She looked up, her eyes misty with
tears. Forgive you?"
Yes-fOr-for-for everything. 7
cant so on like this: it's--impossible.
Anne-you don't love me if" He
broke off before the rcproach In hcr
face.
II think you mean that you don't
love mc?" she said very quietly, then
she passed him and went into the house.
She gave him no chance to speak to
her alone again until nearly lunch time
she made duties for herself that kept
her busy about the house he knew that
she was avoiding him, and the knowl-
edge almost drove him mad.
His face was white and strained
when at last he caught her for a mo-
ment at the foot of the stairs; he stood
below, barring the way with out
stretched arms.
You're avoiding me deliberately.
Anne, are you going to forgive me2 II
you only knew-if I could only cS-
plain. =" He broke OFF help.
lessly.
Her eyes searched his asitated face
coldly. well, you can explain. ! am
ready to listen"
The Fortune Hunter passed a hand
across his eyes; he knew that she was
driving him into corner from which
presently there would be no possible esE
cape, and yet his instinct was still to
fight her, because he feared the loss of