Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-24

care, of itself" he said. a note o
never comesl''
This morning / wish that It neve
need" she said with a half sigh, an,
then, quickly: mo, don't; its won
derful to think that there are ever a,
many tomorrows waiting for US both
you ana me L" she said. She put be-
hand over his nsit lay on her arm.
John, there is Just one thing
want to say to YOU" she said with
sudden earnestness, land then we vii
never speak OF Il again till--till yo,
gay You want to. Jt's this, dear
Everything. that's gone wrong since
YOU came home--I mean about the
the photograph OF that girl, and-snt
meeting her In London and---everythina
clse--I just want to forget It, and
ana to think that some day you will
tell me all about IL. I want you to
believe that do trust you stiil~like
! alwayH did and then--then we can
bc quite happy" She waited, almost
nfraid to raise her eyes, bnt when q,
last she did, she saw how white Ne
shs faltercd.
Angry with your" He drew his
hand from hers almost roughly and
guickened his steps so that they took
Him a pace ahead Of her. II should like
said hoarsely. Anne" there wa, a
hote OF wildness In his voice, "if, some
DAY, you found out that I wasn't--ali
that you think me; II you found out
that E-hadn't always gone straight
ull these years''--he turned and faced
her In desperation-"what would you
You don't mean that--that--you
were guilty of-of--when you went
awayT' she faltered.
No, no! I swsar to you, told you
Tho color came back 10 her face
she drew long breath Of relief,
There couldn't be anything else
very bad, them" she said; and once
again his impulse to tell her the whole
story died away.
They spent the morning ,S,nnder,np
through the woods and fields, and they
came back past the five barred gate,
where the Fortune Hunter had sat thai
evening in the sunset and counted the
silver in his pocket.
and there he paused for q momen,
md took Anne In his arms and kissed
her before they went on again, she
nughing and happy 30 child and he
with the sorrow of oil the world in his
cart. His wandering, reckless life, his
'areless, missrcnt youth, seemed co
walk with him that sunny morning and
mock him.
Look where we have led you!'"
they seemed to say. Look where you
night havo been but for us!"
As they walked home through the
village they met Fernie coming out OF
he little postoffice. 1t was impossible
tor him not to have seen them, but he
passed them with his eyes steadily
hent. '''"
, The Fortune Hunter turned white to
inc lips, and for q moment despair
hIled his heart. He hardly heard Anne's !
indignant exclamation. The whole |
world hnd gone black before his eyes. |
FOR ne knew now that his luck had |
hdeed rallied him. And that, although |
Gst night In Fernie's cottage he had |
ess lost the game.
The Fortune Hunter had always con.
'idered himself TO be q man with steady
nerves. but as the day wore on he felt
himself going all to pieces.
Anne seemed to have forgotten her
ear. She was almost deliriously happy.
She felt as If by some miracle the man
he loved had been given back to her,
With all her doubts and fears swept
Iside.
There were still shadows lying In th.
background Of her memory, but now she
vas content to wait. Some day he
,ould explain everything to her, and In
he meantime she would trust him.
She was too much blinded by her own
unshine to see the cloud IN his eyes.
"Geoffry Foster 10 coming to dinner
onight," she said during tho after
oon. II didn't ask him uncle did. /
'ish he was not coming"
He made no answer. Out in the gar
en- the sun was already sinking and
iadows creeping up over the lawn. -
The Fortune Hunter rose reStlessly.
10 wandered round the room, coming 4
lck tO where she sat on the arm Of
g chair, and looked down at her. A
ave Of bitterest rebellion rose In his
cart. Why should such things be?
} wondered. Was II hiR fault that
te had thrown his life into crooked
instead Of into the fair way
here this girl walked7 Why had be
EN- m born into the world to love her
IN his heart he knew that the end
this day would see him once more
homeless outcast.
Anne turned and smiled into his set
ce. what are you thinking about,
r. Serious?" she asked.
She put out her hand to him, but he
rned away. Ignoring It, and began
3 restless pacing to and fro again.
Anne looked after him, faintly
u're not tired Of me, by any chance?"
0 asked, in mock seriousness. II
ow you've w been with me nearly oil
He came back, he put his arms round
r, holding her 80 that she could not
, his face.
II wish that eOday might never end"
She rubbed her cheek against bis
nd--turned her lips shyly and kissed
There will be other days-just as
she said softly.
A maid came to the door. please,
ss-Dr. and Mrs. Gregory" she
The Fortune Hunter moved away. -
ching his breath hard. He knew y
Gregorys slightly and rather liked
m, but he cursed them now In his
lrt for coming on this. his last day,
snatching away precious hour.
But they stayed to tea, and Anne, in
,ent of what the Fortune Hunter was
fering, chatted away, showed them
Ind the garden, gathered some flowers
them and insisted on walking part
the way down the road with them
en- they left.
Aren't they. dears?" she asked
rmly when she and the Fortune
inter- were, walking homo alone.
'on't you like them. John?"
Not today. I could have thrown