Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-30
Katherine Loses Out

Tn THE days that followed, steele was
i swept alternately by feelings Of re.
morse and blind fury. :.
uc had reached point where it
would not be difficult for him to believe
that he had wrongcd Anne, but the
fact rcmained that she had had child
by another man. Once. not so long
ago. she had loved some one else
another mans arms had pncircled
her. Steele found II Impossible to con.
icmnlate this fact sanely. try as he
would TO be sensible about il. 1t almost
killed him to know that he hadn been
the first man in her life. that her re.
sronsc 10 his kisses hadn't been the
H'rs, Of its kind. and it was that which
hardened him against her even while
his reason told him he hadn t been fair.
That he loved her still. that he
wanted her as much as he always mad,
| maddcned him because lie looked upon
, il as a weakness. But as the days
went by. he knew that be did want hcr'
| his very soul cried out for her. ana he
finally came to realize that no matter
! what she had done. it was too late now
| 70 urroot her from his life. He might
! live apart from her, he might never see
| her again. but he would never forget
! her. and life could hold no happi.
ness for him without her.
While he was in this frame OF mind.
! he went one evening to call on Nath-
! crime Cleveland.
! She was surprised to sec him. al.
| though she was clever enough nHt I"
show It. and she exertcd herself to
, be charming and clever and brilliant.
! Put tonight Steele did not feel that con-
! tact between their minds that had so
/ Interested him. She did not bring him
/ h,rp,ySn
! were too full Of Anne. and he saw in
Katherine only very beautiful. rather
! cold woman. who talked extremely well,
but who was too faultleSsly perfect.
As 10 talked with her he could not
| help wondering whether she would ever
! tc tempted 10 do anything through
blind impulse. and he decided against
il. She was 2 woman whose head
ruled her heart and always would. while
Anrie-his heart leaped as it had in
,'r old days. and he had sudden
longing to scn her. Il longing that was
like tho most intense pain.
katherine spoke 10 him. and he real J..
lied with start that his thoughts had
been far away and he had not heard
what she said.
"a penny for your th"uchts.' SHE
said rayly. but there was no answering
smile on his face when he spoke.
I'm afraid you'll be Disappointed.
was thinking "f Mrs. Steele. She
hasn't been w"ll and J sent her to the
country for fcw days
And SO l am indebted to the fact
that Mrs. Steele is away for this call
katherine said lightly. Il suppose
you've been lrnelv.'
every lonely" he returned. and th"'
stopped to wonder at himself for wha
he h"l been saying. What did hi
words Imply: Certainly when he ha'
come here tonight he had had no idea %
going to Anne, of asking h"r to come
back 20 him. and yet he realized nov
that nil his thoughts were turned i,
that dircr;ion. What had caused th'
change in him?
And then suddenly he realized th'
truth. II" had come To- katherine hop
ing that Inadvertently sh" might poin
rho way Cor him. Through seein
her he lad Hoped to put Anne out o
. his thoughts at least temporarily. bu
it hnd lust tho opposite effect. for it ha'
made him realize just what it was tha
be wanted.
As for Kathorinn. she realized diml,
that in some way she had failed Steele
Up to that night she had believed hin
interested in her, she had thought hi
seeking her ont significant, and sh
q wuuN Lnv" had no objection at all 4
.'rrDn. into Annc'S shoes. il Steel
/ had realized his mistake in marryin
Aure and was eager 10 rnctify II.