Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-23
Have You Forgiven Me?"

E'OR a few moments after Carey's
i abrupt leave taking there was alb
solute silence in the room. Then Dick
stirred himself and went to the FIRE.
He built up roaring blaze on the
hearth, and then, going to Cleo, he took
her gently by the nrm and drew her
to the fire. where he cnscOnced her in
Z big chair. lie piled pillows behind her
back, and then disappeared for few
moments. When he returned he carried
Z cup of hot milk In one hand and a
plate of sandwiches in the other.
Cleo was lying with her head flung
back against the pillows. Her lashes
'Swept her waite cheeks, but as Dick
leaned toward her and spoke her name
her eyes unclosed and Dicks heart was
wrung by the suffering in them.
She shook her head and smiled family
when she saw the food, but Dick sat
down beside her and forced her to eat
and drink. lie sat there feeding her
like child, and finally she sat up and
faint color stole into her cheeks. =
Carey" she whispered, ''do you
think he's all right?"
Dick nodded grimly, and again there
was silence between them. Both sat
looking into the fire until Cleo stirred
restlessly and spoke again.
N"Dick, have you forgiven meY'
Instantly his hand went out and
closed over hers very gently.
There was never anything to for
give. l knew that as soon as had O
chance to think things over"
Carey told me what nearly hap.
pened,' Cleo went on. "Oh, Dick, II
nearly killed me to know that"
Don't think about it," he sale
quickly. g! was a young fool. Thanh
God 1t didn't happen
Cleo leaned forward eagerly. "Ther
don't you see, Dick, that you mustn',
bear Carey any ill will? What he die
he did only for you. i was only a pawr
in the game. I want you to promise m,
not to hold 1t against him."
but don't you see, Cleo, how i'm
possible that would be? His attitud,
toward you has been cruel to the poin
of torture. can't believe it of Carey
It's shaken my entire faith in him."
"But he saved your life," Cleo sal,
quickly. ''and think what that mean
to me. Oh, Dick, If you had done tina
terrible thing 1t would have been fa
worse than what has happened.
Dick was silent, his eyes fixed on th
leaping flames, his heart filed with ,
queer sadness. Cleo loved Carey
Everything she said proclaimed It. An,
as for Carey, unless lie was all kinds o
fool. how could he stand adamant be
fore the charms of q woman like Cleo
And then like fash Dick was strucl
with sudden thought. Carey's atti
tude that evening had been strange t,
the point of madness. lie had been lik
| man driven by inward torture to say
ing desperate things, things that he wa
hardly aware Of saying. Wasn't 1t be
cause he, too, loved Cleo, and was fight
ing against It? The more Dick though
about 1t, the more certain he was thu
he had stumbled on the solution of th
problem, and 1t helped him to thinl
more kindly of Carey and to be NOR
hopeful of Cleo's future happiness.
"You must be very tired" he salt
finally. LET me show you to you
room" But as she turned to him h
saw the anxiety In her eyes, and Ii
! hastened to reassure her. "As soon a
l know that you're safe in bed I'll &,
out and hunt up Carey"
"Oh, will you?" she said eagerly
And then like an obedient child sh
rose and followed him into the immacu
late little bedroom, where Il few min
! utcs later, in spite Of her efforts to keel
her tired eyes open, she had fullel
asleep.
Tomorrow-The Darkest Hour