Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-27

DreCluCeUs
They sat down. and Audrey lounged
on the arm of her mothers chair.
Through the open French windows the
scented breeze stole in from the hills,
and the garden spread itself in q riot
| OF color and fresh green down to the
thick hedge bordering the lane. Hark.
ness reflected ironically that It was
fitting setting for the grimness of tho
| little play which was being acted in the
shadOwed, cool room.
| "You have wonderful garden" "
Hardness felt that he must say some.
thing. ,, !,
gan to glimpse way to that private
interview which she desired 30 much.
| II think flowers are very wonderful.
You are an enthusiastic
II am largely responsible for my
garden admitted Constance. 81
might almost claim to be an expert in
the growing Of roses and tulips"
II have seen the tulips in Holland"
said Hardness. clinging to the topic
with the desperation Of man at loss
for words.
Constance smiled. II believe you arc
challenging me indirectly. I can assure
YOU that my tulips are as fine as any
they have over there. BY the way.
would you like a cup Of tea?"
THANK you. l should Hardness
began to wonder il Constance was lead
ing up to some definite point.
Constance turned to Audrey. "Nlary
has gone down to Sevenoaks, dear.
Would you get some tea? we will have
1t under the oak. In the meantime ]
am going to show Mr.. Hardness my
tulips, and prove to him that I am not
an idle boaster."'
Audrey ran off to the kitchen, and,
with Aunt Ella still quietly knitting.
Constance got to her feet. There was
direct challenge in her eyes as she
looked at Harkness.
Harkncss followed her out into the
blazing sunshine, across the lawn, and
round the bend until they came to the
flower garden. And then she turned and
IT They .W Tsss e, >, silent, until Hardness
"Why did you do it?'' That was all
Constance could say at first, and the
misery Of it might have touched Hark.
ness but for the armor of bitterness In
which he had encased himself.
II don't understand you" His tone
was studiously cold. and 1t stirred Con-
stance to anger.
II can well believe you are unable to
understand" The sneer hardened the
lines round Harkness' mouth. Constance
stepped closer to him. "Listen, Hark-
ness! My little girl is. white. pure as
these flowers her hand toward
the whispering blossoms behind her.
''She does not know. DO you see what
l mean? She has been to school on the
Continent and come home fresh and
unsullied. You cannot realize what 1t Is
to be girl on the threshold of life; you
cannot grasp. the innocence of it. the
miracle Of it."
"Oh, know I'm pretty low down,
but spare. me a little. DO you mind
going on?"
Constance spoke more swiftly, softly.
ain ost as though she painted.
"All my life I've stood between my
daughter acknowledgements al
most said "such men as you,' but she
found other words in time-"and the
world. I have seen her grow up just
as I have seen these flowers crowded. l.
icate, wonderful, and / have planned
during the days and nights of my lone
liness that she should be ever so happy.
and find love and goodness all through
her life. She told me little Of the man
she had met at Lucerne, and read suf-
ficient to know that de had captivated
her imagination. It hurt me; a mother
must always be hurt when her child
| learns to care for somebody else but l
consoled myself with the thought that
her instinct must guide her correctly,
that the man she met would be worthy
of her. And then she showed me you.
MY God!' ,
Hardness seemed about to speak, and
then his mouth closed tight.
"You Must Leave-F'0rever" =.
1T must stop! You understand,
Harkness? This must not 90 on. When
you leave here today you leave forever.
1t will hurt Audrey little, but the
pain will be nothing to what she must
endure IL this thing continues
She stopped abruptly, and Hardness
stared ut her with inscrutable eyes.
He had come down to Knockholt to
tell Audrey all about himself, and to
show her how impossible 1t was for their
friendship to continue. But now he felt
himself wavering. Who was Constance
Brent that she should dictate to him his
proper conduct toward girl who, after
all, was only the daughter of an adven-
turess? He loved Audrey; and he want
ed her above all things. The selfishness
which had dominated his life up to that
moment grasped at the opportunity to
woman who was Audrey's mother. Be-
sides, he would not be driven.
"Does Audrey know about the Eros!'
Constance gave back his stare. ZOE
course she does not. / tell you she Is
innocent, pure. Heavens, Harkness,
'can't you realize it?'
Har kness ignored the passion of the
appeal. "You say am not gocd
enough for her?'
are?"
II am good enough for the daughter
Of q woman who runs a gaming house.
1t was the cruelest thing Jim Hark-
ness had ever said to q woman, and
ever afterward he regretted It. But at
the moment all the mans nature was IN
open revolt, and he went on ruthlessly:
"You would not care for me to men
ton the Eros to Audrey?"
"You-cad!" Constance almost Sob
bed the words.
Hardness stopped and picked up n
red and gold tulip, miracle OF color.
ing. Constance, sick at heart, seemed
to see something symbOlical in his
plucking of q single beautiful blossom.
II am simply dying for cup of
tea" darkness said easily. do you
mind II we 20 back to the lawn? !
nm sure Audrey will be waiting for us.
I shNl' Take her this tulip, and tell her
hc- ''"ther Is very wonderful"
"But'-Constanc seized his coat
sleeve with trembling fingers "you
nave not answered. You have not prom
ised.'
never breaks his wOrd,' answered