Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-10
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
CHAPTER XVI
Lilith Hears tho News


III Lilith Hears tho News
- Sol,Lv u a dear child" she said I;
wi she took Nrolly's hand and patted
~ can't understand ner myself,
- am sure you will be able to, as
- must love her very much to wish to
SSSsfy her. ] have no illusions. L
Ieav how my children and are looked
iswn on in Little Helpton.
Harden ran a finger round his collar ;
n felt sitting. Molly was not in
a least like her mother, thank God ;
" could not understand how any man
IA managed to live with such woman
~ 40 long he found himself finding ex-
ssaes for the conduct of the departed
-f'ai supposc we may all call you by
tsor Christian name?" Mrs. Dangerfield
sersd. "What is your Christian name,
y The way?"
aMy name is John"
si had q brother named John he
xss informed But VIC always called
Ain Jack" She laughed aifectedly.
"but cannot imagine you being called
uSek."
Harden could not imagine it either {;
~ rose as IL to intimate that the con-
Wnation was at an end; the callous.
- OF the whole interview struck him |;
Iolly's mother had asked no questions
n to his position or his relatives; he
eupposed she wns like all the rest Of
fke Little Helptonites. and considered
tkat Manor Dyke and his banking &C.
oount were sufficient reference; he
| breathed more freely when he and
| Molly were downstairs again.
4 L. - oo,nI ~ hi
"You don't like her?' she said
Nuntly.
"My dear child. I don't know her."
THAT isn't an answer" said Molly.
ohe felt hurt. without knowing why; 1t
vas certainly a very disappointing
thing, this getting engaged.
"I suppose you have heard the
4 htest?" Alec Fcrnald said. looking up
from book as his wife came into the
room.
He was lying full length on a sofa BY
the open window. his fuce turned to-
ward 1t to catch what faint breeze
there was on this hot simmer after.
noon.
THE latest?" I.lith echoed lightly !:
she bent and kissed him. mo,
haven't heard anything. What do you
nean!''
'"rhat your friend Harden is to marry
tie little girl next door?''
Llith stood still; there was a look
+ 4 blank incredulity in her beautiful
ases; then she laughed
"What rubbish John isn't a marry.
Ing man; he's confirmed bachelor ::
whoever told you such story?"
Fernald frOwned; he was a delicate.
irritable. looking man with petulant
lines round his mouth.
Miss Dangerfeld told ME herself"
he said impaticntly. "She came into
ne garden a moment ago to look for a
ntten that had strayed, and she told
Ltlith stared; she was rather pale,
che spoke.
II simply don't believe it, she said
She went over to the window and
locked out across her own picturesque
4lrden to tho discouraging tangle of
eGagyly flowers and weeds next door,
You must have made q mistake"
e said. II never heard anything so
Gsposterous! why John is" She
What about John" her husband
pred; he looked at his wife jealously.
20 on" he said. Finish what you
Ncre going to say"
Lilith laughed.
You old silly! believe YOU
Delous Of him."
She came back and sat down on the
uee Of his couch she leaned over and
dssed him with sudden passion. eve
Se!sr loved any one but YOU :" she said.
ead her voice .softened wonderfully.
You know that. don't you?'
! ~ raised his hands to his lips.
I'm such a poor thing for a woman
Ws you to love-" he said. ''It's not
much OF life to be chained to a sick
ms couch, my dear"
TITS the only life possible for me
Because love you - She told him.
She let her hand lie passively in his:
Sos sat staring down at the floor. Pres.
"But simply don't believe H." she
~ again. 'Molly must have been
Nklng-why, she's only child. John
xould never dream Of marrying n girl
nte that! She's half a boy, believe!"
Shs laughed. "My dear Alec. think of
Ass as the mistress Of Manor Dyke!'
She told me she was simply dying
20 60 and live there" Fernald said
orlly; he moved his hand away. "You
Seem very positive that Harden is q
confirmed bachelor" he said.
She shrugged her shoulders.
II have known him long time; he
eould have got married over and over
asain IL he had wished; any woman
would have jumped at him with all that
money"
!, Perhaps Molly Dangerfield realizes
mat also" He took up his book again.
put though he kept his eyes on the pages
ne never saw a word written there; he
Vas naturally very jealous man; all
tne more so on account Of his own deli
cIcy and his incapabi!ity to get about
Win his wife as much as he wished.
But for once Lilith hardly noticed
yer husband; presently she went up to
her own room.
!, She looked at hcr beautiful face in
her lips.
.,,uii don't believe it," she said again.
why, it was only the day before yes
terday that" But she did not fin
ish tho thought; somehow she was
ashamed of it.
- ehe was sure in her heart that John
garden still loved her; she read it in
as eyes; in the tone of his voice. in
se way he had kissed her; still low
sng her then. was it likely that he
ronld engage himself to MOlly-half-
TrMed' tomboyish Molly--one Of the
SSeputablc Dangerfelds.
1ne turned away from the mirror
81 e own beauty had convinced her as
~. other argument could have done
ue wondered how the story had arisen,
.I what exactly Molly had said 70
sHiss Hse Alec believe anything 50 improb-
nae was pouring out tea for her hus-