Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-25
T,OVE WILL NEVER DIE
By JOHN HUNTER

ness Of them, and she told herself that
fate had thrust into her hand q chance
to humiliate them which she must not
miss.
II shall be pleased to hear what you
have to say" she said quietly.
81, Before we 80 any further, I should
like to ask II you are definitely against
me In this matter Of Audrey. II you
are not then there is no good for me
to tell you what is in my mind"
Constance looked straight into his
eyes. -! would rather Audrey was
unmarried all her life than marry you"
vince. Never in his life had anybody
said anything 80 brutally shattering to
his tremendous egoism. His eyes suf.
fused with anger.
for breath. you will tell Audrey to
marry me-tell her she must. See3
II you don't, she will learn all the
details Of that a6air-which caused my
uncle to divorce you. I can supply
them, and I can bring them to her
notice in such a way that she must
believe them. Every bit Of title. tat
tle--every word. You will remember
how the cheaper papers, long before
the actual case, hinted broadly. You
know the kind Of thing" Preslow was
gathering impetus as he spoke. II will
shatter the idol Of her mother In her
heart. know you will say she IL
sure to and It out in tho end. But
her, It will be different. But one
day, in the midst Of her belief, to have
this damnins evidence thrust upon her
i need say no more. You are ex.
perienced enough to realise what II
would mean, think she would be an
unhappy woman all her life."
He stopped. His face had gone white,
and in his eyes was . deadly hate
which chilled Constance. Yet her calm
was unrufhed.
"well9" demanded Preslow. "what
"You have fulfilled all my szpscta.
tions Of you," answered Constance
:, Prsslow.:, J rel L., teeth cam. zane. =, tss.thsr M
1 want an answer"
Constance fingered the pages Of her
This IL q matter which cannot be
dealt with at once" she said slowly.
II must have time to think"
ITO think Of a way of evading the
issue?" sneered Preslow. "Please
don't insult my intelligence"
Your intelligence must tell you that
decision such as this cannot be made
in a moment
Preslow stood up. II Will give you
a few hours-no more. Tomorrow
morning you will wire me yes or no.
If, by that time, I have not heard from
you I shall take steps to bring the
whole matter to Audrey's notice IN the
way have indicated"
THANK you." Constance was very
cool. "You will be taking your leave
now?"
II will co." said Preslow shortly.
Preslow ignored her hand and flung
from the room. Though he strove to
overcome it, In his heart was blank
sense of futility, which endured until
he reached his uncle's house In Mount
street.
Greater Love
After Preslow had gone, Constance
sat alone in the shadowed room lost In
thought. Ever since that last inter-
view with Lord Connington she had
been thinking, planning, arguing with
herself, striving to destroy the decision
which she knew had formed in her sub
conscious mind.
She could not lose Audrey! She
could not! That was the cry Of her
selfishness, II selfshness 1t could be
called. But the mother in her, the love
which gives and asks for nothing in
return, urged her to stand aside and
let Audrey live the fullest life that was
offered her.
Constance pondered on 1t. Pres'ow
had come along with his laundering,
foolish threats, threats which one sec
Ond Of consideration scattered to the
winds. Never had he seemed so shal.
low of thought and conception as in the
moment when he strove to be MASTER
full. Could he not see the obvious
counter to his move?
Constance would have laughed at It
had she not been face to face with 80
deadly a crisis.
She could ignore Prsslow. He did
not count, and he would receive his
answer by the time he specified, but not
from her.
But Lord Conninston was different.
There could be no playing with him.
He said this or that, and It was 20. 1t
always had been.
And Audrey. There should bs no
playing with her. She deserved well
Of life. Already tragedy's cold fingers
had touched her In passing, and loft
their marks indslibly on her heart. She
should stand In the sunshins II only
for q little while.
Yet-to give her up! Constance
told herself she loved her, loved her 10
much that to part with her would be
worse than death. And Immediately her
argument was answered. II she loved
Audrey 80 much she would think only
Of Audrey's happiness and future.
She sought Aunt Ella.
ELLA, should ! do wrong to sur.
render Audrey to ConningtonT
Aunt Ella put aside her knitting. Her
hands were shaking. In her eyes was
q tremendous surprise at tho coolness
of Constance.
"I-hardly know
"Does that mean you think ought
to give her up?" asked Constance.
Aunt Ella did not meet her case.
1T 10 . question for yourself alone,
Connie" A fash Of intuition lighted
her face. "You have already decided,
she added quietly.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
vaos n, thn hrorlupa NssBs~nsss