The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-14
The Joy of Living

Georgina sat up with a gasp, and
clutched Aimee with both hands as a
drowning person clutches a life-buoy.
Its you, is 1t" she said fiercely.
1--WE got you, Aimee-make up your
mind to It'll This dreadful business
is finished. We're done for-espe-
cially youi"
"Ehi !" exclaimed Aimee, a little
startled. "What have you got the
breeze up about nowT"
you'll know very SOON! Who"
said Georgina s%ternly, still holding
her, twas that Man that was with
you? Who was he?"
"Man?" said Aimee. "Oh. you mean
Billy. One of the best that ever
stepped. A clinking good sort"
"B-Billy?" echoed Georgina In a
shaking voice. 'Tell me. Tell me
all !" she said, Tightening her grip.
swell. why not?" said Aimee, and
forthwith she related the Saga of
Billy. The tale, as 1t proceeded,
seemed to affect Georgina with creep
ing. palsy. When it ended, she was
trembling violently. She made two
unsuccessful efforts to speak. She
reminded Aimee of a hen with some
thing stuck In its throat.
"You are staying with this MANI
gasped Georgina. This Spencer-in
Stanhoe? And he let you do it? The
mans a cad!"
Aimee sprang up, tearing herself
loose from her cousins hands.
"How dare you say that Cad? If
there's only n gentleman on this
earth, it's Billy !"
She glared at Georgina.
There's no beastly sentiment in
Billy, thank heaven. That's why we
became pals; because we want to get
away from 1t all. l see nothing wrong
in it-nor does he"
''Then he's fool J" said Georgina
bitterly. ooh, what can one say?" she
groaned. 81 know there nothing
wrong. That you are incapable Of
Of" she choked. "And this man.
From what you tell me, he is Just
such another as you. He is not a
mamie is a child. Or he Is from
some place where things are-very
different from what they are with US.
But you are living in Eastshire-not
in the desert. You know what East
shire Is. If ever this out-as
come out 1t must-your reputation
and your good name are gone-fn-
ishedi
THAT, 1 suppose, you do not care
for" she said bitterly. rising and
facing Aimee, "but one thing l can tell
you and you may believe me. This
thing will kill your fatheri"
Aimee stared at her b1ankly.
II know your father, better, per
haps, than you do, Aimee. To Lore
Scroope, black is black and white
white. No one Is more proud, more
sensitive. That his daughter should
be living in an obscure lodging, under
an assumed name-with a strange
man she picked up on the high road
1 tell you, quite soberly and certainly
that it will break his heart"
There was a long silence.
Suddenly Aimee sat down on tht
bed and began to cry. She cried witt
the abandon of a child of ten, bul
very piteously.
81 never wanted to hurt Dad" sht
snufhed. -" didn't think-I didn'
see"
"Do you understand at lastT' sale
Georgina grimly.
yves" gulped Aimee slowly, g
believe I do. Dadi L" she caught
G~eorgina by the arm. 81 must keeI
that from him mustl"
"We must keep 1t from him." sale
Georgina trembling, "at any cost. We
must find a way, for his sake and
yours. This middle at J~ervaulx can
not be hidden We must face it. But
your father must never hear of-the
other thing. What are We to do? Ht
is coming here tomorrow afternoon 2
Tearfully she gave her cousin the
news in Lord Scroope's letter. Aimee
stared in blank dismay.
I'VE have till five o'clock tomor
row." faltered Georgina. 81 don't
care what happens to me-there's
nothing I won't do to save you