Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-16
CHAPTER VII
The WAY Of the Transaressor.

The Way Of the T~ransgressor.
Georgina awoke with a start. The
fght from a tiny electric torch daz-
Eled her eyes; somebody was shaking
her violently.
wake up, old thing" whispered
Aimee's voice; its like trying to
rouse the dead. I'm anxious about
you. What did they say about that
little stunt on the Syderford roadT'
Georgina sat up with a gasp, and
clutched Aimee with both hands as a
drowning person clutches a life-buoy.
TITS you, is iti' she said fiercely.
"Tve got you, Aimee-make up your
mind to i'll This dreadful business
Is finished. We're done for-espe-
cially you'll"
"Eh! !" exclaimed Aimee, a little
startled. "What have you got the
breeze up about nowT"
you'll know very soon! Who"
said Georgina sternly, still holding
her, "was that Man that was with
you? Who was hep
"Man?" said Aimee. ooh. 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
ALI" she said, tightening her grip.
"Well, why not?" said Aimee, and
forthwith she related. the Saga of
Billy. The tale, as it 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 Man?"
gasped Georgina. "This Spencer-in
Stanhoe? And he let you do it? The
mans a cadI"
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 Billyw
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 it all. 1 see nothing wrong
in it-nor does he"
''Then he's a fool |" said Georgina
bitterly. ooh, what can one say?" she
groaned. 81 know there Is 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
h. 4r n ahf1II ~ he &c fv0-o
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 comes out-as
come out it must-your reputation
and your good name are gone-fn-
ishedi
''That, I suppose, you do not care
for" she said bitterly, rising and
facing Aimee, "but one thing I can tell
you and you may believe me. This
thing will kill your fatherI"
Aimee stared at her blankly.
II know your father, better, per
haps, than you do, Aimee. To Lord
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.
I tell you. quite soberly and certainly,
that it will break his heart"
There was a long silence.
Suddenly Aimee sat down on the
bed and began to cry. She cried with
the abandon of a child Of ten, but
very piteously.
81 never wanted to hurt Dad!" she
snufied. Il didn't Think didn't
see-i"
"Do you understand at last?' said
Georgina grimly.
"Y-yes," gulped Aimee slowly, u
believe / do. Dadi L" she caught
Georgina by the arm. 81 must keep
that from him-I mustl"
I'VE must keep 1t from him." said
Georgina trembling, "at any cost. We
must find a way, for his sake and
yours. This middle at ~Jervaulx can
not be hidden we must face it. But
your father must never hear of-the
other thing. What are we to do? He
is coming here tomorrow afternoon n
T~earfully she gave her cousin the
news In Lord S~croope's letter. Aimee
stared in blank dismay.
I'VE have till five O'Clock tomor-
row." faltered G~eorgina. u don't