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

How perfectly lovely 1t would be
here" she sighed, 'if only things were
proper and regular. But they aren'tl"
G%eorgina, gazing before her, fell
into a d~ay-dream. Presently, the
sound of the carriage passing beneath
her window reused her with a start,
and hastily donning a wrap she ran
downstairs.
"Sit next me, Aimee" said Lady
Erythea, settling herself comfortably
in the carriage. Alexander, you will
take the other seat. l dislike having
anyone Immediately opposite me"
For W o hours, at least, all troubles
were to be left behind. AS the car
rlage bowled through the sunlit park
Georgina, lying back against the cush-
ions, under the benign gaze of Alex
ander, felt inexpressibly soothed.
When the carriage returned to Jer-
vaulx, Georgina fell rather than de-
scended from it. Almost in a state
of collapse, she preserved some sort
of outward composure and retreated
to her bedroom as a hunted fox goes
to earth.
The collision with the motorcycle
on the Syderford road opened new
horizons of terror for Georgina. 1t
seemed to her like the climax of a
Aimee doing? Who was the man-it
was evidently a man, though Georgina
had seen little of him except his
boots-that was with her. What was
happening to the wretched girl?
"It's too awful" said Georgina hys-
terically, land I'm responsible. 1
think l shall go madl"
Later in the afternoon, in the nat
ural course Of things, she found her
self alone with Alexander in the gar
dens. She looked at him with timid,
yet hopeful eyes, Here, at least, was
righteousness, kindness, wisdom.
Georgina felt she could keep things to
herself no longer.
Il am afraid that narrow escape
this morning has upset you, Aimee"
he said alphabetically.
"Yes-I was rather upset. But l
am better now. Don't let US talk of it.
C-Cousin Alexander, there is some
thing l want to ask you," she said
suddenly. 81 should like your-your
guidance. Imagine that somebody
who was lear to me-somebody one
loved very much-had got into diff
culties, and was in danger Of expos
ure. And punishment. That it was
in ones power to save them. Suppos-
ing that 1t would help, would 1t be
very wrong to tell "a ib?"
Alexander regarded her wonder
ingly.
Let us give things their proper
Names" he said. "You mean a lie.
You know the answer. A lie is In all
cases not only inadmissible, but un-
thinkable."
"N-nOt even a little one?' said
Georgina family. II don't mean for
ones own benefit, of course, but to
shield the other"
There is only one answer" he said
sternly. THAT other must make a
clean breast of it, and bear his own
punishment-or hers. No matter how
bitter cit may be. Whoever INDUCES
in such shielding is equally guilty"
Georgina felt utterly chilled.
as not that a little hard?' she said.
1.-THE hard way is the way of the
transgressor," said Alexander, with
some grimness there is authority for
that. And yet the friend-I think you
said a friend-may give all aid and
succor to the sinner, even to the ex-
IRENE sacrifice of himself. But de-
ceit, even the shadow of 1t. must by
no means enter into the matter. You
are asking me what you know per-
fectly well. But why talk of unpleas-
ant things" he continued, "tell me
of yourself. and your life at Scroope.
Aimee"
There was small comfort for Geor-
gina the rest of that day. She dressed
for dinner in a state of despair. Lady
Erythea, as her custom was, even
when en- famille, came dow splen-
didly bejeweled, and wearing the ia
nous Lambe emeralds-said to be
worth a princes ransom-on her some
what bony chest. As usual at dinner
she was in a good temper.
Their was a late delivery at Jer-
vaulx, and a letter was brought into
the drawing room afterward, adj
dressed to Aimee Scroope.
Surely. that is your fathers hand
writing, Aimee" said Lady Erythea.
my letter will have crossed his. Let
US hear what he says"
Georgina would as soon have
thought of picking a pocket as of
opening another PERSONS letter. But
there was no help for it. The letter
was dated Scroope Towers, Thursday.
At the word of command, Georgina
read it aloud. somewhat falteringly.
My Dearest Aimee:
l am writing to your aunt. to whom my
love, but find myself with only time be-
fore the post goes to tell you l I'm obliged
to cave Scroope earlier than l expected.
AS 1 wish to see you before l go, l will
come over for an hour on Saturday. I'm
sorry it is impossible for me to stay the
night. l have news of Importance for
you.
Your loving,
FATHER.
ut will be the first time" said Lady
Erythea, a trit1e acidly, that anybody