The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-07-26
rooms" she aid, tuning away hasTIIy.


II waa q raeasant room, with vii
Ldows barred up half way. For a nae
plent she did not take in the signifl
canoe Of them. Her eye had bee
caught By the odd wall paper whIcl
was all little pictures.
What q funny Daperl Why, Their
are words on it, Tom, Tom, the pip
ers son!' Oh. Curtis, this was th,
nursery"
He stopped down and in lieu OF an
swer placed in her hands q very dilapt
dated. characterization Teddy bear. with
the stuffing knocked out of him and
only q rakdsh eye left.
She took II, and somehow, unbiddeu
and fought against desperately. the
tears came into her syes.
Thai was Our mistake. Curte.s aha
whispered invoiuntariIy. Ana the mar
understood.
Just at that moment the draft OF air
from the open trap door In the roof
came in like q lion. The door banged
with . loud report that made them
III W ~ IEAAEI UDtAA
with = little jangle to It.
Let's come away from this said
Zoe. going toward the dosr. II am
sure there r ghosts or little children
about" Then she gave an exclamation,
which. as she had not yet realized the
extent Of their misfortune. was only q
mild one.
Where's the knob? It must have
fallen down! Why. the whole thing
has fallen out! Oh, Curtis. we are
locked mi"
de examined the place where the
handle ought to have been and gave
q little whistle OF dismay. He found
the knob easily enough. but there was
nothing to tit II on to.
YES he said; I'VE are shut In.
After five minutes playing about
with . Eenknife and hair pins. the
truth OF his remarks was established.
They e SHIT In the nursery Of an
empty dat. And Il Was rapidly growing
dark and chilly.
whatever shall we dor. said Zoe
heipiessiy.
They looked at another and
then they decided toslaugh first az all,
The man remembered the early days
OF their marriage when Goes laugh
had always been ready even when a
six pence would not stretch, with all
Der coaxing to tbs axteas Of q shilling.
He remembered how plucky she had
been-how economical, how resource
eal-ah! why had his success come
TOO late?
Then Zoe stopped laughing and On.
sidered.
This is what you call an awkward
contretemDs. Curtis. Can ~s mako
any n hear. do you think?"
.The house ia very solidly bull, it's
no good stamping on the floor. Per
haps the porter will come in search OF
He May think we are stealing the
CRATES. Zoe. you're shiverins. It's
getting cold. Fm 80 sorry. DEAR
The caress slipped out naturally and
he seemed unaware OF 1t, so that Zoe
thought she had better let 1t pass.
1T isn't your fault Bst shah we
to stop here ind5finiteiy-aH
right?"
"Wm Il be very improper he
at her and has eyes twinklra
After all Is you said Just now. We
husband and wife once"
But. w0maniike. II she 5ested with .
serious subject she could not permit
bin to do %. She searched hurriediy |
for a remnant OF dignity and hastily |
mounted upon It. "Yox forget We
absolute strangers now-worss :,
than strangers-"
mo. no: not enemies. Zoe: don't
sAr that. I'm only jssting because
it's the only thing to do
Zoe pulled her fsrs round her more
What have yoa done with herr
asked. pokiag Telsntlsssly ct the
remaining eye Of the Teddy bear.
Kerr" he repeated In q bexiLAered
wsy,A Il don't undsrstand."
"One never used to have to dot ones
p and cross ones t. with you. This
you preferred to NEEDN'T
fou want to marry herr"
"oh. / see!s no said Quickly, going
sver 70 the barred window. Il had
'orgotten."
Then he remained silent. Zoe look.
ID at his back and waited In vain for
IN answer 70 her question. Il wosld
30 moro dignifed not to press the
bat she was curious. and cur
osity won the day.
you would prefer not 70 speak OF
she said in ~ aggrieved tone.
II she allowed herself 10 speak OF
he awful womsn-vhy he ought to
10 grateful 10 her.
~You were very much in love: the
etters told me that. She wouldn't
ave written to you 81 che did II you
ladn't made violent lore to her."
Il was never in love With but one
in my hfe." he said. coming
Iack 20 her. There was neyer any