Evening star., 1923-05-11

Nxv-LovcIcss Marriage is a Lcadcn
Chain.
Old perfumes wander back from fields of
clover,
Seen in the light of STARS that long have
set;
Beloved ones, whose earthly toll is over.
Draw near as II they lived among us yet.
N TRNlNG his burning gaze from
the white-faccd bridegroom.
Daniel Bannock whispered in
the young brides ear: Jill
Eett, we shall now force him to pro-
duce the stolen ruby and the gold.
Those were his last words: the sank
hack in his chair. The overdose had
proved fatal. One glance at the stark
face, dilated eyes, and Jack knew the
girl was all alone in the world but for
him.
As her grandfather's arms fell from
about her, and the gurgling sound
from his lips fell upon her ear ere he
fell at her feet. Jil-Bett knew what
had happened.
with d cry that those who heard il
never forgot, II was so fraught with
heart-Wrung woe. she flung herself on
her knees beside him. crying TO him to
speak TO her. 10 look up at his own
little Jn-Bett who loved him so, or
her ne would go out then and there.
Win shaking hands she put back
the locks of long, tangled hair. laying
her sweet young face against the
ashen. aged one. crying out to him he
was all she had-he must not leave
her.
The man she had just welded made
no attempt to comfort her. or assuage
the torrent of grief sweeping over her.
Mrs. Nudge bent over her. lifted
III-Bett drawing her into her en-
breast va ''
No, dear, you are not alone in the
world: God has given you a husband
TO take your dear old grandfather's
place and look after YOU" casting, as
She spoke, an angry look at the young
man. who still stood motionlessly by,
She motioned him to come close TO
her Mechanically Jack obeyed.
=, thlnk 1t Wisest and best to take
Jil-Bett home with me for a dav or
SO. YOU to join her there"
AS you wish" he responded
IT must be as you wish" she re-
torted with asperity.
l-oh, certainly" he replied. which
nettled Mrs. Nudge so that sh. mut-
tered just loud enough for him to
hear: ~
Huh. One would think I might be
assking :. him whether or no he hoped
II would be pleasant day"
Come, my dear" she said tenderiy
10 ll-Bett. whose sobbing had not
ceased Your husband will"
mented
Mrs. Nudge was surprised and in
diSnant that he made no effort to
speak to JilBett as she led her away
Il can see how it is going 10 end"
later she confided to Nudge; "he will
desert her-somewhere. | wish he
would leave her in katar with us"
hir1gr
KIND; he might take you up on it,"
I am not quite satisfied as TO the
haste OF this marriage; there was no
reason for 1t. unless her old grandfa~
iher had worse spell than usual and
mad an intuition his life was a uues-
li"n OF moments, instead of hours
That is probably the correct soIu-
ton" assented Nudge
Great was their surprise. and Jill
Rett's as well. when the long hours
of the day passed and Jack did not
put in n appearance.
Did you ever know the beat of
that! A pretty bridegroom, l should
say. You wouldn't have stood for
anything like that, would you, Marv?"
TN say no, decidedly no. Mr.
Nudge; no girl of spirit would"
Both had their backs to the door;
they did not know Jil-Bett was lust
entering the living room from an in
ner apartment. and. pausing in the
doorway, had heard all.
Turning swiftly, she sought her lit
tie room again. and, throwing herself
lace downward on the couch, gave
herself up to the bitterest throes of
grief.
She moaned: Il am. indeed, all alone
In this great. cold, cruel world. No
one loves me: ! wish / could die too"
Rising, she walked slowly to the
window. threw up the sash. looking
up through the sunshine into Gods
face. She was startled by the sound
of voices. recognizing Ben-Alis voice
he and Mrs. Nudge were having a
lively passage at words
so, it is true" he cried. The
stranger has stolen a march on me
and married Jil-Bett?"
"Jfl-Bett is now Jacks bride" she
retorted, 80 you will have to look
elsewhere for wife, Ben-Ali. There
is no use in your attempt to make a
scene in my house, won't allow it.
There's the door! CO."
Tell Jil-Bett and her husband
have d last trump 10 play"
Jil-Bett has told me all about it
YOU mean her dagger-you would
make serious trouble for her over it?"
He nodded. "All is fair in love and
war. madam"
II would show up. holding the jok-
or" she returned blandly
What do you mean?" he demanded
Just this she returned. Il was
present then and there; saw the ac
prove more than equal to yours. I
had followed Jil-Bett from short
distance, to be sure no Ill befell her.
A fierce imprecation broke from
the Arabs lips: "Checkmated, and by
woman" he exclaimed, adding:
You shall see what it means to make
An enemy of me, woman, there'll be
no more work for your man at the
pearl fisheries when his month Is up
that will be fortnight hence"
That suits me perfectly" she an
swcred. assuming brave front, but
nevertheless her heart Guaked with
terror. for she realized 1t would go
hard with them if a means of earning
q livelihood was taken from Nudge.
"It will go hard with you if YOU
interfere in what | intend to do" he
added. parting shot. as he wheel
cd about and walked rapidly from the
place.
II shall not worry" murmured
Mrs Nudge. wiping a tear from her
eye with her apron. God never shuts
one door without opening another
Later, she and Nudge talked over
the situation very earnestly.
Knowing the Arab as well as
6lo, should think he might act in
quite another direction. Jack has
now . mortal enemy in him. There's
something have Just heard that