Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-17

shall call for her within the hour"
Mr.. Arnold, with an appearance OF
greater relief than he actually felt
offered his hand. which Jerome took
in a perfunctory and slightly absent
| minded way. Let US hope" said Mr..
Arnold, that matrimony may per-
manently remove these Temperament
tai infelicities.'
JEROME went out with a heart like
y lead and returned Immediately to
the hotel, where his first act was to
| call up Sylvia.
IT'S Jerry" said he. unsteadily.
! Forgive me. Sylvia. l have just had
talk with Mr.. Arnold. Alison re-
| tracts her statement Of yesterday,
and there seems no way out of it,
There was a moments silence; then
q steady voice answered.
| II said she would, Jerry. Carry on.
God bless you, Goodbye
| Jerry summoned the porter, sent
| down his luggage, paid his bill, and,
stepping into a hotel taxi, directed
the driver to the Arnolds' old city
home in Gramercy Park. On enter
ing the house, he was met by Alison.
whose face was slightly pale and
showed the traces of tears. She Of
fered him her lips.
We've both been very silly, Jerry"
said she. II was nervous and upset.
Lets forget it. dear" said Jerome
| In q strained voice. You're all
teady?"
Yes" She touched the bell, and
the butler came from the rear OF the
house. Put my things in the taxi,
Higgs," said Alison.
They got into the vehicle and were
about to move away when a messen-
ger boy crossed the sidewalk to the
door of the house.
| Walt q minute" said Alison. and
called to the butler: rs that for me,
Higgs?"
| YES, Miss mean, Mrs. Kenyon"
Alison took the dispatch, and, lean
| ing back in the cab, tore open the
| envelope with a word of apology to
Jerome. CHANGING at her face, he saw
It whiten suddenly, while her large
eyes darkened from the dilatatior of
her pupils. Then she looked at him
with an indescribable expression. ex-
!
mingled with an accent of triumph
which was almost cruel. Then, to
Jeromes astonishment, she beckoned
to the butler, who was standing on
the steps waiting respectfully but
with a bit Of curiosity to see them
drive away.
"Higgs!"
"Yes-Mrs. Kenyon"
Take my things back into the
house"
The astonished butler obeyed
Alison turned to Jerome, and her thin
carmine lips were wreathed in a
feline smile. She offered him her
hand.
Good bye. Jerry" said she. We've
had an awfully close shave from
running our lives"
Jerome felt his head whirling. 81
believe you're right, Alison"
You don't ask to see my dispatch? ?
| why should I, when I refused &c
show you mine?"
Well, you might as we'll know
what it says. I'm apt to need your
help. An annulment is not like a
divorce. Collision doesn't matter
|
contract by mutual agreement Of the
parties Of the first and second parts
1t can be done Immediately. and at
no great cost"
She handed him the slip OF yellow
paper 1t was dated the morning OF
the previous day from Capetown, South
Africa, and it read as follows:
Just seen old copy of Times an
nouncing your engagement. Implore
you to wait my arrival. Leaving by
Saturdays ship. Liverpool and New
York. Letter should reach you in
few days. telling of my big strike If
newly opened fields. Millions in
sight. Wild with anxiety. Cable con-
sulate Capetown that I'm not too late
All my love. Dick
TOR the severalth time in the last
l. twenty-four hours Jerome's heart
went through some violent gymnas-
tics. while his mouth was subject t.
that sudden dryness which come,
with powerful emotion. Bat he wa.
getting Injured to this, and SO man.
aged to croak, awkwardly, albeit
with sincerity: MY warmest congrat'
ulations. Alison. Who is Dick?"
Richard Crandall. We were en-
gagged two years ago. but he hadn't
a cent. Then there was a silly fight
and he slammed of in a rage"
Jerome reflected that this appeared
to be a habit OF Alison's fiances. but
it did not seem quite the moment tc
remark on II.
Dick was really the one love Of my
life, Jerry. I've been bitter ever
since. You're not too cut up about
it, are you?"
IT shall try to weather IT," said
Jerome dryly. How long did you
say It takes to get an annulment?"
"Oh, father can manage that quick
~. with his influence
I'VE might go up and break the
glad news to him." Jerome suggested
acquittal."
thought. You are a good sport
jerry
Jerome told the driver to go to the
Metropolitan building. AS the tax
moved away, Alison, seized with sud-
den contrition, laid her hand upon hi,
arm.
You really are a dear, Jerry. I've
been a cat But, honestly, don't you
think that this marriage of ours was
foredoomed to failure?"
I'm afraid so, Alison. Even with
out Dick, I doubt that it would have
been a brilliant success.
you don't blame me, do you jerry
II do not" said Jerome with EN-
phasis. you have shown a lot more
| sense than / did"