The Glenwood post., 1924-10-09
Spyra9Af ~ LITrlE. BROWN ent co.


ones find him out and the butterfly
ones fit away somewhere else. 1t may
seem unslsterly, but am more con-
cerned about you, Christopher, than
Gerald"
He passed his arm through hers, an
action which their increasing Intimacy
seemed to render perfectly natural
Mary he began. you are just the
one person in the world to whom 1
could confess an impulse of folly, and
this Is, suppose, the one place could
do 1t In. frankly don't understand
what you mean by being In love. When
have thought Of marriage, 1t has been
In connection with some dear woman
friend who would make home for me
and be companion. OF course,
expected to care for her and all that,
but-promise you won't laugh at me ~
Il shall not laugh" Mary promised.
For the first time in my life, that
child has made me think of other
things" Christopher acknowledged
Simply. II don't know that it amounts
to anything, dare say really 1t is an
unsuspected vein of kindness which
she has touched; but there 1t is.
have an absurd feeling of fondness for
her. The Idea of her becoming a play
thing for Gerald or anybody makes a
madman Of me-"
"And she7"
Looks upon me as a kind person
but an intolerable nuisance. She
dreams Of nobody but Gerald. II he
lifts his little finger, she Is his"
"Reallyl" Mary drawled coldly.
please don't judge her too harshly,"
Christopher begged. MYRTLE is tenn
permanently incapable of a mean or
an immoral action. She is just child
of nature, only instead of being swayed
by the lower instincts, she Is swayed
by the higher ones. She loves Gerald,
and nothing else counts with her. She
would have thrown herself into the
river sooner than have given herself in
marriage to the innkeeper. She is
equally capable of giving her life and
her soul to Gerald, If he requires the
sacrifice"
Mary turned her head towards the
window.
II think that father wants his game
of backgammon" she observed. 1--WE
had better go in, I am afraid. We
must talk Of this again some time.
VIII you go first and say that shall
be there directly?"
Christopher stepped obediently
through the window. and Mary passed
on to the farther end of the terrace,
where the shadows were deeper. For
a moment her self-control slipped
away. Her fingers gripped the ivy
stalks f1ercely. There were tears In
her eyes, her rather firm but sensitive
little mouth quivered passionately. It
seemed SO many years since Chris
topher had first represented to her all
that she desired In manhood-a man
of character, worker, sportsman
when the time came, always ambi-
tious, always ready to pit his brain
against others. She had fancied him
in parliament, a cabinet minister later
In life. perhaps. She had thought with
happiness Of the many ways In which
she could further his career; had
dreamed with pleasure Of playing
hostess for him in joint establish
ment. She had known that the con-
summation of her wish was inevitable,
unless something should come be-
tween. And something had most un-
expectedly come between-this peasant
girl. this birth of spurious sentiment
nothing, in a man like Gerald, but
very much to be dreaded in a person
of Christopher's poise and steadfast-
ness. She was a proud young woman,
for all her gracious ways and, al
though she refused to find anything
final In his attitude, the pain that she
suffered in those few moments was not
only of the heart.
Christopher and his host. in the in
tervals of their game, talked Of the
latest suicide. With the usual amaz-
ing secrecy of the local press, not one
word had appeared in any paper pub
lished in the vicinity.
"I feel a great deal Of sympathy for
our neighbors," Lord Hinterleys re-
marked. "Old Colonel Huskinson,
whom I met on the terrace this morn
ing, told be that the man was bringing
them money for some estates he had
sold, which were practically their only
means Of subsistence"
Lord Hinterleys picked up his cards.
Mary came in from the terrace and
seated herself by Gerald's side. The
quietness of the evening, however, was
almost Immediately disturbed. The
butler threw open the door. announcing
guests.
"The Ladies' Victoria and Millicent
Cromwell, Mr.. James Cromwell. Lady
Esseden."
They all trooped in-lntimates Of
the young people Of the house.
I'VE want you to come down to the
club for an hour or two." Lady Vic
toria, who was always the leading
spirit, suggested. Dads Just paid my
dress allowance, and I'm dying to lose
It, and Jimmy's going to give us supper
and take u to dance somewhere after.