, 1924-04-09
The Evil Shepherd

something.
TOO late" ne regretted. During
the last month or so the thing has
come to me which we all look for
ward TO, only l don't think fate has
treated me kindly. have always
loved normal ways n normal people,
and the woman l are for is different"
Tell me about her!" she insisted.
you will be very surprised when l
tell you her name" he said. ut Is
Margaret Hilditch."
She looked at him for a moment In
blank establishment.
"Heavens!' she acclaimed. "Oliver
Hilditch's wife?"
81 can't help that" he declared. n
little doggedly. shes had a miser-
able time. | know. She was married
TO a scamp. I'm not quite sure that
her father isn't as bad n one. Those
things don't make any difference"
"They wouldn't with you." she said
softly. "Tell me. did o say any
thing to her last night?"
II did" he replied. 81 began when
we were out alone together. She gave
me no encouragement to speak of. but
at any rnte she knows"
Lady Cynthia leaned a little for
ward in her place.
"Do you know where she Is now?"
He was a little startled.
"Down at the cottage. I suppose.
The butler told me that she never
rose before midday"
Then for once the butler was mis-
taken" his companion told hlm. Mar
garet Hilditch left at six o'clock this
morning. saw Der in travelling
clothes get into the car and drive
away"
"She left the cottage this morning
before usf" Francis repeated. amazed.
81 can assure you that she did,
Lady Cynthia insisted. 81 never sleep.
amongst my other peculiarlties." she
went on bitterly. "and / was lying on
n couch by the side of the open win.
dow when the car came for her. She
stopped 1t at the bend Of the avenue
so that 1t shouldn't wake us up, | sup
pose. l saw her get in and drive
away"
Francis was silent for several mo-
ments. Lady Cynthia watched him
%curiously.
AT any rate" she observed. Sin
whatever mood she went away this
morning, you have evidently succeed
ed in doing what | have never seen any
one else do-breaking through her in
difference. / shouldn't have thought
that anything short of an earthquake
would have stirred Margaret, these
days.
These days." he repeated quickly.
How long have you now herr"
I'VE were at school together for a
short time" she told him. at was
while her father was in South Ameri-
ca. Margaret was IA very different per-
son In those days"
However was she Induced to marry
a person like Oliver Hilditch?' Fran
els s~peculated.
His companion shrugged her Shout
ders.
who knows?" she answered indif-
ferently. Are you going to drop me?"
wherever you like"
Take me on TO Grosvenor square,
II you will, then" she begged. land de
post me at the ancestral mansion I
am really rather annoyed about Mar
garrett" she went on. rearranglng her
veil. 81 had begun to have hopes that
you might have revived my taste for
normal things"
"If | had had the slightest intima-
ton" he murmured.
ut would have made no difference"
she interrupted dolefully. "Now
come to think of II, the Margaret
whom | used to know-and there must
be plenty OF her left yet-is just the
right type of woman for you"
They drew up outside the house In
Grosvenor square. Lady Cynthia held
out her hand.
Come and see me one afternoon,
will your" she invited.
I'D like 10 very much" he replied.
She fingered on the steps and waved
her hand to him-a graceful. some
what insolent gesture.
"All the same, | think I shall do nv
best to make you forget Margaret" she
called out. Thanks for the lift up.
A blentotl"