New Britain herald., 1924-04-24
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

al llu.
 We have had glorious weather so far, and l haven't been i'll at all. am so glad. as a seasick bride must he too awful. mustn't it? Robert is quite well off, you know, and gives me heaps Of money. IL is such q change after having ones incope , doled out by stingy Lrother-in-law. wonder if the saintly David has turned up at the flat yet. and what I he said when you told him. [ Mary, mind you tell me everything that happens and what you are go- 1 irg to do. I said in my letter I left ! for you that you might sell the things and keep the money, and I still hope that you will. You were very kind to me. and don't like to think I have treated you badly. l Mary, you ought to have married Nigel instead of me. You would have adored him, l know. Robert sends his love to you, and hopes 10 meet you some day. Perhaps you i might come out here 70 stay with us for 6 little while. Would you like 1 that"
 i We arc going to live in an hotel to start with; houses are frightfully dear, and anyway, l hate housekeep- ing and having 10 look after servants. What a lot Of things have hap pened in these last few months. I am glad to say that on the boat we don't hear much about the awful war: people seem to be trying 10 forget if. There are some Americans who sit next to us at table. They have taken great fancy to me. Robert gets quite jealous. poor darling"
 Mary threw the letter down with little shudder. She could not be- lieee that it was indeed Dolly who had written it--Dolly, whom Nigel had loved so much. How cruel life was, how horribly cruel and unfair.
 She could not touch her breakfast. She wandered reStlessly about the little nat, unable to settle 10 anything.
 The door Of Nigel's room had been kept locked since he went away. She deliberately turned inc key now, and entered.
 IL still smclt fantly Of smoke. It was still filtered with his possessions. There was worn-out pipe on the shelf. and jar half filled with toe bscco: shabby slippers were kicked carelessly. beneath q chair. ,..... Mary sat down on the sofa where she had so often seen him lollinr 10 read and smoke and looked round the room with mournful eyes. So full of his presence the room was still, and yet--he would never come back any more. She would never hear his laugh, or his cheery whistle. He was dead, wiped out. and forgotten.
 She was so long in her own sad thoughts that she never heard the door-bel ring or step on the land ing outside--nerer saw a man. who stood on the threshold hesitaiing for moment as if in doubt whether to enter, until he spoke.
 May ] come in:"
 She started up with little smothered cry. David Brctherton stood there. She went 10 meet him agitatediy.
 'I am so sorry--i did not hear you --1 was dreaming |. He came into the room, and stood | looking round him.
 "This was Nigcl's room?'' "Yes."
 i His grave eyes swept her face, and a sudden kindliness filled thcm. You must not stay in this fiat" he said. Tt is killing work living alone with memories"
 ' She looked at him. trying 10 smile.
 'I am only staying tin things can be arranged. don't want 10 live here: ] couldn't afford to, even if ! did"
 A curious exprfsslon flashed across his face. Was this her way Of lead- ! ing up 10 the thing he had been ex- pccting: he wondered. and was ashamed Of the thought even as it was born.
 She looked go unlike an adventur- ess. It was impossible, when one saw the paiior and grief Of her face. 10 believe that she was exploiting a dead mans memory for her own gain.
 CHATTER N1N.
 Dasid's Oner lie walked over to the window, and s.ocd with his back turned to her. Standing go. he asked a question.
 Tn the letter you gave me yester- ! day-my brothers letter-he speaks Of friend of his. a Miss Futniyal."
 No answer. Mary clasped her lands. She looked at his aYerted face with wondering eyes. Almost it was on the tip Of her tongue 10 say:
 'T am Mary Furnival. You knew that. didn't you? Surely you knew that."
 He went on speaking before the words were formed.
 Nigel seems 10 have thought a great deal of her. He speaks Of her as his best friend. should like to meet her. to thank her for what she did for him. and-and his wife"
 And now he turned. looked at her across the room steadily.
 For 2 moment Mary could not spnsE 1f that lightning pause her