Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-15

snoulder. FRANCIS, WIN a smile, nSIv
out his own. They stood there for a
moment with clasped hands-a queer,
detached moment, as it seemed to
Francis, In a life which during the
last few months had been full Of vivid
sensations. From outside came the
lazy sounds of the drowsy summe
morning-the distant humming Of a
moving machine, the drone of q reaper
in the field beyond, the twittering OF
birds In the trees, even the soft lap
ping Of the stream against the stone
steps. The man whose hand he was
holding seemed to Francis to have be
come somehow transformed. 1t was
as though he had dropped mask and
were showing a more human, a more
kindly self. Francis wondered no
longer at the halting gallop of the
horses in the field.
you'll be good to Margaret" Sir
Timothy begged. "She's had a wretched
time"
Francis smiled confidently.
''Im going to make up for it, sir"
he promised. "And this South Ameri-
can trip" he continued, as they turned
toward the French windows, you'll
call that Off"
Sir Timothy hesitated.
II am not quite sure"
When they reached the garden, Lady
Cynthia was alone. She scarcely
glanced at Francis. Her eyes were
anxiously fixed upon his companion.
Margaret has gone in to make the
cocktails herself" she explained. "Wc
have both sworn off absinthe for the
rest of our lives, and we know Hedge
can't be trusted to make one without
"I'll go and help her." Francis dc
clared.
Lady Cynthia passed her arm
through Sir Timothy's.
II want to know about South Amer,
ica," she begged "The sight Of those
trunks worries me-"
Sir Timothys casual reply was obvf.
ously a subterfuge. They crossed the
lawn and the rustic bridge, almost IN
silence, passing underneath the per
COLA Of roses to the sheltered garden
at the further end Then Lady Gym
! thia paused.
"You are not going to South Amer
Ica," she pleaded, "alone2"
Sir Timothy took her hands.
my DEAR" he said "listen, please
to my confession. l am fraud.
o,,o n 80 nam
for a decadent troop Of weary, fash
ionable people I am a fraud some
times even to myself have had good
luck in material things. have had
bad luck in the precious. the senti-
mental side of life. 1t has i:lade some
thing Of an artificial character of me.
on the surface at any rate. l am
really a simple, elderly man who loves
fresh air, clean, honest things, games
and a healthy life. 1 have no am
bitions except those connected with
sport I don't even want to climb to
the topmost inches in the world Of
finance. / think you have looked at
me through the wrong-colored spec
tacles. You have had q whimsical
| fancy for a character which does not
exist"
"What I have seen," Lady Cynthia
answered, II have seen through no
spectacles at all-with my own eyes.
But what I have seen, even, does not
count There is something else"
II am within a few weeks Of my
fftieth birthday" Sir Timothy re-
minded her, "and you, believe, are
| twenty-nine."
my dear man." Lady Cynthia as
sured him fervently, "you are the only
person in the world who can keep me
from feeling forty-nine."
"And your people"
Heavens My people, for the first
/ brilliant success" Lady Cynthia de
clared. you'll probably have to lend
dad money, and shall be looked upon
as the fairy child who has resto.e
the family fortunes"
Sir Timothy leaned a little toward
| her.
Last of ALL" he said, and this time
his voice was not quite so steady, "are
you really sure that you care for me.
dear because have loved you so long,
and I have wanted love so badly, and
| 1t is so hard to believe"
1t was the moment, it seemed to
her, for which she had prayed She
was in his arms, tired no longer, with
all the splendid fire of life in her love-
lit eyes and throbbing pulses. Around
them the bees were humming, and a
soft summer breeze shook the roses
and brought little watts of perfume
from the carnation bed
"There is nothing in life" Lady Gym
tMa murmured brokenly, $50 wonder
full as this"
Francis and Margaret came out from
the house, the former carrying a silver
tray. They had spent a considerable
time over their task, but Lady Gym
tlia and Sir Timothy were still alb
sent. Hedges followed them, a little
worried.
"Shall 1 ring the gong, MADAME"