Evening star., 1924-05-05

old rakes approval. Too much trou-
BILE already had resulted from them.
81 must speak with you at once.
At once" she urged him, her tone
fearful.
Are you in need Of me?" he asked
concernedly.
'In very urgent need" said she.
Il thank God" he answered without
flippancy. You will find me at your
service. Tell me-"
Not here; not here" she answered
him.
Where else?" said he. Shall we
walk?"
mo, no." Her repetitions marked
the deep excitement that possessed
her. Il will go in with you" And
she signed with her head towards the
door from which he was barely
emerged.
being confused and full of speculation
on the score of her need, he had for
the moment almost overlooked the re-
lations in which they stood; In spite
of the ceremony through which they !i,
mostly thought of her as of mis-
tress very difficult to WOO.
"Fitting?" she echoed, and then
after IL pause, Am l not your wife?'
she asked him in low voice, her
'Ha! 'Pon honor, l had almost for
got" said he. and though the burden
of his words seemed mocking, their
tone was sad.
OF the passers-by that jostled them
a couple had now paused to watch a
scene that had an element OF the
unusual in it. She pulled her Wimple
closer to her face, took him by the
arm, and drew him with her into the
house.
Close the door," she bade him, and
Trenchard, who had stood aside that
they might pass in, forestalled him In
obeyins her. Now lead me TO your
turned to Trenchard as II asking his
consent, for the lodging, after all, was
Trenchard's.
"I'll wait here" said Nick. and
waved his hand towards an oak bench
that stood in the passage. You had
best make haste" he urged his friend;
you are late already. That is, unless
you are of mind TO set the lady $
affairs before King Monmouh's. And
I'd not scruple to do it: For after
all" he added under his breath,
there's little choice in rotten apples"
Ruth waited for some answer from
Wilding that might suggest he was
indifferent whether he went to New
lington's or not; but he spoke no word
as he turned to lead the way above
stairs to the Indifferent parlor which
With the adjoining bed bsdro3m Sn1 1rG CON
and his own, for the time being.
Having assured herself that the
curtains were closely drawn. she put
by her cloak and hood and stood re-
vealed to him in the light of the
three candles burning in a branch
upon the bare oak table, dazzling gly
beautiful in her gown OF ivory-white.
He stood apart, cogitating her with
glowing eyes, the faintest smile be-
tweeNquestion and pleasure hovering
about his thin mouth. He had closed
the door, and stood in silence waiting
for her to make known to him her
pleasure.
"Mr. wilding = e" she began. and
straightway he interrupted her.
But a moment since you did re-
mind me that I have the honor to be
your husband" he said with grave
humor. why seek now, to overcloud
that fact? l mind me that the last
time we met you called me by an
other name. But it may be-" he added
as an afterthought, you are of opin-
ion that 1 have broken faith with
you"
Broken faith? AS how?'
so. he said, and sighed. my
words were of so little account that
they have been, / see, forgotten. Yet,
so that I remember them, that is
what chiefly matters. / promised then
or seemed to promise-that 1 would
make a widow of you. who had made
a wife of you against your will. 1t
has not happened yet Do not despair.