The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-15
TyUR once Ruth Markham had been
 &f na,,oEf t,,.s xr. roe far nnra her

TyUR once Ruth Markham had been caught unawares; for once her defenses were down, and she had bunRled as badly as I. in my crass ig- norance of such situations, would have done.
 ..Mr. Hyde did not know we were coming. SO how could he have waited for usf" I asked, my tone plainly bel
 aoh, I only implied that: if he had known he might have waited," she re- piled. an angry flush mantling her face. "You say, he is looking after some in yestments for me and I asked him to call instead of going to his office"
 .'There is no need to apologize, Mrs. Markham. "Mr. Hyde has perfect right to go where he pleases." twill you have your coffee now, madamef' the French maid interrupt led, just as Manviile was about to speak.
 Suddenly it all came to me as plain as day. Manville had lunched with her at her home. Had she known that he had refused to meet his auntg Was 1t likely he had told her and so was con fused when we appeared go unexpect- edIy?
 -Yes. Nanette. Serve It at once.
 You will excuse us.. We have just finished lunching." Aunt Cynthia spoil ed very sarcastic speech which trem- bled on my lips.
 Manville was 50 i'll at ease, so angry, that he scarcely could appear natural. He left very soon after he had drunk his coffee, although his aunt and l remained a little while longer. wanted desperately to follow him out and tell him I thought he was treating me shamefully to make appointments with Ruth Markham even in the day time when he was supposed to be at his office. Instead l had to sit and lis. ten to her and aunt exchsnging polite l platitudes, telling how. charming they had found each other, etc.
 They liew said to myself. T hate them both r
 am sure Aunt Cynthia knew that was boiling over with rage and the huri feeling<I could not hide. But Manvillt was her nephew, one of her family, s' she remarked as we drove home: I Isn't it nice in Manyille to show such interest in a friends affairs. No many men would leave their business III the mluUiC OL euC uhy " AOVA dAtG some foolish !woman's business"
 No, don't think many would"
 4"I suppose you are hurt because h. could not lunch with us,n she continued paying no attention to my innuendo But if I can excuse him, you surel! can. am a guest and his nearest rela tive"
 "A wife isn't relative, suppose
 There is no need for you to speal disrespectfully, even if you are an noyed."
 l After that we rode in silence unti we reached home. Then shut naysel in my room with my sense of neglect my anger; while Aunt Cynthia als, shut herself in her room with--her cat I made up my mind that would sal all sorts of things when Manville cam in to dinner. But, as usual, sais nothing, and listened in silence to hi
 fault-inding anent my red eyes. Al for his aunt, she flattered him as usua and complimented Ruth Markham which thought strange. Manville sav ithe Expression of disgust on my efaci and raised his eyebrows in a way h' had when annoyed knew should re ceive a lecture later He could not, ol would not, understand the effect hi, aunt's propinquity had upon me; hov she reused my, worst impulses and lief me shaking with anger. do not seel to excuse myself. Much of what I dit was inexcusable because of her age Yet in the final analysis think mucl