Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-01-22

Il am not st all cure" he said. ~
you are what yOp seen 10 be. that q
would not be better II you went Te
England
They all came trOOping out. Afyr-
tile got up to fetch her own CLOAK, hat
Gerald detained her. She stood by hia
side. bidding good night to his guests
with him. The marquis frowned slight
" as be made his adieux. The look in
his eyes haunted her for a moment a.
be turned away. Then she was cor
scious OF a curious sense OF disturb
ance. She was alone with Gerald and
he was looking at her strangely.
"Y0u have been happy, MyrtfIeY
Gerald asked, and his voice seemed %
come from a long way OF.
Wonderfully" she answered. -
there Is my cloak
She moved toward the open ds.or
leading into Gerald's suite. she
seemed suddenly torn by q strange
medley OF sensations and memories
She saw Nadine pass through It. d.
sheveled and Indecent. with that back.
ward glance az Gerald which. evea TO
her ignorance. seemed ugly. She
heard the voices OF all Of them laugh
Ing stridently. Little half-under-
stood sentences puzzled her. She
passed into the sltting-room. Gerald
followed closing the door. The sound
of the music came quietly. Myrtils
felt suddenly faint.
''You are tiredr" Gerald exclaimed.
bending anxiously over her.
She put her arms around bis neck
like child
Gerald" she whispered, take care
Of me. am afraid. Be good to me,
Gerald"
Their lips met. but there was some
thing absent from the warm Joy Of
that first kiss Side by side with her
happiness came the feeling OF dIscord-
ant music all around her. Rank per.
fumes seemed to hang in the air. A
ribbon from one OF Madness discarded
garments lay upon her sofa. Yet when
Gerald leaned toward her and his
eyes sought for hers. a strange con-
tent seemed to creep like g flood over
all these other things.
The door OF the sittfng-room was
suddenly opened and closed. Chris
topher stood there. a little breath
less, as though he had run up the |
stairs, pale. and with a look IN his
eyes from which both Gerald and
MYRTLE quailed-Ger with fuller
understanding. His arms dropped. He
was nearer fear than ever before in
his life. Christopher spoke with mar
velous calmness.
Gerald" he said. were Won think
ing Of breaking your trust7"
"Yes" Gerald answered hoarsely.
Drop this Don Quixote business.
I'm sick Of It."
Christopher came step nearer.
MYRTLE is coming back to her
lodgings with me-" he announced.
She is going to England tomorrow
Your sister has promised to
take her.
But It is impossiblel" MYRTLE
,ried passlonately.
1T Ia arranged" Christopher de-
Haired. II went to your rooms to-
llght, MYRTLE, 10 tell you received
Annette's lying message I was told
hat you were In bed and asleep. /
eft note. Then. for the frst time
Iince have been here. went to the
Tub and stayed late. / heard your D
tuests downstairs speak OF your good 4
ortune. Gerald" h
Gerald laid his hand upon Myrtlles d
rrist. E
"well." he said. what are you going .
o do about TT" u
Il am going to take MYRTLE home,s d
insisted. a
Il refuse to let her 60 Gerald de 81
Jared. 0,
Christopher looked for a moment D
way at MYRTLE. She chung to Gerald CT
Ike q frightened child. II
Listen" Christopher went on, ~you 81
nd have been friends all our lives o.
erald. We know one another pretty
ell. You know OF me that I am O y
ian of my word. know OF you that.
Tough you are selfish and worship
Ieasure. you are white enough when
le hour strikes. The hour has struck. lc,
erHld. Let me take MYRTLE home" IA,
MYRTLE shall choose" Gerald pro IN
lsed IN
Myrtle shall do nothing Of the SORT "a
as the prompt reply. You might as hc
ell ask her to choose the right path It
rough a strange city. Gerald. old SCI
zap. don't take this hardly. am til,
II here TO sling abuse at you. And les
yrttfe-just doesn't understand pe
rank God I was in time MYRTLE. to
Ike your cloak"
She chung to Gerald's arm, looking
xiously into his face. Something else
scordant had come into the room. hu
mefhing unbeautifuI, something to -,
feared She looked from one to the a.
ler OF the two men. 0erald's Est ~
IS clenched. For all his calm, there Nv
Is q subtle threat In Chrlstopher'a
.itude. -.
I don't want 20 quarrel, /" Chrsfopheg -, ~