San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-23
CHAPTER xxx.

A WEEK after he had quilted
n San MARITIME, John Chatter
ton, on a wind-shaken eve
ming, when the leaves were flying
in showers, sat in the small oak
lounge of Deepdene Grange before
a glowing log fire, and listened
modify to the roar of the wind in
the chimney.
He frowned as a servant en-
tered. At the sight of the card
which was handed him he flushed.
But it was too late for a refusal.
James Hawksbee himself, putting
and clustering, walked into the
room behind the man.
'It's an accursedly awkward
thing to tell fellow like you, Chat
terton," he said, "but don't blame
me. Well, what everybody for
miles round here believes is that
YOU were engaged to marry Judy,
and that she chucked you and ran
away with de Barsac; that you fol-
lowed them and-and tried to per-
suade her to come back with you.
Judy stuck to de Barsac in spite of
all you could do. You offered her
marriage like an honorable man,
but Judy had some modern fool
notions about free-love, and de
Barsac was her man. They say
the Frenchman beat you, and the
women are interested in him and
sorry for you, but red-hot cinders
on Judy"
John Chatterton rose slowly.
"Who told them that?" he de-
manded.
"a foreign pal of de Barsac's
who's drifted here this last day or
two. And they've guessed lot"
"Gossecp snapped Chatterton
softly.
Don't know his name"-Hawks-
bee was talking swiftly and des-
perately, as though to come quick
" to the end of an unpleasant tale
but these chin-wagging DANES
round about believe it. Some are
weeping tears of compassion for
you. And might as well give
it you all-there's a meeting to-
night concerning some Village We'll
fare Society that Judy used to be
secretary to-she was always keen
on grubby little kids, you know.
Well, they're going to take her
name off the list with bell, book
and candle. That old Lady Crow
is at the head of the idea. She's
the local censor Of morals. And
Chloe will be there, of course.
Chloe had got her knife into the
child"
To his amazement John Chatter
ton strobe across to him and fired
a question.
when is this meeting, Hawks
bee?"
Its on now" Hawksbee's eyes
were beginning to bulge slightly.
81 called with Chloe at the village
hall, left her there, and came on
here with the car. But what"
"We're going there in your car
right awayw Chatterton said,
brusquely. 'I'm going to attend
that meeting"
The remainder Of Hawksbee's
plaintive words did not reach Chat
terton. He had entered the little
hall and stood in the vestibule.
Through the partly open door he
could see a score or so of we'll
dressed women primly seated in lis
tening silence. A family metallic
voice was speaking. 1t came from
spare, hawk-nosed woman of
dark and somewhat sallow aspect,
whose manner reminded Chatterton
of funeral bird. He waited I'M
til Judy's name came, then he
walked in.
"Mr. Chattertonw
It was Chloe Hawksbee who rose
from her seat and broke the death
~ silence with desperate attempt
at cool greeting. Chatterton spoke
without looking at her. Because
the irony in his voice was clumsy
and unpublished, it was not inef-
fective.
81 thought I'd come and live my
account of the affairs of Miss Judy
Kinsella and myself before you re-
moved her name from your books,
ladies'" he said. "a will state the
bald facts. She didn't elOpe with
Count de Barsac, and she is quite
innocent and respectable. She was
not engaged to marry me, and did
not pursue her TO take her from de
Barsac. Our relations were purely
Of a business character. II she
comes back here she will come IN
soiled by anything except your I'M
charitable tongues. Lest you should
couple her name with mine, let me
say that she has refused to marry
me on three separate occasions,
and would, no doubt, do the same
on the fourth. Our relations when
! she returns will be on a purely