San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-30

one forbidden to me. I'm going to
get out of these clothes. l can't
stop around here. I'm the bad
girl of the county. So l shall go
back to London and find work, l
suppose. I'm no longer your sec
rotary and companion, now you've
got Tony"
Panchita gave little sharp gasp
of realized expectation. She
sprang off the chair-arm and lis
tened.
"Wait, Judy" she said, her
eyes shining. "Wait a leetle
moment"
Outside the little cottage foot
steps sounded, and the door
opened.
Tony Buckenham had entered
the library of Deepdene Grange
while John Chatterton was still
torn with bitterness and storm. At
the sight of him the elder man
rose, WIFI lllt IlldSh VI SdlliIllSSo
which he usually wore, falling
upon him again.
''Why, Buckenhamw he said,
calling back the old ring of. irony
to his tone.
Neither man offered to shake
hands. Buckenham, with his long,
tanned face making a contrast to
his sun-bleached hair, sat down
quietly. In some subtle way he
looked older and less like diet
tante in life. Chatterton noticed
it subconsciously, yet instantane-
ously.
81 thought I'd call, Chatterton, .
he said. ''In a way, you are en-
titled to my report on what hap
pened at San Martino after you
left" I
81 know" Chatterton said curt
ly, without raising his voice. "I've
had a message from Miss van OPP
PEN"
Buckenham went on almost
stolidly.
ITO myself-your late pri-
vate secretary. | stayed on and
wandered about the island. | mar
ried Panchita Consoles, and we had
couple of days gypsy honeymoon.
Then we went back to the palazza
and stayed as the guests of Maisie
van Open. She and her husband
were there, but | believe the
wandering-fever was coming on
them again. De Barsac had
hoped it. Judy had gone. They
were under the impression that
she had returned to England and
you had married her. So they
meant to give you the lease of the
island as wedding-present.
They'll be rather taken aback to
find you haven't"
Chatterton stirred and lifted his
head sharply.
what the devils the matter,
man." he inquired with clumsy
irony. care you running a matri-
mOnial agency"
"WeT cut the old cackle,
Chatterton," said Tony, land
come to the horses. reckon you
and | have both been a good size
in fools. ! was a young Snob of
my class who thought you had no
right to come barging into the
little family circle round here. L
took your money for Deepdene,
but still despised you. / meant to
come as your secretary and teach
you to be what | thought was a
gentleman, and make you look an
ass at the same time. But San
MARITIME interrupted the little PLAN"
TOny's eyes did not leave Chat
tertOn's immObile face.
And you-you meant to show
what money and power could do
when 1t was up against the old
nobility, so to speak. You meant
to turn that limleSs young waster,
whose house and lands you had
bought, into a tame lap-dOg. You
were about as merciless as a can
nibal. You thought money could
get everything-even Judy"
"You lie there" Chatterton
whispered. He was watch 81
Buckenham with a sort Of painful
intentness. No further words left
him.
Tony's usually languid eyes
were very bright.
I'm going TO finish this story
Of two cursed fools, he said. 81
thought that Judy was-was guilty
where de Barsac was concerned.
You never did.
You were one up on me there.
! know now she was utterly innO-
cent. When a man marries a girl
? like Panchita he learns a lot about
women in short time. But you
could not forgive. Not even when
she'd fallen in love with you could
you forgive. You were like a lot
Of other beasts of the chase. When
the quarry gave in, you -idn't
want it,
Chatterton stumbled to his feet.
His face was white
What do you mean?' he asked
rather thickly.
Tony rose, too, and gave an IN
steady laugh. He looked Chatter
ton between the eyes.
"She's in love with you. Wen
break the conventions and use the
word that is taboo between two
mon. She wa, in love with you all
the time. Part Of the time she
didn't know il herself When you
and ] were fighting for her she
D d D.