Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-06

Il wish to speak with you 1oF
minute"
He led her into the study he and
Bradley had just left. There he
paused and faced her.
II wish you to know that did not
seek this meeting tonight" he said
IT have fulfilled your two requests
have I not?'
You have" she answered.
| Clifford had always thought her
beautiful. but never more beautiful
than now. And suddenly he realized
that he still loved her.
! His mind raced back over his
strange experience with her. Though
she looked the equal of the best.bred
daughter Of that master confidence
man. Gentleman jim Regain. deat
these many years. She had passed
her girlhood in the cynical little court
that had always surrounded her father
and had absorbed it's cynical philoso
ply. Her first attempt to put her
cynical philosophy into practice had
brought her into contact with Clifford
He had believed that her point of view
was merely a mental habit created by
association, and was not an expires
sion Of her true self and he had pro
ceeded upon the belief that, instead OF
| bigger thing If he could awaken in her
this real Mary Regain. What conflicts
there had been! And he had thought
| that he had won! And at last
Can you tell me your real reason
for leaving me as you did,"
MY letter told you everything"
"Your letter. In agony he lived
again the events of the day Of that
letter: their marriage in little town
| their motor trip back to his apartment
with his hope of their beginning a
| great life together; the message which
had called him Immediately to a press.
ing conference; his return an hour
| later to find her letter
Your letter. he repeated. He
drew out billfold. and from II took
bit of paper. Here liz your letter
Do you think 1t explanation enough? %
Slowly he read aloud:
being alone has given me q
chance to think things over I am
convinced that, with our different
angles of looking on life. our marriage
was mistake: therefore I am leaving
1 ask two favors, and hope you will
grant them. First, do not try to find
me. and do not try to have my move.
ments watched. Second, keep our mar.
riage secret. If that Is possible /"
Clifford was about to 20 on, when
she checked him with:
IF we are to speak of personal
things. I'd prefer doing 1t where there
Is less chance Of our being disturbed.
There Is that little balcony"
With him following, she stepped
| through the French windows. Light
enough flowed out into this retreat
for him to see her face.
And now what is it," she asked.
II have scrupulously observed the
two requests of your letter." he said
But don't you think should have a
little fuller explanation? And couldn' t
you left?'
"My letter told all there was to be
| told" replied her even voice.
In silence Clifford gazed down into
the beautiful. unwavering eyes Of the
| woman who had been his wife for four
or Ave hours.
What are you doing here?'
Why shouldn't be here? The
house Is filled with guests. and most
| or them with very excellent social
standing"
| But your" he demanded sharply
| "You-when you know what Bradley
Is? When you've had such expert
ences with him."
An interruption saved her from
making answer. Perhaps the thing
| was caused by a current Of air. per.
haps by the pressure Of her body as
she started back at the fierceness that
had crept into his last words. The
French windows closed with little
bang and there was click Of bolt.
Were locked out!' she exclaimed
| in alarm.
1--WE can call for help" he reas.
sured her. "Or, since It's not more
than feet to the ground, I can
lower you and then jump down.
mo, no! aWetmust 60 back the
same way we came"
Her agitation over 30 slight a pre-.
dicament was a surprise to him.
i"I know this balcony. I've been
here BEFORE" she went on. There's