New Britain herald., 1928-06-26
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her inquiry.
 Virginia's face was aglow. Per haps you know MT. Leigh" she said quickly. Oddly he IS called by his friends"
 Old Oddly Leigh. We all know him by name down here in the islands, Miss Brewster. but I'm sor- ry to say that I'm not personally ac- quainted with him. Matter of fact. no one has seen much of him lately. He rarely leaves his plantation and I've heard .. -
 He paused and glanced anxiously at Virginia. By the way, IS he a friend of yours?" he asked. trying to sound casual.
 Virginia shook her head No she said, but my father knew him many years ago, in India lt is my greatest wish to meet him on this trip and ! thought, when you said you lived in Haiti, that you might introduce us
 I'd be only too happy, but you will no, need an introduction. Oddly will welcome the daughter of an old friend l can vouch for that on his reputation. Only well, since 1t will not shock you as 1t would if you knew him ! must prepare YOU 10 find him greatly changed iron, the man your father knew The poor fellow has had his troubles
 Nireinias heart sank like plum met. Oh" she cried in consterna ton. what has happened to him? l met q friend in New York who had heard bad news about him, but ! didn't know that 1t was the same n}an-the man who saved my fathers life, I mean
 MT. Flance's lips set in tight line. It is hardly a subject you would care 10 discuss. Miss Brew ster, I judge"
 Virginia remained qu,et for a mo- nent. Then: But = don't you see! If there is anything ! ought to know it because I'm going down there principally to see him. It would be much easier, I think, if ] knew what to expect
 "Yes. believe it would, he agreed after a second thought. .Dld you evere hear Of Oddly's wife ?'the added abruptly.
 His wife," Virginia repeated. Why. I don't remember that l ever did. I'm sure father never mentioned her in his diary or when he spoke Of Mr. Leigh.
 . Probably not. Most like he never heard of her No one had. I guess. until she suddenly appeared down in the West Indies and dragged old Oddlvs name through all the slimy backwash of the islands, Then the story came out, Shed driven nm from the states q few months after their marriage, and such was her hate of him because she lost hlm that she wouldn't divorce him and marry the other man.
 Oddly couldn't do that because he didn't believe in divorces. So he took to rowing, thinking shed free herself But she didn't And when she came to Haiti she was still Mrs O D. D. Leigh and all the world could know it for all she cared
 It did to Leigh what the sugar trust hadn't been able to do. 1t broke him Youll find him only the rem nants of a man, I'm afraid. Mss Brewster"
 What became Of h,s wife "
 She went out ln the gutter screaming in agony at nadman who didn't know how to handle knife
 He broke off sharply suddenly aware Of the effect of hls words up on Virginia who was leaning against the rail. vhlte-faced and trmbling
 I'm sorry," he hastened to add, "Beastly of me, but l was thinking of the finest man in the world ana that that woman did to him.
 Virginia did not answer lmn,e- diately Finally she thanked him tor telling her what he had and lett him, to flee to her stateroom ana try to compose herself to carry on her duties.
 Touch of the tropics?" someone asked her at the breakfast table, re-
 
 eardlng her untouched plate
 T suppose so." she answered
 After Cuba everyone should take good dose Of salts another ad- y,sad placldlv. Tt isn't safe not to- Everybody eats too much there Never had better fish in my life
 The remark started general re- counting of the days just past and Virginia slipped out of the conver- satlon to commune with her oun thoughts They were not plcasa mt company but she could not get away from them. Resides, the situation in which she now found herself must be faced
 She had come upon ] wild goose chase. lt appeared T Still, on after thought. she real,zed that no one had sad that Leigh had been i'm poverlshed by his Hlfe's conduct Stacy had merely spoken Of bad 1 neus,' nd surely the scandal and h. arthreak would account for that Flanc@, toe. had mentioned only 1 that her coming had broken" her | husband That did not necessarily mean that money losses were i'm piled \ man could he more terri tlv broken in spirit He had spect- flcailv said '~hat the sugar trust