Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-04

briefer, because she had nothing really
10 tell. But apparently the agency was
well SATISFIED that she was on the spot.
They seemed easily pleased, she thought.
At o'clock that afternoon she
knocked ct the door Of the house IN
Curzofl street and was admitted by o
new maid. and u was characteristic q
Dora that the delinquencies OF the old
one should BE- the subject matter Of
her conversation. M
"She got little too fresh, and she
admitted people without telling me they
were in the house, after had given
her strict instructions that was not
nt home to them" Then, realizing that
the conversation was not exactly as
she had planned 1t, she caught the girl
by the shoulders and looked lovingly
into her face. "You have forgiven me,
girlie?"
why. Of course, dear"
For some reason, Audrey felt awk-
ward and gauche. It was as though
there was some tension in the air that
she felt without being able to define.
Perhaps II was the absence of Martin
which disconnected her, She expected
to see him: the reconciliation was In
complete without his presence. And 1t
was strange that Dora made no refer
ence to or apology for his absence.
"Sit down, my dear, and let me have
o good look at you. You haven't
changed very much since the old days,
really you haven't. Nobody would dream
that you were year older than T."
Audrey looked up In amAzeinent.
"a year older?" she said.
"That Is why wanted TO see you.
You'll have some tear"
But I don't understand you, Dora, {"
said the girl. ignoring the invitation.
am not older than you: am year
younger"
Doras slow smile was almost con-
vincing.
You're a year older, darling" she
Dear mother was responsible for the
n1ixup. For some reason, which I Bit
terly regret, mother did not like you,
and her dislike took a queer expression,
as. we have reason to know"
i have always understood that I was
born on the LIST Of December, 1904~---"
began Audrey.
"On the Sd Of February, 1908" smiled
Dora. 81 have your birth certificate.
wanted to show it to you"
She opened the drawer Of the secre-
tary and from blue envelope took out
the long oblong slip.
There it is, dear-Audrey Dorothy
Bedford. That was mothers first ius-
band. I told you that she never called
you by your name"
Audrey was examining the document,
bewildered
But she told me-she said you were
the older-lots of times. And, Dora,
remember, YOU were always in a class
higher than I at school. II what you
say Is true, then my father"
st told you that your father was on
the breakwater, but that isn't So" Dora
dropped her eyes. TT was my father"
she said brokenly. "He was an Ameri-
can, who came to South Africa and met
mother when she was a young widow
with child only few weeks DID, They
were married three months later"
Audrey dropped down into a chair.
How queerI" she said. But am
Audrey! And we are both Dorothy?
That must be so. But"--she shook her
head helplessly-"I can't believe that
I'm older than you"
Dora checked her rising anger with q
great mental effort, but what she had
to say was interrupted by a cry from
the girl
\ ChIl prove IN tkle yOuIlB6T! Sne
said. triumphantly. mother told me
where was christened-at q chapel In
Rosebank, South Africa!"
In the bedroom above the room in
which they were talking Martin Elton,
his ear to the floor, listened and grew
suddenly haggard. Audrey TorTington
must be put awayl BY what way, In
what fashion, he did not care. He walt
ed, listening, and when at last her
foot sounded on the stairs he got UP
and opened the door.
Dora's voice, laughing and carefree.
came up to him. and presently the street
door closed and he went down to meet
his wife.
? "well?Y she asked. and then she saw
his face and shrank back as II she had
been struck.
Martin, you wouldn't"
He nodded.
A life stood between him and the Law
ish prosperity which had been his LIES
dream. He had taken his decision.