The Washington times., 1931-03-25

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said Mary Lou, youthfully. She
told Delight something Of her
BACKGROUND, her circumstances,
the removal of her aunt and
uncle to the Orient, of her
necr ssity for finding employ
ment. Presently she came to
Lorry and the advertisement in
the paper and her journey out
to Westmill to the place called
Westwood House, Of her disap-
pointment in learning the mis-
take, the omission in the ad'
vertisement, and Of her first
encounter with Lorrimer.
Very Much Upset
"You see, he thought I was
YOU. He-he wouldn't let me
go. And he was so i'll, so dis
tressed, that his mother and
doctor decided I must stay
and play a part-your part"
Delight looked at her blankly.
She was past astonishment. Sud
denly, with an odd murmur,
she rose and left the room.
Mary Lou sat quite still wait
ing. Oh, he couldn't care for
this woman; he couldn't! But
he had. And perhaps memory
and loyalty would hold
Delight came back. She had
with her a small snapshot. It
had been. taken on that. last
leave of Lorrimer's. 1t showed
them standing together in some
great park or other, showed the
laughing boy Mary Lou had
never known, showed a small,
slender girl.
Mary Lou held it in her
hands. Here was proof, II
proof were needed.
You do look" said Delight
Hartford, very miserably, much
as I used to look. so long
ago."
Mary Lou laid the picture
down on the table and went on.
80 I stayed" she said, and
because he thought I was you.
because I brought back to him,
playing your part, a new inter
est in life he-he changed. He's
well now" said Mary Lou, with
a certain pride. Hes splen-
did,"
She described, briefly, Lor'
rimer's mental, nervous and
physical condition when she
had first seen him, the gradual
change, the altering interests
the return to normol living,
normal thinking.
Larry Knows All
"You did a good job" said
Delight Hartford. And what
now?"
Just this. You've come
back. Larry knows. Larry is
one of the few people who
know the truth of this-Lar'
nv and the doctor. Mrs. Lor-
rimer's other friends have &C
cepted mes you, as q girl
Lorrimer knew, in war time.
But you have come back now"
Why didn't Mitchell say any
thing to me?" interrupted De
light, a little harshly.
"He had to be sure. The
circumstances were so unusual.
He didn't dare tell you until
he had told me and Mrs. Lor-
rimer."
Il don't notice that she
rushed over here to see me"
remarked Delight.
mo" said Mary Lou, with
candor, "she didn't. You see,
Miss Hartford, ever since he
Mr.. Lorrimer," she stumbled .
little, came home he has had
one fixed idea. You. Your
marriage to him on the day OF
his leave"
Our marriage? He told his
people?" asked Delight. Her
eyes were on the seal ring.
Eyes. Mrs. Lorrimer tried to
have it traced, she had agents
in London looking for the rec
ord of it. They didn't find it.
So she never believed it. She
doesn't believe it now. And
when she learned you had
come back"
"She believed in letting sleep
ing wives lie. eh?" asked De
light with acidity. She laughed.
aloud. The whole business was
too fantastic, too like a dream.
Lorry? Why she didn't even
remember him any more! She
had the snapshot. faded, blur
red, which she only looked at
perhaps once or twice a year.
Now and then, when people
spoke of war time, when she
had had a good supper and a
couple Of highballs, she might
permit herself to become SEN
timental about q boy she had
once loved and who had died
long ago, and bravely.
Hell have to know the
truth" said Mary Lou, I'VE
can't keep it from him, no one
can, no one has the right"
Not Fair to Judge
Mrs. Lorrimer had planned
to?" inquired Delight Shrewdly.
Mary Lou flushed.
1T isn't fair to judge her."
she broke out paSsionately.
She's the most marvellous
woman. She has sacrificed ten
years of her life to him-if
you could have seen him as he
was, you'd know! She thinks
of nothing but his happiness.
his welfare. She-didn't believe
in his marriage. She had no