Evening star., 1936-08-16
August 16, 1896

Maggie, now known as Mrs. Jones, happily
making little clothes for her coming baby;
she saw Dave Sotril coming to see them when
he could. which was not often, for already
he had tired of Maggie. Then darker mem
ories crowded on Mrs. BOsely, and reluctant
tears rose to her eyes as she recalled every
detail of what had been at the time most
piteous tragedy - the death of Magges
baby and the effect on Maggie herself
Johns return from India had been followed
at once by her own marriage. and but for one
circumstance, that secret and finally tragic
past might we'll have been forgotten This
circumstance was that once each year she
forced herself to leave her happy home, to
go off to a certain sad place near London, and
there to see an old friend who, thanks be,
always seemed happy; the more happy, in
asmuch as a considerable sum of money, mys-
teriously provided. had purchased an annuity
which gave her every comfort.
Once more Jane BOsely took up the eve
ming paper. and then she noticed something
that John had missed In another column was
an account of Sir David Sautrelle's beautiful
house in Park Lane which was now, it ap-
peared for sale
Having noted the number of that house in
her mind, she went across to the table which
filled up the bay window /and wrote as fol
lows, on piece of headed notepaper:
Mrs. Jane Bosely, formerly Jane Smith,
would like to see Sir David Sautrelle on
matter of business. As she wishes to see him
in private, it would be well for him to come
either at eleven some morning, or at four
any afternoon but Saturday. She would like
him to send word what day he is likely to
come. for her husband knows nothing of the
matter in question"
At the end of four days she received. type
written on piece OF plain paper, an answer:
IL will be with you at four O'Clock next
Wednesday. Should we be interrupted during
our conversation, please address me as Mr..
Jones'
The intervening days went all too quickly
by, and on the afternoon when she was ex-
pecting the man who, she knew, was obeying
what had amounted to a command on her
part Mrs. Bosely began to feel not only
anxious but wretChed. She shrank from caus-
ing trouble and she knew she was going to
cause much trouble to one who, whatever
his peCuliarities, had behaved, when fortune
had smiled on him, more generously than she
had ever thought he would to his poor mad
wife.
At last she heard the sound of footsteps
outside the house. Quickly she went to the
front door. AS mans tall figure loomed up
in the deepening twilight just opposite the
gate, she breathed one word "Davel'
The figure stopped and became rigid Sir
David Sautrelle, on hearing that whispered
name, had felt as if an electric shock had
gone through him. Dave? No one had called
him Dave" for over thirty years.
Not till he stood in the brightly-lghted
passage with the front door shut behind him,
did he speak. and then only to say, Well,
Jane? It's long time. isn't it,"
"Yes, it is,' was all she could find to
answer, in stranged voice.
They had last met and parted in tiny
back room of a small cottage at Ealing; she
had been crying bitterly then, and even he
had shown himself deeply distressed She was
remembering that hour as she showed him
into her sitting
Mrs Bosely had not yet drawn the cur
tains; the first thing her visitor did was to
go across to the window and pull them to-
gether. This action took his old friend aback
and also slightly offended her. Queerly it re-
called what he had done on his marriage day,