The Washington times., 1937-02-06

too, somewhere, confessed Par,
ker, with averted eyes.
Isn't it odd?" murmured Phyl.
lis. Il felt that you did-though
l knew you we're mistaken.
And now" she went on, rather
breathlessly reckless, somehow, I
feel that way about you! I
can't understand it." She glanced
up, with a puzzled expression, and
let her wide eyes ramble over his
face. completely unSelfconScious
Intent upon her study Of his
face, in an effort to recover a
recollection, Phyllis had not looked
squarely into his eyes. She met
them now and was held for an in
slant, her lips parted. She glanced
away quickly, and a slow flush
crept up her cheeks.
Where are we bound for?" she
asked, bit nerVouSly, searching
for solid ground on which their
conversation might proceed.
Parker had it in mind to say,
I wish 1 knew" Evidently,
in the anxiety of her deciding
whether to accompany him, Phyllis
had not heard his order to the
driver. Wen go up to the St.
Lawrence-my hotel he replied,
and turn Sylvia over to the por-
ter. He knows what to do for
her Then, if you are agreed,
we will go downtown to a nice
little restaurant 1 know where
there is quite decent music. Would
you like that?"
Please" said Phyllis preoccu-
piedly.
At the st. Lawrence they dis
posed of the dog, and were pres
emily on their way down Lake
Boulevard in the swift current
of traffic, Parker endeavoring to
be casual in his talk, regardless
of his feelings. Phyllis was find
ing it difficult to share reSpon-
sibility for their conversation . {.
At length, as they were moving
slower in the congestion of the
downtown area, she said abruptly:
Il have remembered, Mr.. Parker,
where l heard about the other dog
Sylvia. My mother, who died
a few months ago, wrote to me
about it. l was in London at
the time, not aware that my
mother was so i'll. And she
needn't have died"
Her voice trembled, and Park
er's mouth was dry as he waited
apprehenSively for her to con-
tlnue.
There was a young surgeon, a
DR.. Paige. She was so fond of
him and he came to see her every
day. Once he brought his dog.
Her name was Sylvia ... Then
the,r operated Oh my mother and
Dr.. Paige assisted. He made some
frjghtful mistake that cost her
life. OF course she went on,
brokenly-' was just a dreadful
accident, and he must have been
terribly sorry. He ran away.
They never saw him again."
She lifted her swimming eyes
to Parker's face. 1t was white
and haggard. For a long moment,
Phyllis stared, frightened. Then,
with a slow, audible intake of
breath that articulated an agon-
izeu little OH" she buried her
face in her hands and Shuddered.
They were approaching a corner
now, and, when they slowed to a
stop in the heavy traffic, she said,
in a husky undertone, Would
you be-just awfully hurt-if
were to get out-here? L don't
believe I can-I know I can't pos
slDly go on with it. I'm sorry"
Newell tried to think of some.
thing to say to her, as they
stepped out of the cab, but no
words seemed adequate to express
his feelings. 1t had all happened
so Quickly that. before he realized
he was losing her. Phyllis had
murmured goodbye and sped
away
He stood watching her until the
little red feather on the jaunty
black hat had disappeared in the
milling crowd.
Driven by an almost frantic de-
sire to escape, Phyllis had pushed
half-blinded into the dense throng
of midday sauntererS, grateful for
the shelter.
At the next corner she turned
to the right and with slowing steps
and trembling knees covered the
two blocks westward to Common
wealth, so stampeded by her un-
happy discovery of Mr.. Parker's
real identity that she took no
account of her surroundings.
Ito Be COntinued)
| Copyright, 1887. by Lloyd C. Douglas.
Distributed by King FeatursG
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