Evening Star Newspaper, July 11, 1923, Page 20

(Copyright, 1988, by Little, Brown & 0o.) (Continued from yesterday.) “Margaret,” he sald, “will you look jafter Mr. Ledsam for a little time: fYou will excuse us, Ledsam? We shall not be gone long.” They moved away together toward the shrubbery and the door in the ‘wall behind. Francis resumed his seat “Are you not also éurfous to pene- trate the mysteries behind the wall, Mr. Ledsam?’ Margaret asked. 7 “Not so curious but that T would much prefer to remain here,” he an- swered. With me?" With you.” She knocked folgarette. She the ash from her was looking .di- rectly at him., and he fancied that| there was a gleani of curfosity in her; beautiful eyes. There was certainly a little more abandon about her atti- tude. She was leaning back in a cor- ner of her high-backed chair, and her igown, although it lacked the daring lof Lady Cynthia's, seemed to rest about her like a cloud of blue-gray wsmoke. “What a curlous meal” she mur- imured. “Can you solve a puzzle for me, Mr. Ledsam? ‘thing for vou that " he red. me, then, why asked you here tonight? I can un- derstand his bringing you to the opera. that was just a whim of the my father moment, but an invitation down here | savors of deliberation: Studigusly polite though you are to one another, one is conscious all the time of the hostility beneath the surface.” “I think that so far as vour father 18 concerned, it is part of his pecullar disposition,”’ Francis replied. “You remember he once sald that he was tired of entertaining his friends— ithat thers was more pleasure in hav- idng an enemy at the board.” i “Are you an enemy, Mr. Ledsam? i&he asked curiously. {” He rose a little abruptly to his feet, fgnoring her question: ~There were servants hovering in the background. “Will_you' walk with me in the gardens?” he begged. “Or may I take iyou upon the river?” :” She rose to her feet {gent she seemed to hesitate. “The river, I think,” she declded. {*Will you walt for three minutes jwhile I get a wrap. You will find <some punts moored to the landing stage there in the stream. I like the i very largest and most comfdrtable.” Francis strolled to the edge of the t stream and made his choice of punts Soon a servant appeared with his arms full of cushions, and a moment or two later, Margaret herself, wrapped in an ermine cloak. She smiled a little deprecatingly as she picked her way across the lawn. “Don’t laugh at me for being such a chilly mortal. please,” she enjoined. “And don't be afraid that I am gping ito propose a long expedition. I want to go to a little backwater in the next stream.” She settled herself in the stern and they glided down the narrow thor- oughfare. The rose bushes from the garden almost lapped the water as they passed. Behind, the long low .a .mo- cottage, the deserted dinner table, the | emooth lawn with its beds of scarlet eraniums and drooping lilac shrubs 51 the background, seemed llke a scene from fairyland, to attain a per- feotion of detall unreal, almost theatrical “To the right when you reach the . ixiver, pleasa’ she directed. “You iwill find there is scarcely any cur- gent. We turn up the next stream.” There was something aimost mys- terlous, a little impressive, about the broad expanse of river into which they presently turned. Opposite were woods and then a sloping lawn, From a house hidden in the distance they heard the sound of a woman Singing. They even caught the murmurs of eppiause as she concluded. ~Then there was silence, only the soft gur- gling of the water cloven by'the punt pole. Théy glided past the front of the great unlit house, past another strip of woodland, and then up & nar- row stream. “To the left here.” she directed, #and then stop.” They bumped the bank. against The little backwater into which they | had turned seemed to terminate in a Ped of lllies whose faint fragrance “ almost enveloped them. The trees on either side made a little arch of | e ship vour pole and listen,” | Margaret said dreamily. “Make your- ®self as comfortable as you can. There are plenty of cushions behind you. This is where I come for silence.” Francis obhéyed her orders without remark. For a few moments. speech geemed impossible. * The darkness so intense that although he was c conscious of her presence there. only a few feet away, nothing but the barest outline of her form was visible. The silence which she had brought him to seek -was all around them. There was just the faintest splash of water from the spot where the stream and the river met, | the distant barking of a_ dog, the occasfonal croaking of a frog from eomewhere in the midst of the bed of lilies. Otherwise the silence and the darkness were like a shroud Francis leaned forward in his place. His hands, which gripped the sides of the punt, were hot. The serenity » of the night mocked him So_this is your paradise,” ® little hoarsely. She made no answer. #éemed to him more thrilling than ‘ words. He leaned forward. His hands fell upon the soft fur which { encompassed her. They rested there. Btill she did not speak. He tight- ened his grasp. moved further for- ward, the passion surging through is veins, his breath almost failing im. He was so near, how that he heard her breathing, saw her face, as pale as ever. Her lips were a little parted. her eyes looked out, as it Seemed to him, half In fear, half in hope. He bent lower still. She neither shrank away nor invited him. “Dear!" he whispered. Her arms stole from underneath the eloak. her fingers rested upon his 4 ;houlder:fl He scarcely knew whether he said, Hor silence t was a_caress or whether she were olding him from her. In any case it was too late. With a little sob of passion his iips were pressed to thers. Even as she closed her eyes, the moent of the lilles séemed to Intoxi- « cate him. He was back In his place without consclous movement. His pulses were quivering, the passion singing { in his blood, the joy of her faint | garess living proudiy in his memory. | 2t had been the moment of his life, &nd yet even now he felt sick at | heart’ with fears, with the torment { of her passiveness. She had lain § there in hig arms, he had felt the { thrill of her body, some quaint in- { epiration had told him that she had fousht for joy in that moment and ad not wholly failed. Yet his anx- ety was tumultuous, overwhelming. hen she spoke, and his heart leap- . ed again. Her voice was more nat- § bral It was not a voice which he ad ever heard before. ., 'Give me a cigarette, please—and © ¥ want to go baok.” i _ He leaned over her again, struck : fmatch with trembling fingers an § Eavo her the olgarette. She smiled i &t him very faintly. 8 she begged, ¥Smoke yourself, take me home slows £ 4y and say nothing, E He obeved, but hin knees were 104 H “Please go back now, Bhaking when he sto p, Blowly, & foot at a time, they passed from the mesh of the lilles out into the bread ptream. Almost ae they did so, the !dlo' rim of the moon came up over he low hills. As they turned jnto their own stream, the light was trong_enough for him to mes her ace, She lay there like a lhu}h;{ £ ol he onl o m et e S i »eautiful hair. She roused herself a ittle as they swung around. He paused, leaning upon the pole. You are not angry?” he asked. No% I am not angry,” she answered. “Why should I be? But I cannot talk to you about it tonight.” They glided to the edge of the landing-stage. A servant appeared and secured the punt. “Is Sir Timothy back yet?" Mar- garet inquired. Not yet, madam.” She turned to Francis. Please go and have a whisky and |altogether and soda in the smoking room,” she said, pointing to the open French windows. “I am going to my favorite seat. You will find me just across the bridge there.” He hesitated, filled with a passlon- ate disinclination to leave her side even for a moment. She seemed to understand, but she pointed once more to the room “I should like very much,” she added, to be alone for five minutes. If you will come and find me then—please!"” Francis stepped through the French windows into the smoking room, where all the paraphernalla for satis- fying thirst were set out upon the sideboard. He helped himself to whisky and soda and drank it ab- sently, with his eyes fixed upon the clock. In five minutes he stepped once more back Into the gardens, soft and brilllant now in the moon- light. As he did so, he heard the k of the gate in the wall, and steps. His host, with Lady Cyn- thia upon his arm, came Into sight and crossed the lawn toward him. Francis, filled though his mind was with other thoughts, paused for a moment and glanced toward them curiously. Lady Cynthia seemed for a moment to have lost all her weari- ness. Her eyes were very bright, she walked with a new spring in her movements. Even her voice, as she you call it a villa or a palace?” she asked. “It is certainly not a palace,” Sir Timothy protésted, “and 1 fear that it has scarcely the atmosphere of a villa. (It is an attempt to combine certain ideas of my own with the requirements of modern entertaln- ment. Come and have a drink with us, Ledsam.” . ‘I have just had one” Francis re- plied. “Mrs. Hilditch is in the rose garden and I am on my way to join er.” He passed on and the two moved toward the open French windows. He crossed the rustic bridge that led into the flower garden, turned down the pergola and came to a sudden stand- still before the seat which Margavet had indicated. It was empty, but in the corner lay the long-stalked Ifly which she had picked in the back- water. He stood there for a moment, transfixed. There were other seats and chairs in the garden, but he knew before he started his search that it was in vain. She had gone. The flower, drooping a little now though the stalk was still wet with the molsture of the river, seemed to him like her farewell. CHAPTER, XIX. Francis was surprised, when he descended for breakfast the next morning, to find the table laid for one | ohly. The butler, who was waiting, handed him the daily papers ang| Wwheeled the electric heater to hi side. ‘ “Is no one else breakfasting?” Francis asked. “Sir Timothy and Mrs. Hilditch are always served in their rooms, sir. Her ladyship is taking her coffee up- stairs, Francis ate his breakfast, glanced through the Times, lit a cigarette and | went round to the garage for his car. The butler met him as he drove up | before the porch. “Sir Timothy begs you to excuse {him this morning, sir.” he announced. “His secretary has arrived from town with a_very large correspondence which they are now engaged upon. - “And Mrs. Hilditch? Francis ven- tured. | “I have not seen her ‘maid this | morning, sir,” the man replied, “but | Mrs. Hilditch never rises before mid- | day. " Sir Timothy hopes that you ' Nowhere can you enjoy a more delight- ful vacation than in the great west. Hun- dreds of thousands go each summer for its endless variety of attractions, and the complete rest it insures. To when fares are reduced, is to wonderland at a great saving. Round FT":Z 5854 #9528 *100% Springs, tiona lowstone Nation Four and one-half days’ motor trip in the park, with dations at hotels $54.00, at camps $45.00. Side trip Denver to Rock‘{ nal Park, $10.5¢ Portland, Tacoma, Mountain Nat $130% s eattle. 200 miles ocenic Columbia River. Side trips o Yellowstotie and Rocky Moun- tain National Parks at small ad- oxpense, ditional 41304 Circuait Tour of *148% Washington chlécrh.cbc;ol.orudo Rocln’r Mountain Na- (Estes) Park. West Yellowstone (Yel- SanFrancisco,Los Angeles. Oneway via Omaha, Ogden, Salt Lake City— returning through Denver. Rocky Mountain National Parks at small additional expense. land, rail or steamer to San Francisco, returning direct through Ogden or via Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Rotite may be reversed. Includes Denver. All fares include Colorado Springs without extra charge, mYm.n-!lMypgflqnmbn 10; 10 all other points slépt well, sir, and would liRe you to sign the visit book." Francis signed his name mechami- cally, and was turning away when { Lady Cynthia called to him from the stairs. She was dressed for traveltng |and followed by a maid, carrying her | 1 dressing case. N ‘'Will you take me up to town, Mr. | Ledsam?” she asked. Dellghted,” he answered. ‘ Thelr' dressing cases were strapped together behind, Cynthis sank Into the cushions by his side. They drove away from ‘the house Francis with a backward glance The striped sun blinds ha been lowwered over all the windows, | | thrushes and blackbirds were twitter- ing on the lawn, the air was sweet with the perfume of flowers, a boat- man was busy with the boats. Out beyond through the trees the river wound its placid way. “Quite a little paradise,” Lady Cyn- thia murmured. “Delightful.,” hgr companion sented. “I suppose great wealth has its obiigations, but why any human being should rear such a structure as what he calls his Borghese villa, when he has a_charming place like that to llve in, T can’t imagin Her silence was significant, almost purposeful. She unwound the veil from her motoring turban, took it off attached it to the hions of the car with a hatpin. There,” she said, leaning back, ou cam now gaaze upon a horrible example to the young women of to- day. You can see the ravages which | late hours, innumerable cocktalls, a | thirst for excitement, a contempt of the simple pleasures of life, have worked upon my once comely fea- | tures. I was quite £00d looking, yo know, in the days you first knew me.” | “You were the most beautiful debutante of your season,” he agreed. “What do you think of me now? she asked. ° She met his gaze without fiinching. Her face was unnaturaily thin, with disfiguring hollows underneath her cheekbones. Her lips lacked color. :n her oyes were lusterle air seemed to lack br her silken eyebro paired and a certal charm of expres. on which nothing seemed able to destroy. “You look tired.” he sald “Be honest, my dear man,” she re- { Joined dryly. “I'am a physical wreck, dependent _upon cosmetics for the looks which I am still clevers enough to palm off on the uninitlated.” “Why don’t you lead a quieter life?" he asked. “A month or so in the country would put you all right.” She laughed a little hardly. Then for a moment she looked at him ap- singly. going to speak to you of she sald, “but_how would you ever understand? You look as though you had not a nerve in your I'can’t think how you manage ing in London uppose you s and take care of what tand drink.” + cus! (To be continued tomorrow.) $300,000 PATENT SUIT. Infringement on Device for O0il- Burning Engines Charged. NEW ORLEANS. July 11.—The Aetna Combustion Company of Buffalo, | N. V.. has filed suit for $300.000 against Willlam Edenborn as an individual and | as president of the Louislana Raflway | d Navigation Company of Loulsiana | | xas, lleged infringement a specific type of | hydrocarbon furnace for oil-burning locomotives held by the Aetna com- pany. Federal Judge Foster took the appli- cation under advisement It Make: a difference Asking simply for Ginger Ale, you run a risk in what you get. Asking for . G. & G. Ginger Ale means that you will get a standardized product— always the same — pleas- ingly palatable drink—that has “fin' " enough to be re- freshing and is gingery encugh to give it character. Buy it from your grocer or delicatessen. Order it by the glass at the fountain—but don’t forget to say G. & G. G. & G. Bottling Company Phone Main 7637 = g0 now, see this al Park) accommo- along the 8ide trips to Yellowstone and the West. Union Pacific to Part Tickets to September 30, Final feturn limit October 31, Write for atiractive, Wlusirated booklst, indicating region in which you ore inlerested. Sent fres, Address Union Pacific The Hub Furniture Co. 7th and D Sts. Store Hours,8to 6 P. M. Closed Saturdays uly Clearance Sale - Sample Kitchen Cabinets E'VE taken our entire line of kitchen cabinets and repriced them downward . in this great sale—AND AS AN EXTRA INDUCEMEN Graniteware set cabinet. will give FREE a 20-PIECE as pictured with each kitchen No matter what kind of a cabinet you have in mind you'll find it here in this sale—at a saving and on terms as low as $1.00 a Week! 1F YOU WANT TO SAVE MONE 9x12-ft. Grass 8x Rugs ih a variety of patterns— $4.89 Rugs in a host of colors— Here is an example of the underselling values in Kitchen Cab- inets. “The Hub Spe- cial,” a wonder at the price;; made by one of the biggest manufac- turers in the business; designed with a host of Jabor and time sav- ing features—and the prices start at z $29.75 and up Our entire line of Kitchen Cabinets is included in this clearance— SELLERS---BOONE, Etc. All reduced to make way for new fall lines. This Outfit FREE! 20-Piece Granite Kitchenware out- fit with every kitchen cabinet. COUNT the pieces —would- n’t you like to pos- sess this fine out- fit?> — all perfect, of heavy granite ware — and now get it FRE E— whether you pay cash or open a charge account! y BUY RUGS NOW! SPECIAL! 9x12-ft. Fiber Rugs, $12.75 Value, = 10-ft. Grass 27x54-inch Grass Rugs 38 39¢ 36x72-inch Grass Rugs 79¢ \ 95 Congoleum Rugs—The Cool Serviceable Sanitary Floor Covering 18-inch 4 by 9 feet Congoleum Red Seal Runner 98¢ 9x12-ft. Red Seal Congoleum Squares (No borders) $7.89 N - N Library Tables— Stock Must be Re- duced—Note the Low Prices $1975 Fumed Oak Library Table with magazine racks, shelf and draw- $9 75 er, Special ,ieoverenns o .75 Mahogany-finish Queen A?“i':e ,l;.ilh‘r:ryd le'}o with_shelf and man- uscript drawef ,....¢ $19'7|S .75 Oval-top Heavy Double ishe n mahog- -:yf Reduced to,... $24-75 The Entire Line is Reduced Green and White Spray Reose Trellis 69c 15x9-ft. Gold Seal Bordered Red Seal Congoleum Floor Covering Pro Lino and Floor Tex—cu from full rolls. 749 ft. Gold Seal Bordered Rugs Rugs IN THE JULY CLEARANCE SALE! 9x12 and 8x10 it. Crex Rugs .95 , Lt il & o R R - July Cléarance of These Popular White . Enamel 3-Pc. Bed This splendid and modestly priced out- fit consists of a full size contiriuous post white enamel bed, a comfortable, rever- sible mattress and a sanitary woven wire spring, all for . eieeieieewivieleis vieteiee eiotarel Outfits $16.95 Small Weekly or Monthly Payments WASHINGTONS GREATEST FURNITURE STORE . CASH = CREDIT Baby Carriages 33Y3 Off and Better Small Weekly or Monthly Payments §21.75 Fiber Reed Baby. Car- riage, finished in gray enamel— fitted with rubber tires and imi- tation leather folding $12.95 hood. Reduced to... $35.75 Blue Enamel-finish Fiber Reed Carriage, with hood and body to match—nicely lined foaranieed rubber €10 78 tires . $50.75 Baby Carriage, “Bloch” make, fiber reed body and hood, icorduroy lined, gray enamel fin- sh. A “beauiy” at §30 75 special, only This Ornamental Flower Basket..