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Show THE WEEKLY REFLEX, KAYSVILLE, UTAH .An Uramiial Love Story IMF By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM CHAPTER XXI Continued. iscd to become my wife. He raised beating in lmr brain was too insistent, his :.las I can see him now. He too Somewheri beoml lutnnnuts. she nnir-- told me, with a smile, that It was the that tangled nnts of chimneys an I My own - reputation, Is absolutely of no rouse- - anniversary of the day on which you tt legraph pole, somew here on the oilsinured, r vide i.f the gray hae which lmng quence, but remember that you live promised to become his f" Lou.-- e hr: nk back. ahum the myriad roofs. John v. here, and lie told yon that?" "Dont be silly!" he interrupted. ouise were working out their destmv. John wat on his feet. The fever speaking at last the naked truth M What does that matter? And beside each other. according to you and all the rest of was Mving once more. He told me that, face to face!" She started suddenly hack Into the you here, these things don't affect a room There was a knocking at tie And yon?" mans reputation they are expected If we had been alone," John an- door, something quite different ft mu of him. See, I have rung the bell for swered Now teleam to I breakfast. simply, I should have killed )h r landladys summons. She wrapt'' d going I him. drove the words down las tier dressing-gowa around her, puile down to for messenger boy phone throat. I threw him back to the place the eurtuin around the little bed on go for your clothes." They breakfasted together, a little he had left, and hurt him rather badly. winch she had striven to rest, and Sophy took me home moved toward the door. She turned later, and she made him smoke. He Im afraid. the handle softlv stood before the window, lookiug down somehow, and now I am here." She leaned a little forward on the Wlio is that?" she asked. upon the river, with his pipe in his John almost pushed his way past mouth and an unfamiliar look upon eoueh. She lookial Into his fare search-lngly- , anxiously as if looking for her. She closed the door with nervehis face. she could not find. His lips less fingers, lier eyes sought his face, something Do you suppose that Louise knows The her lips were partial. She clung to tin in hard, cold lines. were set he asked at length. anything?" I should think not, she replied. likeness to Stephen had never been back of the chair. "You have sfien Louise?" she exIt is for you to tell her. I rung up more apparent. Puri!" are a "You Listen said. she claimed were in breathlessly. the princes house while you I have seen Louise, he answered. the bathroom. They say that he has tan. While I admire the splhndid evolved from your creed, it is It is ail overi" a broken rib and some bad cuts, susisnt it? I was She looked a little helplessly around temperamental, partly tained In a motor accident last night, see things differently, her. Then she selected the one chair to up brought no There Is in he that but danger. Tell in the tiny apartment that was likely was nothing about the affair In the and I do see them differently. me? me. do love you to hold him, and led him to It. newspapers, and the princes servants You "Love you? he repented. Please sit down." she begged, "and have evidently been instructed to give know It Could I suffer the tprtures tell me about it. You mnsnt despair this account to inquirers." I didnt? Could I like tills all at once. I wonder if I A gleam of interest shone in Johns of the danned If come to you with a mans blood upon 0,n,id help face. If I didnt? If the prince Xo om, onn help." he told her grim-l- i the my hands "By the bye, he remarked, ves. It Is Simply the accident of fate, .lt is alI finished and done with. prince is a Frenchman. lie will very I tell you that If we had been alone I would rather not'talk any more about j to me him." with fight likely expect breath out of It. I didnt come here to talk about the should have driven "No hope of that, my belligerent his body. Love you ! It. I came to see you. So this Is friend, 'Sophy declared, with an He rose slowly to her feet. She where you live!" knows a The at smile. prince her elbow upon the manHe looked aronnd him, and for a mothat he is in 'England. lie would not leaned with for hidden was face and her he almost forgot the pain which ment telpiece, be guilty of such an anachronism. Be- a moment. at his heart. It was such was gnawing a of he is wonderfully person sides, me think ! she said. "I dont a simple, plainly furnished little room, "Let mind. When he Is himto you. I dont so clean, so neat, so pathetically clo- know what' to self again, he will realize that what know you, John. say There lsn t anything ql)ont 0f poverty. She drew closer happened to him Is exactly what he of the John I loved. Let me look j;tqher the curtains which concealed asked for." again! bed, and came the little John took up his hat and gloves. She swung around. side. his down sat and hy lita was He glanced at the clock It You speak of love," she went on She clasped her hands tighter tle past eleven. Do you know what It Is? around his arm. Her eyes sought his suddenly. Let Do "I am ready, he announced. you know that love reaches to the Iinx0usjv me drive you home first." -- and can also touch the- - neth-heavens, .riut y(m ninstnit climb down. John." Ills motor was waiting at the door, erinost depths of hell? If I throw You are so much nicer insSfPq and he left Sophy at her rooms. Be- myself on your knees before you now, so much too good for the vhPre are, you fore she got out, she held his arm for if I link my fingers around your neck, ugly things. You must fight this a moment. if I whisper to you that in the days jn your own way, fight It according to John," she said, "remember that that were past before you came I had vour ovrn standards. You are too good and very done things I would fain forget, if 1 Louise is very j0 rome down sensitive. Be eareful!" told you that from henceforth every Am I too good for you, Sophy? There is only one thing to do 01 Reeond of my life was yours, that my looked She him, and her whole to say, he answered. There Is only heart beat with yours by day and by face seemed toat soften. The light In one way in which I can do It. night, that I had no other thought, no her blue eyes was sweet and wistful. He drove the car down Piccadilly other dream, than to stay by your side, A bewildering little smile curled her like a man in a dream, steering ns to see you happy, to give all there was lips. carefully as usual through the traffic, of myself into your keeping, to keep Dont be stupid! she begged. A with now and then and John, sacred for and glancing every you it holy few minutes ago I was looking out of unseeing eyes at the streams of peo- what then? window and thinking what a poor Never a line in his face softened. He ttiy ple upon the pavements. Finally ha morsel of humanity I am, and little came to a standstill before Louises looked at her a moment as he had af what useless, drifting life I have led. house and stopped the engine with de- looked at the woman In Piccadilly, into But thats foolish, Come now What liberate care. Then he rang the bell, whose hand he had dropped gold. I want to persuade you to do Is to and was shown into her little drawing-Are you going to tell me that it is go bark to Cumberland for a time. room, which seemed to have become the truth? he asked hoarsely. land try hard very hard indeed to a perfect bower of pink' and white Think for a single moment of thnt rf,ajlzp what it means to be n woman feelin g which you call love. John. like Louise, with her temperament, lilac. I love you. It her intense Intellectual curiosity, her Listen He sat waiting as If in a dream, she pleaded. unable to decide upon his words, un- has come to me at last, after all these charm. Nothing could make Louise able even to sift his thoughts. The different from what she is a dear, one purpose with which he had come, sweet woman and n great artist. And, the one question he designed to ask, I believe she loves you!" John, was burning in his brain. The minface remained undisturbed even Ills utes of her absence seemed tragically by the flicker of an eyelid. I have derided "ng. Sophy," he said, Then at last the door dpened and to go abroad. Will you come with Louise entered. She came toward him me? ' with a little welcoming smile upon She sat quite still. Again her face her lips. Her manner was gay, alwas momentarily transformed. AH its most affectionate. pallor and fatigue seemed to have van"Have you come to take me for a ished. Her head had fallen a little hark. Do ride before lunch? she asked. Pile was looking through the celling you know, I think that I should really into heaven. Then the light died uWay like It! We might lunch at Itanelagh almost fts quickly as it had come. Her on our way home. lips shook tremulously, The words stuck in his throat. From You kDow you dont mean it, John! where she was, she saw now the writYou wouldnt take me. And If you did. ing on his face. She stopped short. youd hate me afterward you'd want What Is tt? she exclaimed. to send me back!" Ever since I knew you, he said He suddenly drew her to him. his slowly, there have been odd moments arm went around her waist She Jiad when I have lived In torture. During Inst all power of resistance For the the last fbrtnight. those moments have first time In his life of his own delibbecome hours. ' ast night the end erate accord, he kissed her feverish-iy- , came. almost roughly. Are yon mad, John?" she demandSophy he declared, I hare been a ed. fool! I have come an awful cropper, Perhaps, he replied. Listen. When but you might help me with whats i left you last night, I went to the I am going to start afresh. I Heft club in Adelphi Terrace. There was a "Am I Too Good for You, Sophy? am going to get rid of some of these n critic there, comparing yon of mine which hare brought me a Ideas In lives It greater heart, my and - Latrobe. On the whole he fa- years. but misery and disappointvored jfou. but he gave Latrobe the thing than my ambition, a greater nothing want to live up to them I ment. dont a greater thing first place In certain parts. Latrobe, thing than my success, ! Cant any longer. I want to Just forget John loTe Itself. than life I you, be said, had had more experience In to live as other men want I noththem. that dont know, feel, yon you life. She had had a dozen lovers' live Just the simple, ordinary life. ing else in Ufe can matter?" you, only one! Come with me! Ill take you to the softened. Ills face in Nof line a his She winced. The glad freshness weve talked about together. 1 was like He come had teeth places together. seemed suddenly to fade from her am man a always happy and contented with upon the rack. face. Her eyes became strained. Lets try It T he Is Is then? true? you. It true, It Wen 7 - Her arms stole around his neck. . demanded. him. I found Gralllot. I cornered She looked at him without any reply. John," shewhipered, hiding her I asked him for the truth about you. face an out for a moment. What can I say? to seemed seconds drawn The Be pnt me off with an evasion. I came down here and looked at your Interminable period. lie heard the What could any poor, weak little creaT am Toulnow' street: raotorbusesrtn Turellkeme say? the window; It was three octockrtntbe rolling- of the had the pride, morning. I dared not come In. A very Once more the perfume of the lilac fond of you I havent demon of unrest was In my blood. I seemed to choke him. Then she leaned even, to conceal it ! He stood up, held her face for a stopped .at the gight club on my way back and touched the belL "The prince spoke the truth, she moment between his hands, and kissed back. Sophy was there. I asked her her forehead. plainly, to put me out of my agony. said. "1 think you had better go !" "Then thats all settled, he deShe was like Gralllot. She fenced with I am going back to my rooms XXII. CHAPTER clared. roc. And then the prince came! now. I want you to come and dine The prince was there? she faK g window of her with me there tonight, at eight Before the "tered. He came up to the table where attie bedchamber, Sophy Gerard was oclock." Her eyes sought his, pleaded with Sophy and I were sitting. I think I crouching with her face turned westwas half mad. I poured him & glass of ward. She had abandoned all effort them, searched them. You art sura, John? she a&kad, her In j told him that you had prow- - to sleep. The owe thought that was j iv.ilv "1 1 - l -- 1 self-restrai- ! j j well-balance- d to-le- ft j chlnts-covere- d 1 high-strun- g ! , ! 1' rt. 'well-know- wide-flun- it broken. ".ni w.mt uii am t am sure." he answered steadfast ,'1 sh.ili expect Von ill ci.d.l t j 12 ! ? lit 1 o lock mo liis ,i tvn;, Tlifn movement. ! U I llo-- v!, 1 11- v 1 1- l.l.i-te- rs J"t.n went bach to his rooms tn litin.-- i the time against a sense of nniot1 i'v, a sense almost of lost idonii'e Hi an exeiung newspap, at,.' I" lead i oil tile W,l). lio t. "n ti.iP porter, ho talked to it notch 'or with whom ho nseonded tit the bit 111' did everything exeepl think 111 Ills rooms tie tho telephone'll t restaurant for a waiter, and with the "lean m Ins hand a few minute's later, tie ordeii'd dinner. Then tie glamed at ins wiiteli it was barely seven oeloek. He went down to tile' bather hop. was sinned and had his hair enl, eneonr.igtug the bather till the while to talk to hint. lie' gate his hand' to a mntdeure, and did ids Post to talk nonsense to her. Then he came upstairs again, changed tils eiothes with great eart and went Into bis little sitting room. It was fixe minutes to eight, and dinner had been laid at a little rmr'd i .title in tin center of the' room Tin te was a howl of pink roses Sophys flower sent In from the flotable was lighted in a the rists; lamp. John went around tho room, turning out the other light, until the apartment was hung with shadows save for the little spot of color in tin middle. An unopened bottle of and champagne Mood In an two specially prepared cocktails had been placed upon the little1 aid' table. There were no more preparations to he made. He turned impatiently away from the window and glanced at the clock. It wns almost eight. He tried to Imagine that the bell was ringing, that Sophy was standing there on the threshold in her simple but dainty evening dress, with a little smile parting her lips. The end of it all ! He pulled down the blind. No more of the window, no more looking out nt.the lights, tie more living indite cbnniV It wns time, indeed, that he lived ns other meu. He lifted one of the glasses to his lips and drained its contents. Then the bell rang. lie moved forward to answer its summons with beating heart. As he opened it, he received a shock. A messenger boy stood outside. lie took the note which the boy handed him and tore It open under a lamp. There were only a few lines : like-e- l -- o,r fa-orl- pitik-shade- d iee-pat- l, John, my heart te breaking, but I know you do not mean what you ealel. I know It was only a moment of madness with you. I know you will lovo Loulso all your fife, and will blsss mo all your life because I am giving up the one thing which rould make my life a paradise. I shall be In the train when you read this, on my way to Bath. I have wired my young man, as you call him. to mee t me. I am going to ask him to marry me. If he will, next week. I give you no advice Good-by- ! Some day I think that life will right Itself with SOPHY. you. The letter dropped upon the table. John stood for a moment dazed. Suddenly he began to laugh. Then he remembered the messenger boy, gave him half a crown, and closed the door. He came hack Into the room and took his place at the table. He looked at the empty chair by his side, looked at the full glass on the sideboard. It seemed to him that he was past all The waiter came in sisensations. lently. You can serve the dinner, John ordered, shaking out his nnpkln. Open the chnmpngne before you go. You will be alone, sir? the man Inquired. I shall be alone," John answered. CHAPTER XXIII. It was a room of silence, save for the hissing of the green legs - that burned on the open hearth, and for the slow movements of Jennings as he cleared the table. Straight end grim In his chair, with the newspaper by his side, Stephen Strangewey sat smoking stolidly. Opposite to him, almost as grim, equally silent, sat John. Things were quiet at Market Ket-to- n today, thenr John?" Stephen asked at last. "There was nothing doing," was the brief reply. That, for the space of a quarter of an hour or so, was the sole attempt at conversation between the two brothers. Then Jennings appeared with a decanter of wine and two glasses, which he reverently filled. Stephen held his up to the light and, looked at it critically. Johns remained by hi side, unnoticed. A glass for yourself, Jennings, Stephen-ordere- d. I hn.ilr.i.ii. and that if o it was his right. Iaok down Tfi. t.oail. JuT if! OTT thaTlught uni! la- - m limit ii nn. m way to the ciistlo; hut I Still John never ci.l-- -, broke ilnuii. n in in the morning the moved. .lelinuu's ilrumeil world wns all different, and I went piii'ii till' dll' Miter by ill- It lias been different i'.tt'k to l."h'i"ii sob and w Itlnlrew "So tlie poison'- - stfll there lotii ever siime. and there lias never been ii ot unythiug betweeu the am i r Stepiu n asked lame .mil me. laeause knew thnt it "Vnd will he mi lone as I live,' John w - not love " "For all tli.it, I eontessod gloomily " John wa- - 'inking In every limb. His mu drink vour toast Win tint V" ie- - wete filled with tierce questionThi re was u little gill - vou s,i ing Stephen at there, and there wns wonder in Id fane, too. in f when veil were London. Site "When 'mi eaine to me that morn-Ing,- " some of hut think her rod now, lii' went on, .vou spoke to me w lien vou old and and do, times; Jennings seem to me tike a couple ot in a strange tongue. I couldn't under-.stan- d vou, you seemed so far uway. Idlthet lug idiots cursing tilings too wundt t fill for .vou lo understand!" For a Sti plun made no protest. time lie siuokmi In silence. Curiously enough, a they sat together some of the gum llt'fCt ties- - -- o, med to have passed om In expression and settled upon Jotui. Mori' than once, a lie looked an os at Id younger brother, it almost seemed a If there was somein his questionthing of ing look. You dined at Hu ordinary in Market Kettoa?" Stephen asked at last. "I did." Tliea you heard the news?" "Wlm eoutd hi Ip tt?" John muttered. "Then wasnt much else talked -- thc h thank ye klhQly, sir," the old man replied. - He fetched a glass from the sideboard, filled it, and held it respectfully before him. ' Its the old toast. Stephen said You know It! glumly. "Aye, Master Stephen! the servant assented. Weve drunk it together for many a long year. I give it ye now with all my heart confusion to all women H They both glanced at John, who 1 qiie-tn'- 1 a- -- 111 1 1 WJ1 about. Bailiff Henderson has been over Theres n here," Stephen went on. small army of painters and decorators coming down to the castle next week. You saw (he announcement of the wedding in ihe morning Iost, maybe?" John assented without words. Stephen smoked vigorously for a few moments. Every now and then he ' glanced across to where John was sitting. Once again the uneasiness was in his eyes, an uneasiness which was "I've Come for You I almost John moved a little restlessly In his I wanted to tell you the whole truth but I didnt. 1erhaps I wasnt sure chair. it seemed to me that it was he "Lets drop It, Stephen," begged. perhup me to forget, If ever I had host for We both know the facts. She Is gofor the ways of our lives seemed cured, ing to marry him, and thats the end so far uport. You went away, and I of It. Fill your glass up again. Heres mine untouched. Ill drink your toast drifted on; but It wasnt true that I with you, if youll leave out the little ever promised to marry the prince. No one hud any right to put that para girl who was kind to me. Ill give It to you myself confusion to all wom- graph in the newspaper! "But what are you doing here, then? en asked hoarsely, John Arent you on Confusion Stephen began. to the castle? way your "What on earth is that?" She came a little arms They both heard it at the aame time went around his neck.nearer; her the faint beating of a motor engine "You dear stupid!" the cried. in the distance. John set down his I told you? Ive tried to do Havent glass. There was a strange look in without you, and I cant. Ive come for his eyes. "There are more cars passing along you. Come outside, please ! Its quite the road now than in the old days, light. The moon's coming over the he muttered; "hut thats a queer lillla. I want to walk up the orchard. sound. It remtnds one good heavens, I want to hear Just what Ive came tt hear!" how It reminds one !" lie passed out of the room In a There was a look of agony in his under the blossom-ladedream, boughs face for a moment. Then once more of the orchard, and up the hillside he raised ills glass to his lips. tiie church. The dream passed, "Its passed out of hearing, Stephen toward Louise remained, flesh and blood. but juihl. Its someone on the way to the Her lips were warm and her arms held castle, maybe." him almost feverishly. Still their glasses remained suspendIn that little church, John, and ed In midair. The little garden gate so quickly, please J" she whisquickly had opened and closed with a click ; there were footsteps upon the flinty pered. , m ! to" n ' walk. "Its someone coming here!" John cried hoarsely. Why cant they keep away? Its two years ago this week since I brought her up the drive anti you met us at the front door. Two years ago, Stephen! Who can it be?" They heard the front door open, they heard Jennings voice raised in unusual and Indignant protest Then their own door was suddenly flung w Ide, and a miracle happened. Johns glass slipped from his fingers, and the wine streamed out across the carpet. He shrank back, gripping at the tablecloth. .Stephen turned his head, and sat as if turned to stone. John," she faltered, it Isn't the car this, time It is I who have broken down! I cannot go on. I have no pride left. I have come to you. Will you help me? ne found himself upon his feet Stephen, too, had arisen. She stood between the two 'men, and glanced from one to the other. Then she looked more closely into Johns face, peering forward with a little start of pain, and her eyes were filled with tears. "John," she cried, forgive me ! You were so cruel that mornldg, and you seemed to understand so. little. Don't you really understand, even now? Have you ever known the truth,! won- SteJennings hastened In phen was sitting alone. Mr. Stephen," he cried, whats coming to us? Theres, that French hussy outside, and a motorcar In the drive, and the chauffeur's asking where hes to sleep. The woman wants to know whether she can have the same bedroom for her mistress as last time!" Then why dont you go and aee about it, you old fool?" Stephen rePick up those pieces of glass plied. there, lay the cloth, and get some supper ready." Through the open doorway they heard Althes voice In the halL "Meester Jennings, will you please come and help me with the luggage? Get ntong wttb you Stephen ordered. Youd better hurry up with the supper, too. The boy Tom can aee to the luggage. The old man recovered himself - slowly. Youre taking em In, sir taking em into the house?" he gasped. What about that toast? Stephen refilled two glasses. Wed better alter it a little, W declared, nerea confusion to most women, but luck to John and his wife! Mr. John and his wife I Jennings der?" as he set his glass down repeated, - "The truth!" he echoed hoarsely. empty. Fil Just see that them sheets Dont we all know that? Don't we all is aired upstairs, sir, or that hussy know that he I to give you your rights, will be making eyes at Tom I that you are coming He. departed ,a&(l .Stfl!heawas left Stop! she orderedhlm: alone. lie sat and . listened to the He obeyed, and for a moment there sound of luggage being taken upstairs, was silence a tense, strained silence, to Allnes little torrent of directions, but , profuse, to . the John, she continued at last, have no rights to receive from the sound of preparations in the kitchen. prince of Seyre. He owes me nothing. In the room the tall clock ticked solListen ! Always we have seen life dif- emnly; a fragment of the log every ferently, you and I. To me there Is now and then fell upon the hearth. only one great thing, and that is love; Presently he rose to his feet. Ho and. beyond that nothing counts, heard the click of the garden gate, tried to love the prince before you the sound of John and Louise returncame, and I thought I did, and I prom ing. He rose and stood ready to welIsed him at last, because I believed come thorn. THE END. that he loved me and that I loved him. 1 good-humore- d |