| Show THE MYSTERY ROAD I Continued from yesterday I shall g go into nto your bedroom and make m myself seU tidY Udy she he called out You can come and fetch retCh me when- when you ou want me she added looking over her shoulder at her host The corks began to fly faster er still 1 Presently couples stood Up and danced Then indeed happiness began for She danced with Gerald again and again danced to music which was Indeed of the best but epicure epi epi- for tor Gerald was as somewhat of an until she forgot forgot for tor- cute cure In such matters got the loud voices the haze haza of smoke the sll slightly unsteady condition of oZ one or two of or the guests To her so long as it was Geralds Gerald's arm which controlled her It was all aU beautiful By degrees she seemed ed to slip Into her place however however however how how- ever Incon incongruous it might be In the little company The Tho first Impulse of resentment against her presence shown most clearly b by Nadine after alter her prolonged but useless wait walt be before before belore be- be fore lore Geralds Gerald's looking glass glus soon passed away She was accepted as one of the kaleidoscopic pictures o of Monte tonte Carlo flirtations She he had come and there was vas an end of It U. There were othe hosts besides GeraId Geraid Gerald Ger- Ger aid ald other Englishmen crowding all al althe the time into tho the place The very singleness ol ot her devotion made her herto herto herto to some extent a a rival rival to be accepted accepted ac accepted ac- ac Bore philosophically She at least leat to made not the slightest response the advances advance which were offered h her r freely enough b by the other men of ot the party It seemed Incredible that four o'clock I had arrived when hen Louis presented pre pre- Rented himself with wih many apologies I himel There was a ball bal that that night at the Carlton Canton however so everyone was resigned The They Invaded Geralds Gerald's Geald's rooms room for their coats and wraps Myrtile remained talking with the Marquis with wih whom she had been dancing dancin Her ler bod body was still sti swayIng sway sway- Ing a little to the rhythm ot or the music So this Is your first firt night Mad Mad- adem ad- ad said soft soft- t em he companion companion ly I shall hope that we may meet man many more times I 1 If If you ou are a friend of Geralds Gerald's hope I that we we m a may replied You have enjoyed yourself on the whole hole he asked looking looking- at ather a h her hr r curiously Her ears were ere straining for Geraid's Gerald's Geralds Geralds Gerald's Ger Ger- ald's aids voice She could hear her all al the time the shrill shri laughter of Nadine and her friends I 1 have enjoyed the she said But not the dancing of Mademoiselle selle Nadine T THer Her cheeks were ere suddenly hot There was a look of trouble In her eyes which he had noticed before and wondered atNo atNo atNo at No I did not like that she acknowledged I 1 cannot believe beleve that Ger Gerald ld liked It I. I really realY It I was wa not b beautiful She is very ver famous the Marquis remarked It lt was not beautiful Myrtile Myrtle re e- e It I frightened me a little The Tue Frenchman a little Intrigued smiled V I I t 1 began to believe he said that ou ere are Ire real really as young oung as u you look l I 1 am eighteen she told him For that moment I was not thinking of your our actual years ears he explained How long have ha e you known Lord Dombey Dombe Gerald she queried Only a aery aret ret ery short time 1 I have have never et danced with him before today today it seems wih easy to believe he said t It at you ou slipped down from the thees thes es s only nowadays heaven heaven does at with wih its Is children so easily 1 Tell 1 m me where did you yoi O come from f Je really ly l A little firm farm on the other side sider t r the mountains she said Geraid Ger Rift aid and Monsieur Christopher brought me here Monsieur Chris Christopher Cris' Cris wants me to go to England but I hope that Gerald will wi not let me- me me o. o me shall yau do If eta stay But what J you u I you here lere he hE asked Gerald will 11 take care cae cae of at me she answered I r 1 shall be very nappy happy Jf it It he lets let me ata stay T T. lIe He le looked at her thoughtfully He lIe le Vaa a Inclined to be a disbeliever the accepted pose poso t towards wards women at athIs athis his age but a little flicker ficker of geln gen gen- ge- ge feeling disturbed for a moment ln hj his his- placid and cultivated cynicism I uI am not at all al sure sure he said If i you ou are what you seem eem to be that It would not be bo better if I you youw w went nt to England The They all al came trooping out Myrtile Myr- Myr fyrtle tile tle got up to fetch her own cloak but Gerald detained her She stood by bv his side bidding good night to Ills his guests with wih him The Marquis Maquis frowned slightly as he made his adieux The look in his eyes haunt- haunt t td her for a moment as he turned awa away Then she was as conscious of a In of nt disturbance TI Throughout th the d dancing she h had d been soothed hout Into a state of ecstatic happiness Suddenly there was wal a change She was alone with Gerald and he was looking at her strangely strange strange- ly ly- Two of ot the musicians were packing up their music music Once more moret t Vie e violinist was a playing softly as though to himself You have havo been happy Myrtile Gerald asked and his voice seemed to come from a long way ay off oto Wonderfully she ehe answered answered I there there is my cloak She moved towards the open door leading Into G Geralds Gerald's suite suie She seemed suddenly torn tom by a strange medley medle of sensations and memories She saw jaw aw Nadine pus pass through It dishevelled disheveled and indecent Indecent with wih that that backward glance at at Gerald Gerld which oven even to her Ignorance seemed u ugly ly She heard the voices voice of all al of them laughing stridently Little Litte half half- hal hal- understood sentences puzzled her She passed a Into the sitting I room Gerald Geald followed fo d closing sr the door The sound of ot the music musio came more qU quietly Tt Myrtile Ir e felt suddenly d faint raf J You ar are tired Gerald exclaimed bending anxiously over her She he put her arms ars around his neck 1 lk Uke k a a child Gerald Gerld she che hs whispered take tak care care of ot me I am afraid Be good to me Gerald Their lips Ups met but there was Something absent tom from the th warm Joy of that h first kiss Side e by side le with I Ih her r tk happiness PI ca came t the feeling of discordant music all allaround allaround al around her Rank perfumes seemed to hang in the air all A ribbon from f one of Nadine's a e discarded garments Sf lay lav upon o the sofa f Yet Tet when Gerald Ocr Ger aId ald leaned towards her and his eyes ees sought for tor hers ber a strange e content seemed to creep like a a. flood tood over overall overal overall all al these Other things The door of the sitting room was suddenly opened and closed Christopher Chris Chris- I stood there a a- little breath- breath Crl- Crl f less as though he had run up the stairs pale nale and with ih a look In te his ores tres from which both Gerald and Myrtile rte quailed erald Geral Gerald with wih fuller understanding His arms arns ars dropped He lIe was WS nearer fear tear than le ever be before be- be fore tore l In his life Christopher spoke with wih marvelous calmness Gerald he said said- sid were you thinking of breaking your our trust You Yes real Gerald answered hoarsely Drop this Don Quixote business Christopher Cristopher Im I'm Im sick of It I. I Christopher came a step nearer is II coming back to her lodgings with me ins he announced She Is going to England tomorrow tomorrow tomor tomor- tomorrow row row- morning moring Your sister has promised to take he her t But it is Impossible Myrtile cried passionately It I Is I arranged Christopher de de- de 1 went to your our rooms to tonight to- to night right Myrtile to tell tl you I 1 received re- re Annette's lying message I 1 was as told that you were in bed and asleep I 1 left lett a note Then for tor the first time since I have been h he hee e I 1 went lent to the Club and stayed late I heard beard your our guests down down- stairs teak peak or of your good fortune Gerald Gerald laid his hand upon Myrtile's Myr- Myr yrtle's yr- yr tiles tile's tle's wrist Wel Well he said what are you 0 going to do about It I am to take Myrtile home Christopher Insisted I 1 refuse to let her go Gerald Gerld de declared Christopher Chistopher Pher looked for a a moment moment away at at Myrtile Myrtle She clung cung to Geraid Gerald Gerald Ger Ger- ald aid like a frightened frightened child Listen Christopher went on you and I have been friends frends all al our lives Gerald We Ve know one another pretty well wel You know of me that I am a a man of my word I know of you that tha though you are aro selfish and worship pleasure you are white enough when the hour strikes The hou hour has struck Gerald Let Le me e take Myrtile home posed Myrtile yrtle shall choose Gerald pro pro- Mrtle shall do nothing of the sort was the prompt reply el You might t as well el ask asle her to choose the right path through a a strange city Gerald old chap dont don't take this hardly 1 I am not here to sling abuse at you And just Myrtile-just just Just doesn't understand Thank God I 1 Iwas Iwas was In time time take your cloak She clung to Geralds Gerald's arm look- look cung mr anxiously anxious Into his face ace Some Somer thing else discordant had come Into the room something unbeautiful something to bo be 0 feared fearel She looked t from font om one to the other of the two men Geralds Gerald's fist fit was clenched For all al his calm there was a a subtle threat in Christopher's attitude I dont don't want to quarrel Christopher Christopher Christopher Chris Chris- went ent on Dont let It J come cometo cometo cometo to that Ge Gerald ald but you oU see It Is In Inevitable inevitable In- In evitable that Myrtile Mrtle should leave with me tonight I shall not go without her You know lenow what that rnea means us S I I am to remember I suppose Gerald said sad thickly that you ou were the varsity arly boxing champion Please dont don't Christopher begged Myrtle must come I cant can't always be he In the way TonIght Tonight Tonight To To- night I am Tonight at any rate you have a reprieve Myrtile Myrtle She stooped for her cloak Christophe Christopher CrIstophe Chris Chris- CrIs- CrIs arranged It I around her ders His fingers shivered at the touch of the the filmy laciness as though he loathed it You are aro read ready Myrtile Myrtle he asked She looked once more at Gerald He Re seemed so far awa away And was It her fanc fancy or was there something something some some- lome- lome thing In his which she face tace had seen In the faces faces- of those others He others He lit lita lt a almost ostentatiously You had better beter go Myrtile Myrtle he said ChrIstophe Christopher has the whip hand of us We cant can't have a row here Good Goodby b Gerald herald she faltered It Isn't my fault taul Of course not Gerald answered We re are all al a little lite I think Goodby Goodbr little one He lIe kissed her almost carelessly and nodded to Christopher The two left the room The music had ceased They walked through the empty streets In silence When they ar arrived arrived arrived ar- ar rived within a few yards ards of ot Myrtile's Myrtles Myrtle's Myr- Myr tiles tile's tle's lodgings lOdgings Christopher slackened slackened slackened slack slack- ened his pace Myrtile- Myrtile was was crying q quietly ulet Myrtile Myrtle he begged please lieten lis listen lie lie- ls- ls ten to me I am listening she told him drearily This morning at eight o'clock I Ishall Ishall shall be here to take talce you to the station Please leave behind the clothes you are wearing and I will wil return them thorn to Madame Lenore You will wil go to London and Lady Maywill May y Maywill will I tal take e care of ot you Lady Mary Is Geralds Gerald's sister Do you understand under under- unde- unde stand Yes she faltered Please dont don't think of me as an executioner Christopher went on on with a note noto nott of unusual feeling in his tone Love Is a very wonderful wonder wonder- ful thing Myrtile MyrHle but It is also aSO a avery avery a ver very dangerous paradise If I you ou care for Geald Gerald and he cares for tor you believe beleve rue me some day you will wIl belong to one another and you OU will wil I be happy but the love which brings happiness is not of a a moments moment's growth It I is I not a matter mater of feelIng feeling feel feel- ing only Today you ou love Gerald with wih your whole soul Gerald has simply a little affection for you jou You are a whim to him a child whose softness and prettiness at attracts at at- tracts him The kingdom of love lovo o lo Is I a wonderful place but no two people who are in the position of you jou ou and ad Gerald can enter It I by the lowe lower lowe gates If I you are faithful remember this A year or two of or life will wil womanhood to you I and you will understand just what was wa's lacking tonight Just what Ina Ina in ino o a corner of ot your heart Myrtile Myrtle I believe beHove that you guessed was as lack- lack Ing That something would have poisoned even your won wonderful hap hap- You must wait watt dear Noting Nothing Nothing Noth Not ing In the tho world will vill wIl keep you ou and Gerald apart If your you ou love for tor one another becomes the tho love that en en- en dures crept away without a word For an hour Christopher waited unseen at the darkened corner corner corner cor cor- ner of the street Ho Ha waited until ho saw the light go out in Myrtile's Myr- Myr tiles tile's tle's room Then he went back to the hotel changed his clothes cothes and ested rested for a couple of hours x When he returned to her room she was waiting for him dressed In in- her littie lt- lt lit lit- tie tle te blue serge suit pale le mutely pa pa- Christopher carried her small smal bag and they made their way to the station staton Myrtile Myrtle he said as al they stood together watching the train come round the ba bay this morning I 1 think that you are hating me You think me very cruel Try Tr and not Judge mo ma for a year I think that you mean well wel she sighed I but you ou do not under under- stand Christopher put money into her purse and took her up to where Lady Mary tary Wa was standing with her little array of dependents She spoke a n few kindly words to Myrtie Myrtile Myr Myr- tile tie who answered her politely but without any trace of feeling In her tone Myrtile Myrtle sat down on one ono of the trunks and looked steadily across at the sleeping white fronted fronted hotel hotel Christopher Cristopher and Lady Mary walked for a a moment apart I dont don't know why I am doing this thing for you Mary said If U you want to know the truth I dislike dislike dis dis- like the young young- woman Intensely If I you cant can't feel that tha you ae are doIng do do- do ing lag It I for tor my sake Christopher replied re replied re- re plied pled think that tha you aro are doln doing It for tor Geralds Geralds Lady Mary starred at him for a a moment and Christopher fancied that he could read ead In her somewhat haughty look some somo trace of or that pa patrician pa- pa pa- pa superstition which claimed for Its Is people the tho bodies and souls I of or their satellites The The The train thundered thundered thun thun- I dered in I You will wil come and see me n tn n I London he asked a a. little softened Directly I return he promised I shant shan't forget this Mary Mar he added added add add- ed ed a little awkwardly Youve been a brick brick She smiled curiously gratified gratified-at athis at athis his hesitating words Christopher Christophe leaned towards Myrtile Goodby he said |
