OCR Text |
Show THE sif BRM)IN(S The Katharine COP V RIGHT CHAPTER VIII B Continued. NIWLU 21 Tea. Prosper Gael. I was there with him for months. At first I wasn't Strong enough to go away, and then, after a while, I tried. But I was too lonely and sorrowful. In the spring I loved him. I thought I loved him. He wanted me. I was all alone In the world. I didn't know that he loved another woman. I thought she was ovad like Pierre. Prosper had clothes for her there. I suppose I've thought It out since that she was to leave as If for a short Journey, and then secretly go on that long one, and she couldn't take many things with her. So he had beautiful stuffs for her and a little suit to wear In the snow. That's how I came to call her 'the tall child,' seeing that little suit, long and narrow. . . . This letter came one morning, one awfully bright morning. He read It and went out and the next day he went away. Afterward I found the letter torn In two beside his desk on the floor. I took it and I've always kept it. 'The tall child ! He looked so terrible when I called her that. . . And she was your Betty all the time!" "Yes," said Morena slowly. "She was my Betty all the time." He gave her a twisted smile and put the two papers carefully Into an inside pocket. "I am going to keep this letter, Jane. Truly the ways of the Lord are past finding out." Joan looked at him In growing uneasiness. Her mind, never quick to take m all the bearings and the consequences of her acts, was beginning to work. "What are you going to do with I don't want you to It, Mr. Morena? do Betty a hurt. She must have loved .Prosper Gael. Perhaps she still loves him." This odd appeal drew another difficult smile from Betty's husband. "Quite obviously she still loves him, Jane. She is divorcing me so that she can marry him." "But, Mr. Morena, I don't believe he will marry her now. He Is tired of her. He is that kind of lover. He gets tired. Now he would like to marry ma. He told me so. Perhaps If Betty knew that she might come back to you, without branding her." Jasper was startled out of his vengeful stillness. "Prosper Gael wants to marry you? H has told you so?" "Yes." She was sad and humbled.. "Now he wants to marry me and once ha told me things about marrying. He aid" Joan quoted slowly, her eyes d in Prosper'g manner, her vole a musical echo of his thin, vi brant tone "'It's man's most studied Insult to woman." "Yes, that's Prosper," murmured f BURT. her branded, Indeed never believe that she now he could had Indeed been innocent of guilt In the matter of Her father had first put a mark upon her.v Since then the world had only deepened his revenge. There followed a sleepless, dry and aching night. HoV-Hwel- l. CHAPTER IX The Spider. "Hullo. Is this Mrs. Morena?" Betty held the receiver languidly. Her face had grown very thin and her eyes were patient. They were staring now absently through the front window of Woodward Kane's sitting-rooat a day of driving April rain.' "Yes. This is Mrs. Morena." The next speech changed her Into a flushed and palpitating girl. "Mr. Gael wishes to know, madam," the recited his lesson automatically "if you have seen the exhibition of Foster's water-colorForty-eightstreet and Fifth avenue. He wants to know if you will be there this afternoon at five o'clock. No. 88 In the Inner room is the picture he would especially like you to notice, madam." Betty's hand and voice were trem bling. No. I haven't seen It." She hesi tated, looking at the downpour. "Tell him, please, that I will be there." Her voice tfailed off doubtfully. The man at the other end clipped out a "Very well, madam," and hung man-serva- s. h up. Betty was puzzled. Why had Pros per sent her this message, made this appointment by his servant? Perhaps because he was afraid that, In her exaggerated caution, she might refuse to meet him if she could explain to blm the reason for her refusal, or gauge tee" He did not notice the hand. "It come out right, Jane. Don't worry," he said with absent gentleness. "Keep your mind on your work, I'll look out for your beet Interests. Be sure of Hint." He enme near to her, his hat In his hand, ready to go. "Try to forget all about It, will you?' "Oh, I can't do that. I feel sort of will ournt Betty thinking that But I'll do my work Just the same, of course." She sighed heavily and sat, the un noticed hand clasped In Its fellow. When he had gone she railed nerv ously for her maid. She had a hitherto unknown dread of being alone. But when Mathllde, chosen by Betty, rame with her furtive step and treacherous yes, Joan Invented some duty for her. It occurred to her that Mathllrie might be one of Betty's witnesses. For some time the girl's watchfulness and In truslon had become lrritatlngly noticeable. And Morena was Joan's only frequent and Informal visitor. "Mathilda thinks I am that I" Joan aald to herself; and afterward, with a burst of weeping, "And, of course, that ta what I era." Her past sin pressed Upon her and sh trembled, wmetnberIns Plerrt's wistful, seeking tar. If fee afcould tnd her now, ha would find 1 them. "You will have to forglva me," he murmured pleasantly ; "you see. It was necessary to see you both together and Betty Is not willing to allow me an Interview. I am sorry to have chosen a public place and to have used a trick to get you here, but I could not think of any other plan. This Is. really private enough. I have arranged this exhibition for Foster and it is closed to the public today. We got in by special tea-hou- permit a fact you probably missed. And, after all, civilized people ought to be able to talk about anything without excitement." Betty's eyes glared at him. "I will not stay! This is insufferable 1" But he put out his hand and something In his gesture compelled her. She sat down on the round, plush seat in the middle of the room and looked up at the two men helplessly. Joan had once leaned in a doorway, silent and unconsulted, while two men, her father and Pierre, settled their prop erty rights In her. Betty was, after all, in no better case. She listened, whiter and whiter, till at the last she slowly raised her muff and pressed it against her twisted mouth. Morena stood with bis hand resting on the high back of the. circular seat almost directly above Betty's head. It seemed to hold her there like a bar But it was at Prosper he looked, to Prosper he spoke. "My friend," he began, and the accentuation of the Hebraic quality of his voice had an instantaneous effect upon his two listeners. Both Prosper and Betty knew he was master of some intense agitation. They were conscious of an In creasing rapidity of their pulses. "My friend, I thought that I knew you fair ly well, as one man knows another, but I find that there have been certain limits to my knowledge. How extraordinary it isl This inner world of our own lives which we keep closely to ourselves ! I have a friend, yes, a very good friend, a very dear friend" the ironic insistence upon this word gave Prosper the shock of a repeated blow "and I fancy. In the ignorance of my conceit, that this friend's life is suffiI ciently open to my understanding. see him leave college, I see him go out on various adventures. I share with him, by letters and confidences, the excitement of these adventures. I know with regret that he suffers from and goes west, and there, with great deal of sympathy, I Imagine him living, drearily enough, in some western town, small, health-givinwriting his book and later his play which he has so generously allowed me to produce." What the devil are you after, Jas per?" But I do my friend an Injustice." went on the manager, undiverted. "His career is Infinitely more romantio. He has built himself a little log house amongst the mountains, and he has decorated It and laid in a supply of dainty and exquisite stuffs. I believe that there la even an outing suit, small and narrow " I" said Prosper, very low. "My There was a alienee. Jasper moved slightly, and Prosper started, but tha Jew stayed In his former place, only that he bent his head a little, half-closed his eyes, and marked time with the hand that was not burled in the plush above Betty's head. He recited in a heavy voice, and it was here that Betty raised her muff "Jasper la dying. By the time you get this letter he will be dead. If you can forgive me for having failed in courage last year, come back. What I have been to you before, I will be fo you again, only this time we can love openly. Come back." "I am going mad!" said Prosper harshly, and Indeed his face had a look. pinched, half-crazThe Jew waved his hand. "Oh, no, no, no. It Is only that you are making a discovery. Letters should be burnt. my friend, not torn and thrown away, but burnt." He stood up to his state llest height and he made a curious and rather terrible gesture of break lng something between his two hands. "I have this letter and 1 hold you and Betty sol" he said softly "so H Betty spoke. "I might have told you that I loved him, that I have loved him for years, Jasper. If you use this evidence. If you bring this countersuit. It will bring about the same, the very same, result. Prosper and I She broke off choking. "Of course. Betty and I will be married at once, as soon as she gets her divorce, or you get yours." But and Trouper's voice was hollow strained. "You will be marrleo, Betty," went on Jasper as calmly as befor; "you, branded In the eyes of the world as an unfaithful wife, will be married to a man who has ceased to love you." "That Is not true," said Betty. "Look at hla face, my dear. Look at It carefully. Now, watch It closely Prosper Gael. If I should tell that with a little patience, a little skill, a little unselfishness, you could win a certain woman who once loved you eh? a certain Jane West, could you bring yourself to marry this discarded wife y - ' of ribbon and shown For boudoir finishings ribbons make themselves more and more useful. A handsome pillow and a pair of shoe-treurc among new arrivals of their kind that will interest luxury-lovin- g es women. The spring mode, having nounced Itself In favor ol stralght-and-sllsilhouette, pro- the flt high-wate- 1 Knew H Was Master of Some Intense Agitation. the Importance of his request. With a servant she could do neither, and the very uncertainty would force her to accept It was a dreadful day. Nobody would be out, certainly not at the to look at Foster's pic tures an Insignificant exhibition. Betty felt triumphant. At last, this far too acquiescent lover bad rebelled against her decree of silence and sepa ration. At five o'clock she stepped out of her taxlcab, made a run for shelter. and found herself In the empty exhlbition rooms. She checked her wrap and her umbrella, took a catalogue from the little table, chatted for moment with the man In charge, then moved about, looking carelessly at the pictures. No. 8S in the Inner room I Her heart was beating violently, the hand In her muff was cold. She went slowly toward the inner room and saw at once that, uuder a small canvas at its far end. Prosper stood waiting for her. He waited even after he had seen her smile and quickening step, and when he did come forward, it was with obvious reluctance, Betty's smile faded. Ills face was linggard and grim, unlike Itself; his eyes lack-lu- s ter as she had never seen them. This was not the face of an Impatient lover. It was she would not name It, but she was conscious of a feeling of angry sickness. He took her band and forced a t smile. "Betty, I thourht yon disapproved of this kind of thing. I think, myself. It's rsther Imprtijent to arrange meeting through fiur fr.ald." Betty Jerked away her hand, drew a sharp bresth. "What do you meant t didn't arrange thta mealing. It was jfoa your matt." Ribbons, Used on Spring Modes; Trimmings Vary Afternoon Dress womankind In the new spring styles. They have established themselves in BRIDGE BUILT TO all sorts of millinery, they make dresses and for under WITHSTAND FLOODS garnitures for even find a place on our and things In certain parts of the West and bows or rosettes of Middle West streams that are ordinar- footwear where ribbon and occasional fans of lace ily very small become raging torrents embellish slippers for formal dress. after a heavy rain. Included In the long list of ribbon Since it is neither practical to build r a bridge, because of the cost and the amount of filling that G-- r-d BothProper and Betty a. i . set off the faces accessories made of RIBBONS and laces other belonging of in the Illustration. g Jasper. Hi , th half-close- "1 wouldn't marry him, Mr. Morena, ven If I could not If I were to be burnt for refusing him." Jasper looked problngly at her, a new speculation In his eyes. She had begun to fit definitely into his plans. It seemed there might be a way to frustrate Betty and to keep a hold npon his valuable protegee. "Are you so sure of that, Jane?" "Ah I" she answered ; "you doubt It because I once thought I loved him? But you don't know all about me. . . He stood silent, busy with his weavIng. At last he looked at her rather blankly, Impersonally. Joan was conscious of a frightened, lonely chill. She put out her hand uncertainly, a wrinkly appearing sharp and deep be tween her eyes. "Mr. Morena. please I haven't anyone but you. I don't understand very well what this divorcing rightly means. Nor whnt they will do te. me. Will you be thinking of me a little? wouldn't ask It, for I know you are unhappy and bothered enough, but, you NEPHI, UTAH S, They became simultaneously awar of a trap. It had sprung UDon them. With the look of trapped things, they stared at each other, and Betty instinctively looked back over her shoulder. There stood Jasper in the doorway of the room. He looked like the most casual of visitors to an art gallery, he carried a catalogue In his hand. When he saw that he was seen he smiled easily and came over to gag8gft KATHAJUNK TIMES-NEW- miner' Betty sprang tip and caught P rea per's arm In her small hand. TO BB CONTINUED.) There are more than twice aa many motorcars and trucks ta Hawaii aa la all Chla At - -B M Art r w r Concrete Bridges Becoming Popular. be necessary in a flat, level bridge has country, the come to be quite popular. It is built of concrete and high enough to allow the flood waters of an ordinary rain to pass under It. But more water sends the stream above it and drift and trash are thus floated above It. This removes one of the great dangers to bridges across swift- The drift lodges rlslng streams. against the piers and forms a dam. The weight of the water behind it de velops more pressure than the bridge can stand and It is destroyed. would low-wat- Improved Highways Soon Repay Original Cost A good road is such a paying in vestment that it is the poorest kind of, business Judgment to do without it, according to tfle bureau oi puouc roads of the United States Department of Agriculture. The bureau produces figures based upon a survey of traffic in Connecticut to prove its contention. An actual count of the traffic on the Boston post . road showed that the average weight of vehicles and commodities passing over the road in nine hours each day was 1,140 tons. Addd as a conservative estiing mate for the full day Increases the weight to 1,520 gross tons dally. Experiments made at the Iowa experiment station show that with gasoline at 24 cents a gallon the cost of moving this tonnage over a dirt road would have been $20.44 a mile, assuming the impossible, that such traffic could be carried over a dirt road. The cost of fuel for moving the same tonnage over a paved road would be $11.70, a difference of $14.74 a day. On the basis of 300 days a year, the actual saving la fuel alone for moving this tonnage would be $4,422. If the paved highway costs $40,000 a mile, the average interest at 5 per cent would be $1,000 a year, which, deducted from the saving on fuel, would leave a balance which would retire the cost of the road In less than twelve years. This calculation does not take Into account other savings In the cost of operating commercial vehicles or value of the heavy movement of passenger vehicles. In less developed rural sections the value of the gasoline saved Is reduced In proportion to the lighter travel, but the cost of the roads Is correspondingly reduced, and there is no doubt that an analysis and comparison of the highway costs and the vehicle operating cost in any particul.it case will demonstrate the economy of Improvement wherever the traffic Is sufficient to call for any improvement at all. one-thir- MANY ACCESSORIES MADE OF RIBBON to devise ways of varying H and has found the task easiest In afternoon and evening gowns. Tunica (long and less long), side drapery, godets. Inserted panels, panels In tiers of plaltlngs and applique trimmings are some of the departures from the tubular outlines that would otherwlsb doubtless prove to be monotonous. The tunic Is developed usually with a skirt portion set onto a bloused or straight bodice and may reach only a little below the knees or be longer. It e model of is shown here In a round neck and with cut satin crepe having elbow sleeves and Is worn over a plain, narrow skirt The attractive-embroiderepattern Is done in small pearl beads and at each side a novet ornament of beads holds loops of ribbon in place over the hips. accessories and holding the center of the stage for evening wear, come headbands of ribbon, adorned with ribbon flowers. Either silk or tinsel ribbons are used for these while the flowers are made of changeable ribbons in silk, or silk and tinsel, and having a narrow edge, in a contrasting color, or In silk or a metal thread. One of these pretty headbands Is shown In the picture and headbands of one sort or another are due to be popular for a long time. The Illustration shows also a ribbon girdle of narrow black moire fastened under a slide of the ribbon with a A Bnap fastener or hook and eye. pretty rosette of the ribbon makes itself useful as well as ornamental on this girdle by carrying a pencil. The business girl will appreciate this little obliged one-piec- . Improvement Started on Two Important Highways State Highway Director L. A. lay announces that work on the tinlni proved portion of the Ohio river road between Hamilton and Belmont coun ties, a distance of over 3K) mile. I getting tinder way and that the entire route will be open for traffic by the end of 1924. Local material will be used, gravel being dredged from the Ohio river and crushed stone being obtained from quarries opened up along the route. Work on the Atlantic & Pacific dl vision, which extends fr.)tn Cincinnati to Ironton. Is to he Inaugurated In i few weeks at Point Pleasant, the birth place of Oeneral Grant In Clermont county, he said. ft I , . II - - . ? . ; ' V it"f ? A 1 1 k- - ; I i .' :' " ' '-- - ,4 " .'A - ' 11 if Mi rt an POPULAR STYLES FOR AFTERNOON WEAR trick of convenience. A medallion suspended on a narrow velvet ribbon Better Roads Encourage Is one of many homemade and attracNew to Cars tive neck ornaments that give aa efFarmers Buy touch to the day Good roads and more of them is :i fective finishing frock. Two corsage ornaments made farmers that cannot resist temptation and these great concrete ribbons ure of ribbon flowers and fruits grapes this Instance serve to enrich afterbeing built at the rate of approximate In noon or evening frock, In lieu of real ly 20.000 miles per year, with no InA hair bow of Roman dications of the work diminishing. blossoms. ribbon represents this clasa of striped dealers In from throughout Reports so often of plaid or made bows to the effect that farm country are ers have already begun placing orders checked ribbon as well, for little girls' for passenger cars and trucks foi dally wear, and a pair of satin rtbbon finishes up the story of dress spring deliveries In greater volume. farters fatln-facccanton makes the handsome dress at the left It has a drape at one side falling from gleaming clasps of Jet and rhlnestones aod Ordered with rlbbonzlne frtng. The Sleeves are novel in design and d trimmed with tb fringe and an Inset about the neck of fine embroidered ecru batiste makes a telling finish. Moire and printed silks invit variations In afternoon gowns the printed silks look best with panels, scurfs or bands of plain silk, which Is more popular than ever In the crepy weaves, JULIA BOTTOM I.KY. |