Picturegoer (1922)

JULY 1922 THE PICTUR&GOE-R 39 before them. Conventional chatter must be the mask, politeness veil passion ; but Margaret knew and Julian knew, and were satisfied for tin's little. Bob's thoughts were still givrn to the dollar, but Daisy's mind was ill at ease. Often she would ga/e at Margaret's photo, and her thoughts were not pleasant ones. One night, many weeks after that moonlight night on the patio, Julian called round alone at the Merediths' home and found that Bob was not yet home from the pursuit. Margaret received him, and tried to hold off Fate by trivialities. Their eyes sought commonplace things — pictures on the wall, ornaments, torn copies of futile music, anything rather than each other's. Their talk was kept far from the end of the road of wonder. At first. " Is Daisy not well ? " she asked. " Quite well," said Julian. " Her father is sick in Nevada, and she has had a sudden call to be by his side. She will not be back for some weeks, probably. I thought I'd drop into see Bob. . . ." " Bob will be late." " Yes ? Busy man, Bob. Fine man. . . ." It was such a night as that other. Through the window the moon shone steadily, gladly, as if it held their secret and approved — as if it knew and would give its aid. Margaret, standing by the window, nodded to , it, and talked of the night as an easy thing. " So glorious," she said. " A perfect night," agreed Julian. " A perfect night. I came over by car." Yes ? " Wonderful driving through the avenues. A wonderful night for a drive. And out in the country there — wonderful ! Margaret's finger tips strummed upon the window pane. Bob was telling me," Julian went on. coming closer to her, " that you've got the hunting-lodge ready now, up in the hills." Yes," said Margaret. " A nice place ? " Very." I've promised myself I'd go out and see it." She did not speak. And, so — now, perhaps — as Bob is not home — I'll go now, 1 think. It will only be an hour's run — nothing — and such a night — just the night for a run. A shame to waste such a night ! " He laughed, and his fingers sought the glass beside hers, and he took her hand from the window and held it tight. For an instant he tottered on the brink of everlasting darkness. But she did not draw her hand from his. You — could come with mc," he ventured. She turned her head and looked at him . " Nothing," he said. " An hour's run. There and back before Bob will be home. He'd be pleased you went. A mere nothing on such a night." " Yes," she nodded. " You'll come ? " I was meaning — that it would be a mere nothing. ..." " Yes -but — you'll come ?" Often Daisy would gaze at Margaret's photo, and her thoughts were not pleasant ones. Suddenly she laughed and si i" reach up her arms to a star Just for the fun," she said. Ves I'll come She got wraps, and he prepared the car. In five minutes they were spec.' ing down the avenue and awav to the open country Neither spoke No thought of anything but the drive might have been in their thoughts. They did not look at one another Their eyes were given to the si ene and the brilliance of the night. The miles fell away ten. twenty; houses were fewer and farther between, and soon there were no houses at all, and no light save the moon's light At last, on the rise of a hill on the forest s edge, the hunting lodge appeared before them, and soon they had stopped at its gates, and were looking up at the black silhouette of it "A fine place ! " Julian agreed. Margaret nodded ' There 'd be no harm," he went on, " in going in for a minute or two just to see. . . ." Without replying, she stepped forward as he made for the steps Without yes or no she stepped firmly to the door and knocked He glanced at her swiftly. A caretaker and his wife have charge." she explained. " Really J I a caretaker and his wife ? Oh, Margaret ' If these people, you know, tall< gossip . if it should be said that you were here She turned her eyes full upon him and answered unflinchingly. " Talk ? Let them talk ' Life is more than servants' chatter ! He pressed her hand The caretaker admitted them, staring hard at seeing that Julian and not Hob accompanied Margaret But he stood humbly aside, offered to find food, and left all comment to his eyebrows. When he retired he left no more than the merest nick of the door ajar, and verv discreetly looked on with only one eye. Could servant be more accommodating In the silence that followed the servant's withdrawal, Julian looked at Margaret and Margaret looked at Julian, fearlessly, fighting Fate as if they hoped for defeat. And then, as if at an unuttered command. Julian strode to her side, and grasped her hand. ' Margaret ! " he cried. " Julian ! Curbed passions then burst their Iwunds and things that he had hopelessly tried for so many years to say to his wife he found himself now saying to his friend's wife instead. And things that she had tried to hear from that husband for so many years she was hearing at last, from her husband's friend. Strange muddle of (ates ! Wonderful, happy muddle " I know von ! " Julian cried. " I am the firs', the only man that ever knew you. Bob does not know you. He never could " Oh, [ulian ! " she whispered. " And I