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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1923-09-27, Page 6a the name It insures tea that is fresh, fragrant and pure - Try its The Hidden Hour BY J. B. HARRIS-BURLAND CHAPTER IV.-(Cont'd,) It was a beautiful room --this bed- room that her husband had furnished for her in the first flush of his suc- cess. The- thick carpet and curtains were grey, and all the furniture was modern black lacquer covered with lit- tle Chinese scenes and figures in gold. The ceiling was a pale grey and all the woodwork had been painted a deep orange. The dressing -table sparkled with gold and crystal, A bright log fire was burning in the grate, as though some servant had only just at- tended to it. The walls had been. painted a pale reddish yellow, that re- lieved the" sombreness of the grey and black. The man who had designed it had said that it was "all darkness and flame." And later on Ruth had said to herself, "The flames 'leave died out and only the darkness remains!' The same thought might have oc- curred to her again, as she looked round the room, if she had not had so much else to' think about. As a mat- ter of fact she was looking for some place where she could hide her torn coat and her ruined hat -some spot that would riot be too obviously a hid- ing -place. She was afraid to put the things away in a trunk. There was just a remote chance that she had al- ready aroused her husband's suspi- cions, that he might even ask to see the hat and the coat -come up to her room after her and ask to see them. Then she would have to pretend that there had been nothing to conceal. She went to one of the big lacquered wardrobes and hung the coat in a corner of it. Then she placed the hat in a drawer and, walking to the dressing -table, looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale, and she did not care to look at her own eyes. The picture that she saw was not in the least like the picture which Merrington had painted. This was not the face of a woman who was in love but of a woman who was afraid- . e guilty, worthless creature who had aneakbeeejaws.aaf God i her heslt-'t and gone near to breaking the laws of man. Ruth .Bradney hated herself as she saw that face in the glass. She was sorry for the man she loved -the man who loved her. She was even sorry for her husband, whom she could never love. Perhaps after all there had been some truth' 'in what those people had said in the train. Perhaps her husband was ill --very i11 with some secret malady of which she knew nothing. And perhaps, sick in body and mind, overworked, and always knowing that she did not love him, he might have come very near to hating her. "A worthless woman," she said to herself as she regarded that portrait. in the mirror -a calm, clear-cut rev- elation of some Ruth Bradney that she' nhad never seen. before. She powdered her face and tidied her hair with trembling fingers. Then she turned away from the dressing -table and stood by the fire. She was afraid to go downstairs and meet her husband.; That was the truth of it. She had I never expected to meet him until the following morning, when it would have been so much easier for her to Tri - s explain why she had ,gone to the the- atre in a morning dress and why she had not taken the car, and why -oh, there were a dozen things. She was afraid, and yet at the same time she was conscious of a feeling of repentance. She could not picture herself cringing before her husband and telling him the truth. That would have been ridiculous, and the shock of the confession might well kill him, if ha were very ill. But she knew now that the great "romance" of, her life would never bring her any happiness. w Shewould never love anyone but John Mei-ring-ton, but her .love would be a secret that she would hug to her and held close to her heart, as Cleopatra ' held the viper. However long her hus- band lived, she would never leave him, and he should never know .the truth. She would be a loyal wife to him, as she had been a loyal wife to him dur- ing all the years of their marriage save for those few kisses -those few passionate words of the last .month. Duty! Loyalty! What a revulsion of feeling from the love that had stag- gered her with its intensity! What a swinging back of the pendulum! There was a knocking on the door and the handle turned. She waited for someone to speak, but no one spoke. "All right, Alec," she exclaimed. "You can come in." She unlocked the door and opened it. Her husband entered the room. CHAPTER V. "You have been a long timetaking off your hat and coat," said Sir Alex- ander Bradney. "Yes, Alec, I'm very tired." "You were not coming down to the library, eh?" "Oh yes -I was just coming." She paused and laughed. "I just wanted to tidy myself up a bit; I've been roughing it, you know." "Roughing it? What do you "I've,- been tda the theat'?e-upper circle -took a cab both ways." • Sir Alexander stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Han, I see," 'he said after a pause. "So that's why you are not in an evening frock?" Yes. One could hardly dress for the upper circle." Come' downstairs. I want to smoke." "Oh, you can stoke here, Alec." "No, thank you! I do not do that kind of thing." Rath switched off the lights and walked slowly down the stairs. Her husband followed her, but he did not speak until they were in the library. Then he said, "I wasn't able to go to the house after all." "Did you dine in town?" queried Ruth, seating herself in an easy chair. Sir Alexander nodded. He took up his position with his back to the fire. He lit a cigar and stood there with his hands behind him. For nearly a minute there was silence, and then Ruth said, "Do you want to see me about anything of importance?" "Well, yes -important to me at any rate. I'm beginning to feel that things cannot go on very well as they are. You have always been indifferent' to e; but now you seem to hate me. I've een it in youreyes more than once -hatred." "Oh, no, Alec. It's wicked to talk ike that." "I am speaking the truth. Ever ince•I destroyed that rotten portrait you you have been quite different." Ruth tried to smile. "Oh, well, lec," she said, "you did behave abom- nably." "Yes, I lost my temper; I was not eeling very well that morning. The ortrait irritated me:" "You said it was the portrait of a ad woman. Very likely you're right." "I did not speak the truth. I did of tell you exactly what was in my ind, Ruth. The portrait showed nee woman who was in love," He paused nd laughed. "En love -and I know gh ell enouthat you are not in love ith me." Ruth clasped her knees with her, ands: She knew that her husband as conducting a cross-examination. he had listened to hien, more than ice, when he had been trying to get he truth out of a witness. ,I -le never lustered or bullied. He was always, uiet and gentle and sympathetic-' list like this. j So you .think I ani in love with meone else, Arra'?" she laughed. "Oily ow absurd!" He looked at her for a few moments ithout speaking. Then he said, "Sou EveAfter ry Meal Have a packet in your pocket for ever -ready refreshment. Aids digestion. Allays thirst. Soothes the throat. For Quality, Flavor and the Sealed Package, ,A get b rn a a w w h S el th b 9 so h tI "•d , vC.'1"".'n'yy'.•^vuII+MMMI/X�NNNM Y54.;: e tiouse THE 'BORROWERS ., Judith's door (Mailed cautta sly, and Sarah Fell stood apologetieialiy;.iii the doorway. How .,pretty shes with her golden hair and her ate' full of jade crepe de Chine! "yau're studying!" she exclaimed; Won't interrupt .you but a examen I'beet wanted to ask you which Ya d have this nude up with if you were ' silver or black? Or would you use y„ "Prue said silver, Connie:a `'black,. and Mary said both," observed; Judith. dryly. "Sarah, don't you ever get tired of borrowing?" "Of borrowing! Why, Judy, T never.' borrowed a cent in my life!" "I'ni not talking about money; Why don't you decide something t'or.yoar- self? Really it's heaps more fen, Oh, you're a wheedler, and it's awfully hard to resist you, but somebody's got to do it for your own good 0,02T de- cline to answer your .question " -• "Why, Judith!" Sarah exclaited. "I mean it, we're all in a Conspir- acy to help you rob yourself, but I'm going to get out. Try standing on your own feet, Sarah, and, s how good it feels!" " r G "But Professor Baker- said the requisites of success is toil: to learn from others!" Sarah •e ne .eosf ' laiin-" ed triumphantly. "I know he did. But that. ' esn't mean you should go round borrowing other people's brains to eve fusing your own," Judith retorted.""` "Nonsense!" Sarah replied'htl . "Go back to your old calculus. T:ri1f my gown is spoiled, it will be your Blit!" A week later Sarah was summoned to the dean's office. "Miss F'eJ1 '.;the. dean said, "I am afraid your rt is going to be a shock to you this: term, so I called you an to talk it overaeith, you. She waited till Sarah, white- glace, had read the card twice. Then; "Do you understand?" the dean asked. The girl shook her head. "It is because you are trying to- live upon borrowed capital. We could -not be sure of it at first, so we waited, giv- ing you the benefit of every doubt. Think it over. How many papers', have you written, how many problems: have you solved, how many even unimport- ant things have you decided without help from others?;' , "Why, I - I didn't suppose,- I must have hit your forehead against something, ''Ruth." "Yes -getting into the cab. It. doesn't hurt. I didn't think it showed; at a11." "Oh; it won't disfigure .you for life," he said with a smile. "Well look' here t Ruth, I'm very sorry 1 lost'iny t --and that I've ' been 'thinkin •': horrible things about, ure ,� Yo. Caret you forgive Me? "Yes, Alec, of course Forgive you," she answered. He came towards her and laid ` his hand upon her shoulder. "You see, Ruth," he continued, `it wasn't as if I • k 7zilio t care. If Ihado,tcared that iF4 look in your eyes wouldn't have mat- tered. ButI did care, a 4472. Figured percale in white and ,.nd I do care, blue'is here., portrayed.' The style is I know you don't love me but -Ruth dear, I'd be content with so very little—" She flushed with shame, but before she could frame a reply the telephone bell rang. Sir Alexander did not move butt as the bell kept on ringing Ruth cried out, "Oh, please answer it Alec. I can't even think with that noise go- ing on." Sir Alexander Bradney walked to the far end of the room and picked up the receiver. "Hallo!" said Sir Alexander. "Yes -speaking-Oh, what's that? Speak THIS DOUGH WON'T STICK. louder, will you -yes, I did call there, about nine o'clock, to see Mr. Merring- The other day I saw my aunt' knead- ton. Yes, I saw Mrs. Merringtozi_. ing bread on a cloth -covered bread - Oh, how terrible, how shocking- board. I had never seen this done You'd better come and see me, or send before, so -asked her her reason for someone, if you like -yes, certainly- using the cloth. The answer was that e He hung up the receiver, and Ruth, the cloth prevents the soft dough from chilled with fear at the inentiozi' of sticking and it can be worked up mach Merrington's name, said, "Who was softer than on a floured board in the that?" without looking round at her ordinary way. She said it was also husband. splendid when cutting doughnuts; as "Someone speaking from Merring- they stick so easily to a floured board, ton's house," Bradney replied. "I was and to_ be good should be very soft. see; Ruth, I thought perhaps e'd round there about nine o'clock. ou The idea is not original, as she once paint another portrait of. you if I aid saw the . doughboards covered with him over again, so I looked hini:iip cloth in a big doughnut factory. The after I'd had some dinner at the club" cloth cover is best made from a large - He paused, and Ruth, in an a lily size flour sack, which is sewn into a of terror, dared not seem to take°'too tube to fit the doughboard; or sew great an interest in what she 'had tapes to a` square a little larger than heard. No doubt, somehow or other, the doughboard and tie these so ' that Dr. Trehorn had got through to the the cloth will be smooth and stay in Merrington's house on the telephone lace,- T,ouise• E. with news of the accident. When :Tier P husband had exclaimed, "How ter...! rible! How shocking!" he must have CLEANING OILCLOTH. been referring to ,Tohn Merringten'e Oilcloth should never be scrubbed. loss of memory. "You see," Bradney continued, "I bi won is done the' paint will quickly didn't like to write to hien or speak be `Yarn oYf. It should first be care - on the 'phone in case he might be= fully washed with a soft brush„ to re - well, anyway=, I thought it best ta: go move all the dust and Birt, and there and see him. . He was out, bet a eaee wiped with a large, &oft cloth wri7i g Mrs. Merrington." out in tepid' ('not hot) water. If it is Again he paused, and ,Ruth, still very dirty it may be necessary to u,e afraid to look at his face;• stared ata little soft, soap, but this should be the are. Why, she asked herself, had donerarely, andon no account should they •telephoned to her husband? i da• be sed. Whit is dry wipe "A most terrible thing has !lappet-. over withua cloth oren sponge di ,ped est ed," said ,Sir Alexander very slowly. Ruth turned her head at last taW skim milk, which will brighten and ace, an rose sliai;p'ly, preserve the colors and gine it ;a pol- thought---" Suddenly as in• a dream Sarah saw Judith's clear eyes chaff - legging• her and heard. Judith's voice `'Try standing on your,. own feet, Sarah, and see how good it feels!" A DRESSING STOOL. "By the time I comb my hair in the afternoon I'm just too tired to primp before a mirror," 'admitted ; a busy country mother, "So I do it in the quickest possible way and trust to luck regarding the appearance of the back of my collar and hair." Many times my tired and aching feet have tended to hasten my after- noon toilet and have reminded me of my hard-working friend. So it was with surprise and interest that I re- cently saw in front of her dressing - table a rejuvenated piano stool brought down from her attic, where it had remained in useless oblivion since superseded at the piano by a more ambitious bench. "I cannot tell you what a comfort it is," she explained. "I'm only pro- voked to think that I' did not get it down sooner: I sit here in comfort and arrange my hair as carefully as I choose. Then I swing round and scrutinize results from all angles. "No more -scolding -locks for mother! Daughter is so delighted with this one improvement that she donated the cretonne cover." Even if vanity does not prompt a more careful toilet, every mother will appreciate the comfort this arrange- ment offers for tired. feet. If the attic does not harbor one of these old swivel piano stools, one can be bought at second-hand very cheaply. And inci- dentally let me add that such a stool is exceedingly handy in the kitchen as well. A PRETTY APRON FOR "MOTHER'S HELPER." easy to develop and easy to adjust. The straps may be fastened to the bclt with buttonsor snap fasteners. The Pattern is -cut in 5 Sizes: 6, 8 10, 12, and 14 years. A 12 -year size requires 2 yards of 27 -inch material. Pattern mailed to any address• on receipt of 15c in silver or stamps, by the Wilson Publishing Co,, 78 West Adelaide Street' Allow two weeks for receipt of pattern. °-• to her feet. i i isle After sponging with the milk deer "What is it, Alec?" she cried "What with a cloth. has happened?". l"Poor Mrs, 112erriiigton is dead,rd he .,. ,� answered grapely. "The police rang WRITE eleare RESTING LETTERS, me up -they. think there's something' Before I acquired the habit of snaky wrong, I'm afraid -Ruth--" j ing notes before writing my letters,. She was close to hint, and she they were, I am afraid, rather short caught at his arm and slung to it to and uninteresting, Very often while save herself Siem falling, then heocarried heiher'an to 1the ELsofa w (To be Continued,)' Minard's I InI'mtlnt fee Dandruie id I was working I'would think of some bit of news that I would like to tell "so and so," but by the time I` was 1SsUE Na. 8a --''23e 4M'bY.W.. d 11111/111111,,I((f l °woman should ave wrinkles or. sagging skin be- ,fore Ile is sixy., Lifebuoy keeps the -skin young. The health odour vanishes' quickly after use. - LEVER .. BROTHERS LIMITED Toronto Lbs4 ready to write a letter to them I had forgotten many of the things I wished to tell them.' "Now, for a day or so before I write my letters I carry a paper in my pocket and fromtime to time, as I am about my work I jot down brief notes on different subjects which I wish to write about. This enables me to* Write much longer let- ters and to make them more interest- ing. One of my correspondents laugh- ingly told me recently that my letters were "as good as a newspaper." -G. T. TO CLEAN THE MOP. If you use any of the patented wool- ly mops now on the market, whether for floors, walls or furniture, keep an old whisk broom hanging near the out- side door 'in order to give your dry mops their daily cleaning. Brushing removes the bits of lint and dust mut.. more quickly and with less damage to the mop than the old-fashioned method of banging ft on the porch rail. The lowest priced tea is not the cheapest. A pound of "SALADA" yields more cups to the pound, and so much more satisfaction than ordinary tea, that it is really the most economi- cal to use. Nutritious Bananas. The producing power of the banana is forty-four times as great as that of' the potato. The dried fruit is readily converted into nutritious flour; it may be alsro manufactured into sausages; beer can be made from it; while the akin can be turned into cloth, and the juice made to do service either - as ink' or vinegar. The first astrological issue of Old Moore's Almanack was published The •first-negro,was bioughtr-to•dthe in1619.. `EDDYS TWIN BEAVER WASH BOARDS Of MEND MERE outwearallothers ONSALEBYGROCERS ANO/MROWARE MERCH..A7.T a Cheap If They Cling Long. Wife -"These 'Clinging gowzus are rather inexpensive." Hubby -"If they cling long enough no ,doubt they are." Minard's Liniment Heels Cuts.. The ar loo -familicolored colored globes in chemists' windows were first display- ed by the Moorish druggists of Arabia and Spain. A strong hive of bees ,will number 60,000 insects. A queen bee is sup- posed to lay about a million and a half Eggs during her lifetime, Ke seylIea-in eaten The Kelsey unarm airgen- erator will heat every room in your house. It is, easy to operate and coats less for fuel than any -other heating method. Heats both small and lar se houses with equal satisfaction WRITE FOR IPARTICULA'RS CANADA FOUNDRIES &FORGING,' L I,A Itc0 JAMES SMART PLA,N'F.r BROCKVILLE OWY. Mustard neutralizes tile richness of fat foods and makes\ than easier to digest. Mustard enables you to enjoy and assimilate food which otherwise would hurclen the digestive organs, tic ..4