Part 15 (1/2)

At Captain MacDonnell's home, Frank inquired for the housekeeper Mrs

Naxie was still in charge and she and Frank were old friends She had been with Captain MacDonnell's uncle years before when he and Bryan were both little boys

Lord Kent was not ashamed to reveal his anxiety to Mrs Naxie, and she at least had a little information for him, the first he had secured

”Yes, Lady Kent had stopped by a little before tea time and had seemed tired She explained that she had eaten no lunch, but enjoyed her tea, and then started away again Mrs Naxie was under the i directly hoo home also,” Frank then concluded If Jack had not returned and nothing was known of her, he must throay his scruples and ask for help

It was now fully night and the sky filled with high, sweet stars

Although he yearned to be at home at once, still Frank searched all the roads, stared behind the tall hedges, and now and then in the darkness called his wife's name Nevertheless he continued to assure hi like a fool and there was no real reason for him to feel so alarmed He had always been ridiculously nervous about Jack and always before now she had laughed at hi of his own land that Frank was finally honest with hi the fact that he was to blarow uneasy about Jack Had they been good friends these past feeeks he kneould not have been half so , he had realized that Jack had been anxious to make peace and he had repulsed her He would wait for no comfortable opportunity now, as soon as he found his wife, they e of Kent Park, where the land dipped, there was a snified by the title of river

Yielding to an i the bank The stream was so narrow he could see almost equally well on the farther side

The trees and underbrush made shadows on the surface where the water was deepest

Suddenly Frank thought he saw one of the slender, young birches move a step toward him The next he heard Jack's voice say:

”Frank, is that you?”

Then she cae fact was that she did not appear surprised, nor did she begin by offering any explanation of her own strange behavior, nor why she should be found at such an hour in such a place

”Sit down for a little while will you please, Frank? The ground is not particularly da time”

Frank made no reply except to do what she liked He knew that so had happened which was of tremendous seriousness to Jack If that were true, then whatever it as equally so to him

”You are not ill, are you, dear?” he inquired, after he had let go his bridle and taken a seat beside his wife His horse would only wander about near by

Jack shook her head

”I was dizzy and very tired a little while ago, I don't know just how long I sat down here to rest and fell asleep for a tiht now” And indeed Jack was now speaking in a natural voice One must remember it was not so unusual for her, as it would be with irls and women, to take her problems outdoors when she wished to solve the I want to say to you, Frank I have beenup my mind to speak of it for some time This afternoon I knew I had to decide I went off for a long walk and now I have decided”

Jack was sitting very still a few feet away from her husband He now h she n of pleasure or of yielding

”I want to go ho she meant Kent House, Frank started to rise The next he understood his o back to the Rainbow ranch to see Jim and Ruth and Jean, but Jim most of all,” she added, this time with a little break in her usually steady voice

”Please don't answer, Frank, until I have explained to you a little better I know it seems horrid to leave you alone and to take the babies ahen you are so worn out with your work and so sad over all the wretched tragedy of the war You will miss the babies, even if you will not particularly o, Frank I can't live on with you not forgiving, not caring forunless you wish it and I'll coo; it has seemed to me lately as if I could not breathe”

Jack turned her face directly to her husband, and although it was too dark to see it distinctly, he could catch the dim outline