.V V .,.-

The Chatelaine, March, 1929

know that I see it. I'd like to be an
altruistic sort of chap whose motives are all
disinterested, but I can't look at you and
feel that way. I've got to be honest, but
I'll try to behave.”

“And I know what you're counting on,
Mark," she said, looking at him with steady,
thoughtful eyes. “but if Jack died I think
my heart would break. He needs me more
than you do, though you don't understand
that yet."

"No,” she went on fearlessly, “I know
what's in your mind, but very often it's just
what cannot be put into words that in-
fluences a woman the most. I lie to Jack,
yet I love him. I deceive him. and; Mark,
he's the clearest thing in the world But
I'm honest with you. And now if you
don't want to do anything, I'll understand
perfectly, and won't blame you a bit."

He leaned forward, put his hand over
hers, and squeezed it hard. “Helen, you
couldn't be yourself, and have said any-
thing else. Right! The coast is clear, and
we'll carry on. Lunch with me the day
after to-morrow. What's the station for
Balham?"

He stopped a taxi, paid the driver and
stood watching the hand that vlaved good-
bye.

“Wonder if I'm big enough for the
contract," he murmured reflectively.

To-day he was undergoing a process of
self-research. Naturally rather casual. it
was not his habit to spend much time in this
fashion, but of late his angle of life had
taken on a certain sharpness, and it seemed
very lrnportant to detemiine exactly where
he stood. The question had to do with
Helen and his more complete realization of
the position in which he had put her with
regard to himself. It struck him now that
the emotion called love——or desire-—was
capable of involving its object in situations
distinctly compromising. Compromisingl
He did not like the sound of it.

HEN the Dover Street business first

presented itself he had been aware
that the matter must be delicately handled
~—for Helen's sake; but in those early (lays
he was too caught up in her neamess and
constant presence to give much thought to
anything else. Then the business dragged.
Customers did not come. Helen showed no
signs of changing her attitude, and the
whole afiair seemed out of joint. But he
had clung to the business because he
wanted Helen.

Then the matter of the wedding ring.
His suggestion, made mostly in jest, that it
was easier for a single woman than a mamed
one to move forward in the world, had been
taken up with a prompt seriousness that
surprised him. Helen knitted her brows.
hesitated, and suddenly agreed. The ring
came off her finger that very day. She had
done this because she could not bear to
leave undone anything that might help.
And, somehow, Mark felt that it brought
her a good deal nearer.

Cherry and Miss Turpin! He knew-
any man of his experience woul now—
what their natural conclusions must‘ be, but
argued that this didn't matter. At the
same time, he realized that the point had
possibly never occurred to Helen. And the
car—his car. He had wanted her to use it
always. But she demurred at that. Some-
times—where business would be helped-
or in bad weather; she had agreed thus far-

So it went, with Helen becoming aPP3T'
ently more used to this private Camouflage»
and wearing it with the ease of an old glove
until Clara Pritchard came in. Personifvmg
the first really profitable customer who had
crossed the Dover Street threshold. To
her Helen must also be Madame Franchette.
or perhaps later, Miss Glaisher. _

This and a good deal more moved dis-
turbingly through Mark’s brain. He would
not on any account have altered the Present
situation, but wished_that it might have
been brought about in some other fashion;
one that held no pitfalls, no risk of mis-
interpretation for one whose shining Candor
and honesty made her so unthoughtfl-1] °f

erself.

Then there was John Glaisher. Mafk
had a curious feeling about Glaisher, and did

not so much dislike as resent him. Who
was _Glaisher that he should, with such
9e*_3n;1fl8 Success, claim such a woman as
this. Helen s courage, her ability, her
charm, serene, natural and provocative—
these had their existence for Glaisher first of
all men. She had taken what was offered by
one man out of love for her, and accepted it
for the sake of another.

Thus argued Mark Upton, desiring
greatly another man’s wife, watching every
day what he must not claim, and dreaming

at night of lips and arms that he must not
touch.

MRS. JAMES PRITCHARD, late of
Birmingham, but presently of
Lowndes Square, London, was one of those
women who achieve distinction by the loss
not of weight but of a husband. Her fea-
tures, round and very fair, were animated
by the pleasurable reflection that she was as
free as free air, and in a position to do
exactly what took her fancy, this being due
to the recent discovery that the late James
had been worth a great deal more money
than he had given her reason to believe.

And who shall say that. whatever be the
sense of personal loss imposed by the decease
of a distinctly tight-fisted husband, it can
remain unaffected by the knowledge that
the more parsimonious a man is in life, the
more tempered is the blow inliicted by his
demise. Thus operates the law of com-
pensation.

This softening effect could be observed in
Mrs. Pritchard’s expression. It was de-
mure though not downcast. She had been a
good wife, though the attitude of the late
James made it often hard to be good. Now
her mourning indicated a neat compromise
between the recent obsequies and a definite
feeling of emancipation. She was buxom
and thirty-two. but her not infrequent
glances in shining windows had assured her
that a well-cut black produced vertical
rather than horizontal lines. This would
cheer most women. And Clara Pritchard
did not look a day over twenty-six.

It is a question whether she would have
taken the London plunge had not the lease
of the Lowndes Square house fallen in a
few weeks after J ames’ death. It happened
that it was James’ house, taken in part
payment of a large debt, and the novel
sense of ownership of London property had
gone to the head of James’ widow. She
came to see it, was a little afraid of its
spaciousness, went back to Birmingham, dis-
covered that she had never reallywanted to
live there, and arrived at a_ decision after a
talk with her solicitors during which it was
made clear that money was the last thing
she need trouble about. _

It was in this enfranchised mood that,
standing at her open door, she noted with
pleasurable surprise a perfectly dressed and
distinctly handsome girl Step Out Of 3 C31’
and advance with a smile. '

“Is this Mrs. Pritchard?’

“It is," said Clara promptly.
Madame Franchette?”

“Yes. They told me about you at the
shop.”

Clara nodded, and after another glance
was inclined to think that good fortune had
guided her to Dover Street. "

“What should we do first? . ,

..Th,,t all djependts.;>?ri' how much youd

- sn 1 .
l1k€;1l;:2,tfl(fir?{moel3irmingham—decided _to
step rather wanly. ’ She was much in-
triguecl with this girl s~ma_nner and appear‘
ance, perceived the possibility of an glc-
quaintanceship that might be Very agfeea 9
—but business was business. _ “

“You see," she began Cautl01‘:1S(l1}I’1,’t once
we actually commenced. we could ?y'erY
well stop in the middle of it, co we. _

Helen laughed- "We °°“l‘.i' bu? it.
woulddt be very cheerful on 'either side.

4aThat’S just it; so if you don t mind going
      °‘   
kitchen’ which I d hke to dobrgylehow much
me What You Suggest’ andilla k u w where I
that wouldt  then I no
stand. W03’ - . -

“Yes. certainly. lMiglit I ask if you are
gollgrliiildllz 3:2: llhgxtliriake any difference?" _

“You're

    

 
  
 

P6811, lustrous floor
and furniture beauty is
easier to get and easier
to keep with this harder
and more durable wax.

Chan

THE ALL-PURPOSE POLISHING WAX

400 to $3.25
sizes
Channel] Limited
Toronto

 

 

‘Bhe Ultra Violet

Projector

brings nature's health-giving
rays into your home. The
beneficial effects of the ultra-
violet and infra-red ray: of
the sun have been known to
physicians and scientists for
many years.

It is only recently. however.
that it has been possible by
means of the Bi-anston Ultra»
Violet Projector to utilize
the vitalizing energy at all
times in the home.

‘(She Sunlight Way to Healthm

Bi-anstnn‘s Ultra Violet Projector is the moat
emcient (lerdce so far invented for providing Inn-
bath treatments at a price within the reach of all
and entirely independent 1:! weather conditions.

With tho Proiect-or you mu cosn.ins.nd at will the
vitsllzlng and beauttfyinz rays which stimulate
blood-cells, tone nerve centres and nuns pain.
.\la,v he purchased on deferred pennant plan.

Write for the tree dos.-rintlvs booklet on sunlluht Therapy with pictures and prices.

Chas. A. Branston, Limited, De?“ C‘?-T,§,*,50,§",’g,1}f(’;§,t,3g,*§f,f°e‘ West

A Welcome
Visitor

HE. British-Knit representative is a dress

specialist with rare judgment for the best.
She'll help you gain the brilliant smartness and
verve you seek.

Exclusive British -Knitwear —— lingerie,
hosiery and knitted suits, etc., is sold through
trained representatives, and our catalogue at
money saving prices.

Send for the catalogue.
styles and ideas.

All the newest 

 

Mrs. G . . . . . earns

     

You can do the same. We need more /
representatives at once. Good pay— /
d-igni-fied work. Write for our unique

proposition. 6e/

6‘ ,
TDADE MALUI ‘v/O°/ 06
e‘ 96" 0°
/ is 0
<2-0' ‘3
MAKIRS or ms Brsr / <€“,g.“ 4*‘
{foe to
/46 ,0” it Q o o9
/ <~‘*‘2~‘°° s‘°# 6°” *6

$50 weekly /