Produced by Al Haines
Copyright, 1918, by
All rights reserved
"Do you think he will marry her?" asked Harry Morby.
"Does anybody know what he will do," replied Vincent Newport,discussing their host Alan Chesney, of Trent Park, a beautiful estatein Nottinghamshire, close to the Dukeries, Sherwood Forest, and thepicturesque village of Ollerton.
In the billiard room they had just finished a game of a hundred up, itwas an even battle but Morby won by a few points; they were Chesney'sfriends, captains in the same regiment—the Guards—from which AlanChesney resigned his commission some twelve months ago. Why heresigned was best known to himself; they had not heard the reason;nobody in the regiment appeared to have any idea.
"She's a splendid woman," said Harry, with a sigh.
"Granted, perhaps one of the most conspicuous of the reigning beauties.It may not be a question of will he marry her but whether she will havehim if he asks her," answered Vincent.
Harry Morby shook his head.
"She'll marry him right enough. Why not? By Jove, Vin, what ahandsome couple they'd make!" he said.
"Yes, but I doubt if it would be a happy union," said Vincent.
"Good Lord, man, why shouldn't it be? They'd have everything theywanted: money on both sides, estates close together, many things incommon, love of racing, sport in general, hunting in particular;they're made for each other."
"What about temperaments?"
"All right in that way. No doubt there'd be some friction at times,but very few married people go through life without jars."
"Evelyn Berkeley has had one or two affairs."
"Nothing to her discredit. She's always been allowed to have her head;her father was proud of her in his way, but he was a selfish man,thought more of his pleasures than anything, a bit of an old rip too,if all one hears be correct. As for her mother—you know thestory—possibly Berkeley drove her to it."
"Yes, I've heard it. Of course everybody blames her; they always do,the woman pays," said Vincent.
"Marcus Ber