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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 1905)
Y5eM,Qw wSdW&nteW toWrite s hove . S r HUt'.l wi tm doubt n t ii It. there roiild 1 e I I "" doubt ; i T n t II. f irt spoke for thein- I I solves, without a word or - d from him. JL I !! had in M ri urnj, H name h.nl I'pn In f'flnt nnil hid been printed w It tiess the resides A (In :tl of ptlde dyed l ip e In cks. f half suppi i .si'Mlc utl"1 liiP I'ps. Ill" f:t!t - H glnald Wnrdrop-hnd ntpear.d In I. tt. rs of gold on the covers of n book. II" had wiitten a novi'l. with hi own hand nn.l brain, and it had been publish. .1 and re viewed. Mix mini, ton. had app.arc.1 In morn tli.in one or two magazines, fi 1 1 n fi rl to stories that h.ul been pro nounced it mil. ml tint I'V "his friends only. Ami tirt re sults hml f.illnw. il ipiliHy. Ih suits which nt tli.' first Mush see Hi' d wholly .. asing anil surpri- um. In two days In' hail throe lrit.ru asking him tn con tribute short stories to magazine of more or less repute. " Wo shall It pleased If you inn let us have H stoty from vour p. n as soon as convenient . ." Sue h was the tenor of nil three h Mi rs. All that he hail wiilten nnil give n to the world sn f ir hail h.en tales of war nnil advent -in-, with the .female ci-tnont ami sentim-nt conspicuously LoWing. ami when li view, rs hail Moth ml the fart he t.'l.l himself that not he alone, hut ii gnater before- him hail hem remarkable? for the same omission, nnd hail rallur gloried In it Itnt hp soon hart reason tn moilify his opinion. After, for the sake of llppeiuali.es. a ihlav of a i!a or two. he hail written tn the editors of the three magazines and irr.ifloiisly granted the favor thev craved That wis nil delightful. It was such plain sailing and so easy, and withal had a certain feeding of grandeur about It Ijiter on ho si nt off three stories, three, good e.tnrlos of mill, king nd venture with tin stint of In. i,, nt, or eha rai l ers. or humor Hut he sunn needed all the si use of humor he could call to his own aid. for In a few days two of the editors re turned his cherished stories, and the third wrote a grudg ing note, Intimating l it they would keep the store . hut ii wis tint unite what they wanted. Would keep It. forsooth' Mr Watdtop's noble- lip curled and he almost hi can a curt note demanding his MS. hack, as ' he would have no dithcultv in p! idm; it white it would he nine fnllv appreela "ed ' mt lis ere lighting oil the other tn le. cle.l MSH jruilen. e re asserted Its. lf and he staid his hand " We are sorry tn have tn riturn your stories hut they me entirely (insulted o our needs Yon will, though, wo in" sure, have no difM ultv In placing them May we l ave Instead a nice, bright love ih.ry. with a liappv ending?" The wnnliiiK of the letters was so similar Mr, Wardmp for a moment half suspected collusion. " A nice, bright Iovp story "he sat in silent thought for Home time, then rose and went for a walk. " I'crhaps walking will give- nip an Idea," he muttered. For three or four days he pursued this course, hut neither walking or Klttini; still seemed to sjvall him anythln. Ilr snt down- at last hi fore his artistically littered wrlllni; tahlc and hiKan seriously tn try tn cnnipiitratp his mind on the work In hand. The smile and the flush Krndlinlly died from his check Now he was fare to face with the throes and aironlrs nf composition the Klnry had receded fur a time. "A love story' he muttered. "t haven't lint an idea for one. I wonder what made'theni all pitch fin love stories," he went on Ir iselhly. as the diffi culty loomed larger and larifer, how can I wrlle them? I know nothing about Irve. Why the dickens do they ask for stories such as I never showed the sllghti st taste for wrltlnu? If they had ever seen a love story by me I could understand it." The thing was boRlnnhiK tn get nn his nerves. To try tn mitigate the haunting feeling that he was wasting precious time, he sent off his two rejected stories tn other magazines and fell for the rest of one whole day that at any rate he had done something. Hut the date by which he had promised the love stories drew rapidly nearer and ne: n r and with every hour that passed he fi It himself more and more wrought up and less cafiahle of fulfilling his obligation. At last there was inly n week left before the two stories were due. lie took his seat at his writing table dejectedly and Irritably, but strong In the feeling that one at least must be begun Hint day. If It wire only to the extent of one senteni e or the faintest glimmering of nn idea. Km- an hour, with I Is elbows on the table, his head on his hands, he sat glaring with haggard, distraught eyes nt the ink pot, trying hard to concentrate his thoughts. How bitterly then did he reproach himself for his past Indifference to women and love, and all the pretty co iiuetrles and- dalliances that other writers seemed tn know so Intimately. What a fool he had been. In what good stead might experience have Mood him now. Ills mind wandered away, trying tn picture himself as taking part in a hive scene, making n pmponal. as an being really sn head over ears In love as to be making a fisil of himself as he lad si en other fellows do. and not minding. Hut it was no use. "It is xpei ieti.c 1 want." he muttered, helplessly, rising In despair to pace the room. As he turned his eye fell on a ca'.i mlar hanging by his writing table. 'The IMh! the lsil, already' Hy Jove. I'd nearly forgotten Mrs. Leonard's dance tonight. And -and I'll go. too!'' He was thankful for any Interruption to his futile brain racking. He really was desperate. Po.sperati with the desire to get those wretched stories written, desperate to get away from tlum on any excuse Whatever. "I'll go and -and III get some experience before I Hack the beastly things apalu, or -or " He put Hway his notebook and pi m il. for now he had to think out real scenes. In which he was tn play a prom inent pirt that night. Ulrtati.ms, in which badinage and repartee must be constant and brilliant; love scenes nnd they required a ileal of thinking out. ' If IVirothea Is there." he thought, as he rolled towards his hostess' house that evening In a hansom. "If Iorothea Is there I might ven pet as fur as a pro posalshe won't mind. I'm sure." essss&ssssssssssss - mill lit fj rnv I w m. i i a"d d. sc 1 1 cd looking In (' and enter. 'd "( i'- Iim Is It The Vi ness wis Tl 1 1 1 IT1 d but not nnnoance w re d:ci rnahl' the voice of iMrothe.i. Hi i P. ro; h. , i sat up in h. r air ' W II." she said s ir iMoonhKht II. i.i.l.' f. r e til It C.llne out of til. d 11 K o mutlh d hul tliat ,il if" -m. I throuuh It. it ti.l fi. vol..- w i n ild r. . ogll'.ed II till rein f "il and : I'm d a spr'nh'K i-'1nally. "how hae oa t't Hi. rollv Ii id mad i was t'.iere Tlcglnald. after he his how to his hostess and passed on. saw In r standing by the door of t he ba II room talking to a tall, dark man. Kvidi ally t la- tall, dark man was asking her for a dance and both wire laii-'hiiig and talking as. though, thought Heglnald. tin y w. i h as. d to see each otie-r. II" stood for a moment, partly to look at them wiih a vi. w to hints for fut nr.' use- a ml partl to w ail im ' il I iuro Ih' a w.ih Ui I'li'ia. d. lie want, d to tall; to her and make h T mid. rstaml. she Would be ahh tn help him i onsiih rably While he stood tin re among a little group of newcomers, speaking to this one and that, his eye wandered often to the two by the doorway, lb' thought he had never s on h. r looking In It. r. Her companion turned a Utile, so that he saw his face for the llrst time. "Why. It Is that ass Alnsh ." he exclaimed, feeling suddenly annoyed, and took a step forward. Iiorottna' wander. ng glance lighted on him and h. r eyes smiled a Wel come, lb r cnnipanli n. noticing It. turned o see who was the rocipit nt of thesmih-. but did not break off his conversation. Reginald felt vaguely angry, he was not going to he kept hanging about any longer, so h. joined them. Inirnthea cave him her hand and. xpress' d surprise at seeing him there. "I thought you did not cure for this sort of frivolity," she said. " Neither do I. It seems to me an awful bore, hut one needs to see life In .ill Its phases." " O, you are come for 'copy.' " said Ainsley. with an easy, good tempered laugh, w hich, though, roused Reginald W'ardrop to real anger. " You si.ouliln't say those things, 'nrdrop. they make one so horribly self-conscious. 1 shall spend the next few hours with something of the si nsa tions of a microbe un ler a microscope." " I don't think you II be likely tn provide me with the " copy I want." Reginald n tortid. almost rudely. Hut big. good tempered Tom Ainsley only lauglud again. " Ah. my hoy. you never know, the timst unlikely Hh. Mls Carlyon?" tKiiothra looked up and laughed, too. she hardly knew why; hut Reginald glanced from one to the other with quick, suspicious eyes. Had he already found what he was seeking, he wondered. At that moment a lady came up tn the group, and mi dressing Mr. Ainsley, walked away with htm Into the ballroom. For nwhlle Iiorothea and Reginald remained watching the arrivals and chatting desultorily. He was longing to tell her of his dilemma, hut until he could get her nloiip In a quiet place where they should be undis turbed he cmild not begin. " All. here Is Irene," Dorothea broke off short in the middle of a sentence and stepped forward to greet a slim, fair girl who was coining In n leisurely way along the corridor. " Mr. Ainsley ras been here talking and wailing about for ever so long," Reginald heard her say after the llrst greeting and exchange of remarks. " he has only Just gone. Mrs. I.nngshiie carried him off " Reginald, watching the n-wconu r. noticed the faintest of Hushes creep over her delicate checks at the first part of Iiorothen s remarks, at the tecond part she drew herself up with a haughtier nose. " o." she said. IndifT. t nit Iv "Reginald, come here i.nd he introduced Y.ui have heard me speak of my cousin. Reginald Wanlrop. haven't you? Iiorothea said, turning to the girl, and Irene answered prettily that Horoihca was mil tin only person she had heard speak of Mr. Wanlrop. W hereupon Reg inald bowed and felt grateful to lioiotliea for Introducing him to such a charming creature, and Iiorothea having strolled off. he asked Miss ("astl.- for more than on.- .1 uc e. and soon he found himself laughing anii talking and as much at ease as though it had been Iiorothea instead of a stranger. "Doll." he Kiild. some lime ' tcr. when he had man aged to tlnd that young lady again. " Holly, do you mind sitting out this dance? I want to talk to you. I want your help nnd advice." Dorothea looked KumVlcntly impressed by his solemnity. ..ii .. delighted. I she said, kindly. 1 to hi any help I can. Is it your work that is bothering givi you "" " Yes. They want a lot of wretched love stories, and 1 does any one care for love stories, do you think?" "It depends on the stories, of course." said Dorothea, drily. " They w ant a wretched otn ?" " O, no. I called ilicm that. Tiny want them bright, wllh happy endings. Do love affairs ever end happily?" " Sometimes-In storh s." said Dorothia. with an air of cynicism equal to his own. " Well. 1 never could read inn . nnd now I've got to write some I tind I know nothing about the subject. You see. it has nevi r- I have never " " I'.xact Is." said Dorothea. "I understand, and you've got to read ii up." Heglnald stared. " I hadn't thought of that. I thought perhaps you'd tell me give me some hints you've had exper " "(). loads." said Dorothea jauntily. A faint flush had crept Into her checks, hut she kept In r eyes lowered. " W hat Is It you want to know?" " Well, perhaps It is beginning at the wrong end, but for instance, how do you make a proposal?" " A a proposal! What sort" Dorothea looked un affectedly surprised. "I am afraid 1 don't nnd. rstand." " 1 1 of marriage. I mean." Dorothea colored hotly. I don't make proposals of marriage." she said coldly, hi r luait held high. "No. of course not, 1 1" what fool 1 am. Do forgive nn, Dolly, I didn't mean anything so preposterous, of course. meant-you s. e I must get some Idea. What do you say thi ll when a fellow proposes to you-1 mean what does he say that's what I want to know." He was so ntirily abs .rl.ed he did not notice the expression on Doletlua s face as she ros.. It d. pi nds upon the man." she answered coldly. " I think the nexl dan e will begin soon, we had better lie getting hack In the ballroom -" " Hut I really want to know." " Then go and ask -ask miiiic one else. Irene Castle anyone, I m afraid I cannot help you," and Dorothea stalked away, having Reginald pu..l. d and ilumfoiinileil. "Hour little soul, she's had a disappointment." he thought v.igurlv. "but after all I didn't ask h.r how a man breaks off an engagemi 111 t hough I w anted to. I couldn't have hurt her feelings that way." He wander. ,1 away In search of Miss Castle. She had heen so jolly and unaffected, and so bewitching with her laughing mouth and mischievous eves and tip-tilted ti .se. he felt no shyness of her as he did oT most of (he girls. He had not i xp. ri nee enough to detect the false ring of the constant laughter, the forced gayety. or to notice the resth ss. nil observing eyes which yet appeared to see not Ling. "Why thN air of gloom?" she said, when Reginald ap peared beside her and claimed his next dance. This de.iillv serious, earnest young man amused her. He led her Into the conservatory and dropped heavily Into a chair beside Inr. For n moment he did not speak, then he gave a Utile embarrassed laugh. " 1 really don't know how to begin." he said at last. Irene gave him a long, keen glance. " And 1 don't know how to help ou " she said gravely. "Miss Castle." he began, plunging desperately in hi; nervousness " 1 know you will think me mad after so short an acuua inta nee- but I want your help so badly. I want tn know -how should a man ask u girl to marry him. how -tumid he hi gin how I mean, if a man w. re to ask you simply in plain straightforward language, simply ask lug the bald question, would you marry him. would you do " I ortainlr should not if he did not." answered Miss Castle attempting to hide her embarrassment by a care less lightness. "No no. I haven't ixphilned mysi If properly" "No?" Interpolati d Miss Castle, with something like uighter. " It certainly sounded a little vague." Reginald drew courage from her tone and manner. "I mean would a gill-would you consider the plain straightforward question ' will you be my wife.' sufficient, or is it too bald and blunt?" "It seems ih Unite." murmured Miss Castle thought fully. " I mean would you tie content to do without any of the usual any of the things lovers say. Would you feel that I I -does a girl only believe a man when he talks a lot of-" In the distance Mr Ainsh y's tall form appeared bend ing low as it In i oniidmg talk with tic I nly by Ins side, Mrs. Hargshire. Irene looked at th in for a moment with eyes her companion could not read, but when they had pissed she turned again to him with cheeks hot Mushed, and i vi s that shone and glittered. " Yes - I would be quite content." she said gravely, though her bosom heaved as though she were breath less with Ion; running. " I could not believe," holding out to him a little hand that trembled ever so slightly. " I could not believe all the nonsense many men talk. I should think at once they were Insincere. I would much sooner believe and trust you and your straightforward " Her face was pale, her eyes bright and excited and full of trouble. Reginald looked nt her for a moment, puzzled and startled by the appealing face and hand. Suddenly it daw mil on him thai this girl had taken him seriously. " In time I may" she began. Hut he rose suddenly to his feet, the situation was terrible, but IiIh Instinctive sense of hon or made him stop before he said any more. He was troubled for her sake and his own. and unable to divine what to do. What he did do was to hold out his hand and take hers. " I can only say ' thank you,' " he said huskily, and bending kissed the hand he In hi. At that moment Mr. Ainsley appeared again, apparently seeking some one. For a moment he paused looking at them as though bewil dered, then, with a slight how turned and went back again. Whin he had gone Irene turned suddenly to Reginald, snatching tu r hand away. " Will you leave me now - 1 would like to be alone " It was a white and troubled little face which turned to him. not a trace of coquetry was left In words or rnanni r. Reginald was touched In explicably. " Is there nothing I can dn?" he stammered, almost tenderly. " I mly that." she said, with a ghost of a smile. So Ill icit her For the next half hour he wandered aiinl. ssly about the garden, trying to face the situation, and grasp his position. In his In-art he anathematized the hour in which he had come to the dance. Hut neither regrets no reproaches, nor moon, nor slars. nor twinkling lights could bring his spirit peace. Fverywhere were couples strolling about, talking in low tones, or laughing merrily. "Is there no peace any win re." he muttered angrily, as he ran Into the twentieth couple. (In his left lie noticed a small dark path, and took It. " if there are no lights trt. rc may be no lovi rs." he muttered sardonically. At the end of the path was a gate, on the other side of the gate was the kitchen garden. He went in. c losing the gate after him. here at last was solitude. At the end of the garden he saw a little summer house standing up silent on II. ie you come out bin to sort out ocr notes'.'' but hi r sarcasm was w i-d.il on a man so hara-sc.l, "lol dont"' The words came almost In a ct y Dolly learn d forward and peer, il through the ili'itm at the d.ject.'d t'xure before her, Reginald had dropped Into a seat, and sat with elbows on the table, his head In 1 Is hands. "What is It?" she ask. d alirmcd. forgetting the tell talc traces of tears on her own face. "l. my word, hut I vc I've made a fool of mys. If and worse. I can t bring mvs.lf to tell you," lie raised his head and looked at her In the ahandontn. nt of despair. "Tell. You must" she said quietly, one little hand extended sympathetically towards him Reginald groaned. -I'm engaged to-to Miss Castle. !-didn't- I'm a brute she thinks " but ev.'i attempt to explain seemed only an added dishonor to the girl who had believed In him. Hut Dorothea's cry put an end to all attempts at ex planations " Irrtn ha accepted you why. Tom Mnsh y ' - he came on pin pose -he inloi. s l er. and I thought she- O. It must be a mistake . she is sn so- W hat can I do! Reginald w hat have you done'" She sank ha. k In her chair, the very image of perplexity " Where did you say she was?" she asked a ftcr a moment. " 1 left her In the conservatory " Dorothea got up pn pared for Might. "1 hope I'm In time." she groaned. " You Slav there, won't you? Don't have until until you have seen me again" Higlnal.l gladly acquiesced. All he w allied was to Slav somewhere when- it was dark and quiet. He bad enough to think of to ki i p hitn there for hours " W hat a good little soul Dorothea was. always l. ady to help a man. and so quick to understand - there was no silly ui.nM use about tier as th.ro was about most girls.' and he sat for a f. w minutes thinking of her alone. Then his mind turned to dlnr things, but a'wais through his thoughts he saw a vision of Dorothea as sic lurne.l at the door to speak to li t tn. the moonlight on In I hair and her shilling gown. He n.-ier knew how long he had sat there, whin suddenly, c.ltnosl like a ghost out of the mys ti rious inlsly light, a figure appeared again In the entrance and stood looking at him "Doll." he said, itiest loningly. "No. II isn't Dollv." said a low trembling voice, "It Is 1 - In ne Castle. I've come I've come to say - " Ibr hi ad was sunk on her breast, he could hardly In ar the stumbling words He rose and went to In r. Yes'.'" he said gently, his heart touched b the sight of her distress "I have come to apologize1-I am so desperate nshanieel of the way I have behaved I was angry, hurt but that Is no excuse, lilt but - I have' come to say " "That Mr Ainsl y las asked you to marry him and y.ni wish to." said Reginald. "I am glad -for your sake, he is a good sort." " Thank yon." she said slmplv. holding out a small shaking hand, "and Mill will forget " , " I have forgotten." said Reginald quietly. " May I i take you back to the ballroom?'' t " No. thank you," she said almost anx'ously, " you stay where' you ate I I mind face any one yet, and -Tom-Mr. Ainsley Is walling lor mo." Then, like a spirit, she vanished, leaving the moonlight to pour unobstructed through the entrance ".Are you there? Thank goodness that Is all right," Dorothea had come at hist In his be lief Reginald could smile. ' Hut how about me." he asked teasingly. "Yon?), you are all right. You must have- lad ex perience enough tonight to Mil a six volume novel fjood night. I must go now." "Is that all you kept me walling for?" Reginald was aggrieved. " 1 should think II was enough." said Dorothea, nnd turning, vanished once more. "This Is one of those strokes of fortune which some times come to a man who does his duly against his Inclina tions." Reginald murmured to himself as Dorothea walked in to pay her duty call on Mrs. Leonard. It was Mrs. I.ionarils "at home'" day. and there was tea in the garden, nnil so many to partake of It that it was easy for any gust to evade the hostess' eye. Hy co incidence or a little judicious maneuvering Reginald found himself with Dorothea on the threshold of the little sum mer house In the kitchen ganh n. " I really think this Is not allowed, wi are trespassing." said Dorothea with a 'augh as she looked up at he r cousin. Hut meeting his cys Inr own fell suddenly. "1 think we ll stroll hack now." sin- said meekly. " No. not .vet." he aiiswi'ied, anything but nieeklv. " I want to talk to you, Dolly." and Dolly did not again at tempt to stop him. Hut when he had done she looked up at hitn with shy. mischievous eyes. " Is Is all this for experience, to to be able to Willi " " Dorothea! how can you. ), my dear, don't you know that then- are some tilings too too sacred to In In be that a iiian keeps always in his own heart - that " " i'crhaps that is why love stories are so stupid then," she said mischievously. " no one writes the real truth. How shall you inatiae then. Reggie?" Hut even the still unwritten stories could not depress 1 1 i It) the II. " Ne ve r mind." he said, drawing her hand through I. is urin, "one Is enough for one day, and mine is here." WHEN ALL SEEMED L THF. woman sat with clasped hands, staring into the fire. F.vety now ami then the reflection from the Utile leaping flamed tlicki-nd ovyr Ho lacis of her gown, making tiny flashes among the Jnwtls on her tinge rs and light ing up the still face that but fur the warm, living color might have been cut out of (tone. The intensity of her thoughts held her o rapt that for a lime It was a. most as if she had cia.-e-d to bit-utht. And this In tensi'.y sinnud lo coiiimunicite itoelf to the inanimate obj. . '.s around. The pic ture s looked down intently fr.xn the walls, and' the daffodils clu.-te-lid tog. tl,. r us pen pie do silently wh.n tin y .ne waiting a tnnim i.tous 1.--VC. Tin n sud.h id ll.ch.gs fell together with a crash. The spell that I.vmI lie r was broken, utid she awoke. " ti." she said. s:i a tvhir.g out l er arms as if to s ixe Some iiiiy is.hi. thing. " I am ) til d of It so tire d of it ! I want lo Ii e to be ind im-1 e ad 1 f A as If I we re d ii.g slowly i-very day." She rose lrein her chair, aial. going ov. r to the wnnl.rw. pu'...d aside l.i .uitaiti and ;hie up llir f.ish. the i ...i r ol Hit- out side world huakirg into tlo i; i.. e of t he r urn like the e-'.a.-h of arti up. i, tae still ness of a eVoisur. uuisj.il tl. lain was .jmiUK down softly and sieadi. wrap pint,' i wryxhiiig in a shroud nf gra mist. The stre.em.of traffic poured ilk use ly along, a moving uiasji of .nnms. and omnibuses, and c.ibs. A little further on there was a blockade. The r. jd were up and the passage nar rowed -uddcl ly. Ivavli'. i lily e m ugh r a m for one vtl.icl lo go tl.n ugh at a tune. Above t he din rose the Vi ici . nf t In di ivi rs chaltiis one another, and the sounding curses if a ce ucl.iii.in whist- liors. ' r. se had ta.n suddenly bump, d by the l.mk w.ird Je rk of a wK n ahead. The rush, and the tumult, and the stre s.s were to he r like a bat lie ci . the ba; He i ry of life calling h. r to lm-. to gatlur t er roses, mid drii.k her cup he fi n- tie w. .'d grew l. o cold eve t. the ugh tin re wire thorns with tin nuM-s and bitterness In the le.s To live-to live to live! Jn Joy, If It war. possible; in pain, if it w. re ra t;lul to live! She stood for awhile watt Lint; then with a shiver pulled ill il the Window and turned away. Switching on the light, she walkid to the bookcase, and picking out a book tried to read. Hut all the while, like the tramp of ste ady feel marching to the beat of drums, the words throbbed through lier brain. To live to live to live. The book slipped from lie r hands, and as she h i kel about her. unconsciously searching f. r some tangible reason f. r this t Int i f he r f et'ses. he r ey. fe 11 upon a howl of daffodils. She In her fingers and. r am' t.g t he green and g.hl hh,si m-s. touching the intend, i ly as If they were little children's face. For the song the flowers sang was a birth song, telling if a wonderful season that was to come. It was the rising of the sap, the aw 'aker.ing of life afte r a long season of rt pre ssion. and tills life so strong, so s pie n illd. nt d so Conine lling-was demanding restitution and r. c. gr.lthn. There was a knock on the door and a maid en ti r. .1. Mr. T. mple is l.cli.w ." she said, hand ing In r mistress the saivir with a card on it. The fl tigers that played, with the flowers clinched sudel. n!. snapping the stems The woman be i-t h. r head and the re is n pause- before she answt re d Then she said cpth tly: " Tt II him to ci no up." The maid withdrew, and w In n she had gxine the be nt he ad was raisi d and the hands holding the broken flowars un clasped tin in-i Ives. The quick, involuntary fear that bad come w ith t lie announce nn nt e f the man's name at such a moment had left her t . but th. re was an e .!d light in tin ni as she straight, nt d he rs. If up aral walt.d The door opii.id and Tuiipie came in. Ho was hun. with e bar cut f.aiuies in d smooth, close cropped hair. To the woman who knew bis fact- even better than she kt ( w her ow n, he looked nidi r ard tin I n s round his mouth stimcd more noticeable. He closed the door and went toward her without any word of greeting. " I have bi n ot dine d to China," he said simply She made no answer but Just stood looking at him. He moved ih ui r. " Di." lie said. " I want you to con.e a w ay with me somewhere." Sull sin did not speak, and be wml or. mechanically: " You know that If at . t hing i lse w ere M.s flble 1 would not ask thin of you. If thire were any hope In walling I would wait as patiently as I could, but there is none. The la w ih ies not allow divorce for insa nit y. and there Is no reason why she should tot live for another twenty or thiity ye a t - I r Imps it sounds brutal, but she has be en dead to in. for lei. jcars. and li.r Ih. last Hi. I have had to conte nt inj si If wilh the sound of yuur voice and the touch of ymir hard when I have- been hungry for you. body and soul, every day since 1 first saw you. Now. dear, if you cine emugh we will go away somewhere together and try to make up for thr years i hat have been niiiti d " If she cared enough! She turned away and put her hand to he r thn at " It Is asking everything of you." he con tinued. " You w ould know. : In r., w ho w e t s your friends and who were not ; and.it is no g .oil il iiklng the fact that they would be corsiih rably fewer than they arc now. Hutlloveyoii Di. I love ou mm h that 1 would not give you time to tlnrk of any thing c lse but how 1 ear. d." "And you vour profession T" She spike thickly ard kept lur face hid den. " I cuid throw It up. there Is enough for us both without it-" She drew a l.ug hi e a I ti a t.d tuned round, fuel: g l.im. Il.s J iw was s. t and a . it lay across Ms hi.hiad like a whiplasl . " You would do this fur me':" she said slow l . "For you'."' He luughid. " No, not for )ou. for mjs. li. liecuusc I want Jouinore than anything or anvbody on earth. He c . iu.se 1 would rather be our love i thor, the finest d:pl. ni..t In the Woild. He cause I love the lair of jour head more than all the gold and glory that har.ii to a court full of ambjssudiis." " O, my little girl." he suld. "we are r either of us chllJien. aid no know how much those things are woith. Won't you come with me and let me teach you that thr. is only one thu g tl.jt really matters, and. that nothing Is worth u straw without It Won't you com., little one, won t ou come J" " Di. k!" the breathed, and. atr ti hie.g out htr hand, stumbled towards him. He r lace W as quilt bie oda ss. bat he r i e s W e! e like dip pools with the n.oon sl.i' ii.rf or. them. He did not mistake her impulse for askcul, but in a mount. t his anna wire By WaWoni WMMamms round l.er. nnd he kissed her again and again until her whl'e cheeks flamed scar h t. He praved her In ch ar, whispered words lo do the thir g he asked, s. t ting be fore l.er starved ey s such a feast of love that she was daxed wilh the splendor of it. As he- pleaded, all tin In y in hiin se erne d to cine back. The haldi e.s of the last ten years hud marked hitn deeply, but as lie ta.l" d It was as If Home magic suddenly id' away a I the w oi Id w e al un s in Ids f ee and carried him back lo the time when i i.i) King eise was absorbed in the j..y e ! iiv;t g. And ;he glory of It touched t lie woin.it. and made h.r even as he. And for a while the) walked together In that garden, knuw.ng nothing but their i wn Joy. eai it g for no human 1 ings but themselves. 11 in to D.aua, In 11. g the woman, cum in. litst awakening She lie-ed licr.sc.f from his arms and Mood bc 1 re him. " Duk," she sid with a syij, i um g0 tired He looked at htr aid saw how spe nt she w as " l oot cl.iul.'' he said t.nderly. She stoul 111. ge t ing th. s.v- ol his i,il. " I-1 can't taik any niot now." sJ... - .id. atal In r voice snuiiilid exhausted. "Ale Vol going to Maicla's tonight?'' " Ye - " "I Kill see jollthell and tell ou." lb I 111 111 d to go. " You know 1 have to send in my a. -i plane e or refusal of '! p...-t be lore Friday?" She e ove re el ler eves with ler land ami I ...:.!, d "And vou know w hat it cl. i.e.- on ? ' Sh. i.. .eld. .1 again. T. nip., walked towards the Ho. r Will, his har.d on the knob la- stoo,i h.nkir.g ba, k. " Di," he said, gr-r 1 1 v . " Di. Im i. girl, you w.T.'t I..- too I. aid on me. will jmi'.' ' A- the door closed after run tl. n. niau s ipped clown on the floor and burud her I .11 e In ll.l' dl.-l.l'.l - ni a I .li!', Wee pil.g ,.S if he r In art would break. II H.trtt. p adjusted his monocle to make a k.M r.e r survey, and viorepc d In tnl. i.is host, . " Mesa Cl.t ncy la ai w u one of the most charming wotm n ntu me e ts." he said. ( rit leally; "but there is some thing about her tonight that makes me tul each time I see he r I want to look again to try and find it '' "To Mnd what?" asked Marcla, laugh ing. " That's Just what I don't know and pre cisely ti e reason w hy I want to look again. And li .jus' I war t to look at htr more than usually I don't do It as much, for fear rhe. who is serenely unconscious of my e xistence wl.l discover what la in my mind." Marcla nodded "It is funny that I used to feel like It w he n lirst I was in love with Reggie. He was ih. one person In the World I wanted to see, .v el I alwav s hid or looked the other way when I saw him coming, and nearly died of dlsiippeilntnietit when be bad gone past." Then she laughed again. " Not that I mean vou are In love with Diana, but " " Dear lady." he said suavely. " 1 could find it easy lo be ill lov e w ith Miss Che s m y if I thought si e had ever allow e d ine e ven for live small minutes to enter Into l r cah illations at all. Hut at my age one l e.ds some siighl i neourngemtnt to enter such dangerous lists." He bowed and move d away. Man ia look ing afi.r him. half smiling and wondering how mile h of the admission was true ; the n turning she tame face tu f.ien with Diana. " Di." she- b. gall, and stopped. It was as Hal n op had said Tin r. w as something diffeii nt aboii' her " is vour own sitting room thrown open tonight?" said Diana abruptly. Man la looked sin prised " No. elear. Whj ?" ' H cause I have sunn thing to say to Dick Temple, and 1 want to be sure be Is the ocdy one who hears II " The pain in Diana eyew hurt Man ia. SU- put out lie r hand and touched her. Di darling.'" s-be said sofll. I am SO sorrv -I was afraid O If i nly I e ou!d be Ip vou! There Is some one . e oming " she nJ,. ,1 hurrie d!) " Yu e an g.. . the snugs. I quite safely." Diana walked slowly away through tin rooms till she came ioaeiuiitcuri-.it Al last tl tuuali the mists cairn a voin that bridg.d '.he distance j nd i out.di d so . lo.-i In htr tar that she slaitid. drawing her breuth quickly through her set teeth " Diana, I have come. ' Temple stood at her elbow, waiting She turned and looked nt him. "We cannot talK he 1 e," she said. "I.rt us go to Marcia's room." Together they went slh ntly till they reaehid the door. Temple held It open for her to go through, and follow, d closing it Upon him. For a moment the man stood till, then he went towards her with his arms outstretched. " DI," be said, and his voice snu,,,, d like mother and lover In one" little Di." She put up br l ands to keep him away. "Don't touch me. Dick" she said, with a shudder. " I can't bear It " She spoke slow y. " You must go right a w aj from me. Dick I have thought it out. and I am going to do without you In c ause I want you so much that I dare not risk losing you by enlni; awav with vou. Ah. vein ar. golr.g to tell me- it would not be so! I want it si. badly that 1 can almost jersued. mysilf that. too. There are moments wl . n I feel lhat if 1 went with vou aid jou were tn leave me after one day I could live the rest of my life cor.tt ntedly on the memory of that Iw.nly-four hours. Hut It would not be so" lie Inte rrupted her " You don t doubt m. do you. DI? " " No, dear, I don t doubt you." she said, and a sudden look of pride- shot Into her i ye s. " I only know w hat human nature Is. At 2fi I would have done it without a tre-mor. not because I could have lov. il you more, but bee alls.- I knew life 1. ss well. The difference between us Is this- I um a woman, nnd love me ans vi rythlng to inc. You are a man. and however much you care, the re is anothe r slde to youi life. It Is not a thing you have the control of; It Is not an Individual matter; It la only part of the gr. at original scheme, and you do your part because something greater than you Intended you should." The n suddenly she b. at he r hands together. " Hut what Is to lie given to us w lio have- nothing when our eiw II life Is elellhd us 1 1 is cruel cruel cruel!" She- sat for a while Willi her fingers rlin h. d. then she got up and stood before him. " I am not aucriliciiig for religion or mor ality, so I have nothing to stay me when you are gone, I nm only a cownrd, and I want you more than everything in all the w oriel." In another room some one was singing C.ounod s " Maid of Athens," and through the half op tied windows came the soft, suhdui d murmur of the flowing accom panlm.int. bearing the voice along like a bird on the breast of the Incoming tide: Hy thai i,. I long t i last.-. I: tloil i' 'i:- . r.t'lr. li d waist. Ilv all t!.- (-kin flow. r that te-ll W r.nt WiT lei i nn II. i . r .-J., a k so we 11. The Invocation avvi lh d Into a cry of ex quisite pain; lly . 's alternate J..y un 1 . repeating and rising still higher, till it broke into that passionate- avowal: . - men sas Hii.-ii'i. All the repression, the unsa tistied longing welled up and overflowed in the cry that ring 'nn. an I Temple and Diana stone) face to face listening lei the voi. e of their own i tin and their own sorrow, knowing It to-be the pain of e oun' h -s ot he rs The music stoppe d and th. re w as a sound of applause'. Afle r a slleni e T. mple sp .k" His face wan while and his ha m Is s, em. 1 to be gripping for something, but In stoo l straight, with his he ad w II up. " DI. Is It to be good b ?" " Yes. Dick." she said sharply. I. ke a lit lie child, but t he loneliness it, In r c. i w as s i pathetic that It made Temple f .rgcl for a moment his suffering. lie took lu r h in. is gently and he-Id them. "You are sending me away." he said quietly, "and 11 shall be as you a ; hi.', remember, dear. 1 alwav belong to ou. and wh. n you si nd for tin I will come." lie st i "I a little while be ml 1 1 1 q over he -r . and Ids lips looked as if they we re moving, but he did not speak. Whe n Diana lifted her hea l he had gone. III. When Temple gat bac k lo his ro jins al midnight his man harah i Ii in j telegram. "This came for you shortly after jou It ft, sir." li.- to ik It itcliffi re t.tl and opened it. The ad'lre-s of the sending station made h.in witne. Thin he read the message: ' Mrs. Temple died unexpectedly th s afternoon. t'lRria."