Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-04

BY jove! Barabara, you are stunning,
really. I'd like to possess little of your
GOODNESS when stocks are going down and
the market smashes. Your serenity is
worth fortune
Barbara passed through three seasons
and received number of offers of mar
rage. They were all rejected, however.
She had not yet found what she wanted.
And you never will, my dear Barbara,
depend upon it,. You'll either marry some
irrepressible Tom, who watched her social
career with undated interest.
Barbara involuntarily stole a glance at
herself in a mirror
On, you are not losing your attractive
ness, l must admit. You wear marvelously
well" His voice sunk to a suggestion of
tenderness. You could be matchless wo-
man if you had a heart"
"A very necessary portion of ones anat-
omy, should say. 1 hope 1 have one"
IA tireless machine to propel your blood,
that IS all-not capable of much feeling"
1t loves YOU" she said. with sudden
bewtchingly soft smile. That was one of
the fascinating things about Barbara-the
little glimpses of womanliness occasionally
peeping tantalizingly through her colorless
languor.
quetries on met he exclaimed. flushing
and stroking his gray mustache.
Then you must stop barking back to
that old theme. We settled it long ago"
NO; We have not settled it. We never
can as long as you refuse to"
ITO see through your eyes?"
TO sec what you are missing. But
guess you are all right-some sides of you,
rate mother. Now, wouldn't your
She had relapsed into her usual indiffer
ence.
II really never gave the matter a
thought" she said, then suddenly broke
through again and laughed a gay. delight
full laugh. How you do overflow with
sentiment. You must have been in love a
score of times
II have"
And your heart? I suppose it is in a
very fragmentary condition."
ION the contrary, 1t has been enriched by
every experience" he replied. with dignity.
MY first love affair occurred when I was
only twelve years old. What an expert
ence! What profound emotion thrilled my
soulr'
He sighed deeply, throwing his head back
and gazing retrospectively at the ceiling.
And when did the last affair end?' Bar
bara inquired casually.
Warning came out of his sentimental rev.
erie with slightly disconnected air.
"oh-ah. 1t hasn't ended"
."Indeedi''
Yes; she is the dearest little woman in
How interesting! Why don't you marry
herr"
''She-ah. Is already married. 1t is
purely platonic sentiment between us. I
l pity her. 1 shall never marry"
Just then Mrs. Warnings niece broke into
the conversation. She had all the while
been seated near the window.
Tom, Tom, why do you talk such nom
sense? OF course you will marry. There
is a divinity that shapes our ends
"A peroxide of hydrogened one will prob
ably shape his" Barbara remarked from
the cabinet mantel, where she was now
standing rearranging her hair.
Warning dined down town with some
friends that evening. and then returned
to his rooms to make some changes in
his toilet before going to the Lyceum,
where he had promised to meet Barbara
and her mother. He had imbibed so freely
of champagne that he was overlooking
with joyouGneSS.
IT am not drunk, but Jove. my head does
feel peculiar" he muttered to himself.
THAT champagne must have been extra
dry, sure enough.
At the last moment he discovered some
letters on the table. He turned them over
carelessly, while humming a popular air.
A foreign postmark attracted his eye. and
he opened that letter, pushing the others
aside to read at a more convenient time.
ing abroad.
"And now, Warning 1 come to the real
point of this discourse. My son is on his
way to America. He has foolishly en-
tangled himself in a love affair with
young widow over here, and l am anxious
to break off the whole matter. He will
call upon you in New York. and beg you,
for the sake of our friendship in the past,