The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-11-11

/ supper that followed with my Lady
Gandon. and her gny company-did
you enjoy it, Mnxima? / believe you
did, you vain little thing; you liked
the adulation OF all those titled
women, knowing there was not one in
the room that could clnim 1.-THE of
your beauty of your genius. All! /
was proud of you. You looked a
queen, hend and shoulders above them,
with their tiaras and their waving
plumcs"
81 hated them," she snid, intensely.
az hated them for their superiority
and for their impcrtincnce in giving
n supper and inviting their fashion
able friends to meet nn actress, a
woman OF the day, for example-one
not of themselves aud therefore q
advertisement. / went; / was fiattered
by the noble patronage, you thought;
what was | Inst night in that room,
where every head was titled one, but
puppet, to be met Off the stage in
order that they might observe Mt close
range how the trick is done?"
She turned suddenly and looked at
him with outstretched hands aud a
face all penitence.
Forgive me; it was childish.
Years ago / would have broken my
toy into pieces, and screamed my face
purple. Now keep it bottled up for
you-you generous martyr"
He held her hands in his, still look
ing at the fire.
"Maxima, do not let these people
turn your head from your life work.
There is nothing in the world like hav-
ing a life work it ennobles you and
lifts you up; it carries you beyond
aud above all such feelings as en-
quilted you last night. Little woman, we
We're boy and girl together; we began
at the foot of the ladder and we have
risen in the ranks, hand in hand;
where your name goes in our profess
sion there mine goes too, rs its shad-
ow. We have both succeeded. Don't
you be the one to let this wave of dis
content wash you overheard into the
ocean of fashionable frivolity that
means death to the worker"
He released her hands and regarded
her steadily. Some of the light went
ont of his eyes.
SIS it possible, Maxima, that it is
question with You now, which makes
life worth living?"
II am afraid it is" she answered
softly. She smiled as she remembered
the letter lying face downward on the
writing table.
"Sol" said Heathcote. Tie leaned
forward in his chair with his hand
some head bent down, and his eyes
still on the fire. "While l have been
steadily working upward, growing
more and more interested in my
career, not realizing all the while it
was because it was keeping my road
in life running smoothly along beside
yours, you have been drifting away
from me dly by day. L have strug-
gled with you for the worlds favor,
and now the world has come between
us! You are fascinated by the luxuri-
GUS ease of such women as my Lady
| Glnndoa and the honorable Sibly
| Craven such men as Cavendish and
my Lord Twyefort, who never gave
their lives IL serious thought, have"
"Wait II moment, Teddy" She
raised her hand, still standing on the
hearth rug before him, tall aud pale,
in her velvet gown. "Todny my
Lord Twyefort has done me the honor
TO ask me to marry him."
Heathcote rose to his feet; the little
table with its burden of silver te II
things glittercd and twinkled between
them.
After moment he spoke, steady
ing himself by the mautel on which
she also had laid her hand. "And you
have accepted him?"
az have not given him my answer
why?" staring at his set white face.
SIT would make no difference in our
friendship; because l became Lady
Twyefort you would not cease to be
my friend, would you? Oh, Teddy, l
could not give you up; l have known
you all my .lifel"
The man lost his head little at
that break in the well-known voice.
IT \ A