The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-06


TO accompany them herself or 10 hls-
pense with her youngest daughters
attendance.
Jack rejoiced openly. determined that
this should be the decisive moment ior
him. AS they We're leaving the hotel
the clerk handed him a letter, but in
his elation over the unwonted tete a.
tete he thrust it unopened into MS
pocket. f~r-
A tantalzing spirit of inquiry pos
sessed Marcia that day. She skirted tne
danssrous topic of his incognito, ana
wilfully misconstrued his every SEN
tence. Finally he forced the conversa-
tion, into fresh channel
~ lead very lonely life,' sighed
this artful young man. hoping 10 storm
the fortress OF her womans heart win
sympathy. II have no ties and no one
to care for me-
You seem TO survive fairly well"
she retorted. with side plance u the
'well-groomed mourner. Perhaps your
friends help your
II can't bear them"
What. How about me? I'm yorf
friend"
II don't want you for friend
Friendships all very well in lis way.
but l don't like the way"
You Philistine. You don't mean to
say that you don't believe IL friend
mot as / do in love- Marcia. a good
Womans love is the handspring of
mans life" he burst forth.
Marcia, can't you see that / waut you
TO help me? Won't you stay with me
forever. dear?' and he drew her toward
him With "A tender gesture. She let her
head rest for an instant upon his shoul-
der. then, with a confiding. childlike
pout, she murmured:
But don't even know who you
really are
Answer me first, then III tell YOU"
But"
Surely you love me for myself,
We'll, but your way is so-master-
full"
Man should rule"
Not the woman he loves"
You would despise weak man."
You never could be weak; and" she
resumed sighingly. as Jack dressed her
closer with thrill. the man l love
must feel that my wishes are his"
Haven't you found such a man yet,
dearest?" And his head bent closer to
hers.
Gould l among your countrymen?"
why not. dear?" he answered.
Mine, above all others, reverence
women"
Her head rested heavily upon his
shoulder, with a downward sweep of
the lashes she whispered:
II thought mine enjoyed that distinc-
tion undisputed."
Little stupid. of course they do!
Don't you understand-?"
Springing from his embrace, she
cried breathlessly: What? Then
you are"
An American" he concluded.
But your title?" What could that
strange questioning glance mean? he
wondered.
Its my name. dear"
This Is an objectionable deception,
sir" she exclaimed with offended dig
nifty.
you have taken advantage"
MY God, Marcia" he interrupted.
1T can't be the title you cared for?
l can believe that of your mother, but
YOU"
You have been playing with mel"
your mother would have forbidden
you to see me If she'd imagined for one
instant that | was only an American"
You should have told mel" And her
eyes blazed wrathfully at him.
but / didn't like To make you party
to my deception" he urged.
mo, you preferred TO make me your
dupe." she retorted.
Marcia, when a mans In love he'll
do any fool thing that comes along IL
he thinks ii will help him any,
HIM" she commented, scornfully,
that's mans excuse. You could
have proven your love better by confid-
ing in me-"
"But you're going to forgive me?" he
pleaded anxiously. Her grieved. inno-
cent expression goaded him to madness.
Had ne trined with truth to win her
only TO succeed in shattering her faith
in him?
MARCIA dearest." he continued, "be
more lenient with me. l love you so,
darling. and Ii was all done TO be with
you. If your mother hadn't been such
a dragon
"It's useless to argue. and mean and
cowardly to hide behind mamma; she
knew men. that's all. And | just want
to go back to her. Perhaps you can
win back my confidence again" Her
tone told of distant days when both
should have outlived all human emo
ton. Jack sauntered moodily along, a
frown on his handsome brow, while
Marcia endeavored tO>break the silence
with few commonplace remarks, to
which he refused 10 respond. They
separated before her mothers door,
which adjoined his.
Once in his own room Jack sought
solace in a cigar. In pulling il out his
hand brushed the forgotten letter. Has
tily tearing IL open he read:
Dear Jack-Like all converts you
congratulate you. Your trusting angel
will yet prove full of guile.
Deuce take it, exclaimed Jack. II
wish she would. It's that very
thing that made her kick up
such a row over a little ruse. which af-
ter all was a great compliment to her
--eh--what's that
That was a shrll voice i'm the next
room evidently Mrs. Van Brunt's
raised in indignant expostulation.
You little fool, Haven't you had
enough with one American? You didn't
accept him.
Hardly: I pose as an injured goddess
of truth He's more hopelessly in love
than ever. III keep him. hanging on
while I hunt for title. He's better
than nothing, you know. and devoted
admirer is a good bait"
"You are clever. Marcia. | never
should have thought that at such
critical moment. | believe you never
made but one mistake
',That mistake was pretty profita-
ble Investment for the marriage settle-
ment doubled our income"
lack started crush ng the letter with