Evening star., 1901-05-04

He didn't say much about you. Just
that 1t was all ended, You know"
Did he think l should accept his with
drawal?"
Yes, he seemed quite sure of If" an.
swered Bob. Il had my doubts, but he
seemed quite sure of it, Apparently Bob
considered his statement reassuring and
comforting.
You had your doubts?"
Yes, l thought perhaps"
ou We're wrong, then. and Harry iris
tram was right She flung the words at
MN n, IN n fierce hostility. Now, he's not
marry him. She paused. You believe he
isn't don you? There's no doubt
Deilete him, all right. He's a fellow
done It? Well. that doesn't matter. At
any rate. he's right about me-"
BOB sat solidly in his chair. He did not
mesn ID. ani X know what to say. but he did not
inean TO go. He had put no spoke in the
major g wheel yet. and to do that was his
cohtract with Harry Tristram, as we'll as
MS own strong desire. 90
rave you sympathized-or condoled-
or riumphed-enough?" she asked. She
was fierce still SAo
don't know that I've had chance Of
SAYING anything much" he observed with
some Justice. w Will
saw rea,ly Whst don't dc see what you can have to
Well there's just this to GOV, .h4
jolly glad Of it, ~ '"'-tliat m
she was startled by his blunt sincerity
cbaScs cb Htartied lie that she passed the obvious
1z larry Tristram and thought only of how
MS words touched herself. " -'o"
I'iad Of it! Oh If YOU kneu, bou -
makes me feel about myselft Rmt Won 81. -
or you'd never be here now" Noi y
my shouldn't be here now2', He snoLo
slo"iy, as though he were himself search.
ing Tor any sound reason ei
On, its" The power of exr,o.,
failed her. People who win nor sa atita ION
.nihss sometimes hold a very strong nosi1
lion. ION JAMIE began to feel rather heInIess
90 10 go. ! don't want anybody to come and
mand to entreaty. o1i' .ol1-
I'm jolly glad" he resumed satt,,no
himself back in his chair, that the bmsje
ness between You and Harry Tristram ia
far, you know" ee ~
are you out OF your mind today Bob%'
AND now what about the major Miss
Janie?" "'oi' MISS
She SI. flushed red in Indignation, perhaps in
guilt, too: How dare you? You.ve M
business to" We no
i don't know the right way to say things.
a,o oare say, he admitted, but with an
you know what I mean. all the same expect
Major Duplay?
= should say you'd been pretty pleasant
n rrry
myself about Duplay" willy
II wish you always understood as we'll
what isn't your business e-A
ana 1t isn't what you have done but
Wnat you're going to do that I'm intereste ed
In" He paused several moments and then
went on very slowly: 81 tell you what It is
I'm not very proud Of myself. So IL vo,i
hnppe1 ma pgbt to .f BE- feeling the same, why that's
Harry Tristram put me in a funk. YOU
know. He was a swell, but he's got a sort
OF way about him, too. But I'm hanged IL
ING, I'm gong to to- be In a funk of Duplay." He
hrmness OF his attitude. 1--WE been a bit
OF an ass about 1t all, I think" he conclud-
ed & with an air Of thoughtful inquiry
The opening was irresistible jamie seized
1T with impetuous carelessness. yes. Won
have; you have. indeed Only don't see
why you think it's over, I'm sure"
,, me Wnoie tning was preposterous; JAMIE
was bewidered. He had outraged all de-
cency In coming at such moment and in
talking like this. She stood still in the mid
die Of the room, looking at him as he sat
squarely in his chair.
"Since you've said what Won wanted IN
say should thing you might CO."
Yes. L suppose l might, but He was
puzzled. He had said what he wanted to
say, or thought he had, but 1t had failed to
produce the situation he had anticipated
from it. But, don't you think YOU might
tell me what you think about it?" he asked
In the end
u think m not mt to live. cried JAMIE
That's what I think about 1t. Bob" Her
voice trembled; she was afraid she might
cry soon if something did not happen to re-
lieve the strain of this Interview. And you
saw what Harry thought by his sending me
that letter! The very moment it happened
he sent me that letter"
Il saw what he thought pretty well, any,
how said Bob. smiling refiectvely again.
Bob looked at his watch: the action
seemed in the nature Of an ultimatum; his
glance from the watch to jamie heightened
the impression.
You've nothing more to say?" he asked
her.
"No. agreed with what you said-that