The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-02-28
HE RIGHT THING
-.a q 7 IN
THE WRONG TINE

her drawing roem A small house. even
though in Mayfair. was but a restricted
area. Why had she married Jim? He
was a dear. good fellow, Of course, but so
monotonous in his limitations. Why
hadn't she married Jack Dalrymple in
stead Of allowing Sophie to appropriate
his $1,000 a year? She could so easily
have done it. What lovely things would
have been hers now. What would she
have chosen for her birthday present to-
morrow? Jim. very likely wouldn't even
. remember that she had a birthday. or. if
he did, he would give her something use
ful How she hated useful things,
Perhaps she could cajole him out Of a
check: Then She could pay Cerise some
thing of her bill and order that new tea
gown that was 50 adorable. The one she
had on was getting HasSe. and no self
respecting woman could afford 70 he III
dressed, especially q pretty one. Mrs.
Otway walked across the roc. s16 in
specJv3 her face in the glass. L was
worth Inspection. IL spite of = 5isc1l-
tented expression. Il vas g very pretty
face. The sleek head and h.- brown eyes
were indeed curi0usly attractive As she
.
o one Of interest. For the door opened
70 admit Captain palrymple. Lalage OF
way turned 10 greet him and then sank
into q ch1.r-her own special chair in
front q the FIRE
''T5 think Of the devil seems 70 have
the Same power as TO speak Of him. she
said. for my thoughts appear 10 have
conjured you here.
'Blt surely you expected me?"
= never expected anything good there
fore NJ not Is surprised To see you as
otherwise should have been" she re-
turned
he laughed "Frankness is veracity's
vice"
Il don't pose as veracity. I'm in no
mod for anything So effective. I was
RI. us at fate when you came in.
Were you: What has She been do
ing be asked.
"Enmeshing me in her web, and. alas"
even spun OF silk"
u think, Laisse that would have
spun il Of silk had you let me"
And think, Captain Dalrymple, that
you are using my Christian name with
out my permission
Christian name. Why, II is as deli
ciously pagan as you are yourself and as
beautiful" he said.
Then It serves its purpose. for beauti-
ful things are useful, even though useful
things are not necessarily beautiful" she
said, as she poured ont tea and handed
the cup across to him. Sugar." she said.
picking up a piece and Offering il TO him
with her fingers.
He put out his hand and grasped hers.
She freed it with a laugh.
How nice he was, 1t was delightful to
have such influence over him. What a
fool she would be TO relinquish it. Jim
need never know. Besides, little come
dy scene like this appealed to her ar
tistic taste.
What naughty girl you are" he
said.
She made a grimace and enunciated
trulsm: But for our failings our virtues
would have no background against which
to be shown up"
The solemn manservant opened the
door suddenly as she spoke Captain Dali
rymple pushed back his chair from its
close proximity TO Mrs. Otway's. She
looked a the man carelessly-perhaps the
'carelessness was little overdone-a lit
tie too obvious.
"What is it. Mallory" she asked.
''If you please. mum, Captain Dalrym-
pies man has come. and will Captain
Dalrymple go at once. as he is wanted
most particularly" and with that Nal
Tory closed the door discreetly behind
him.
at must be message from the bar
racks Captain Dalrymple explained in
answer to Mrs. 0tway's look Of inquiry.
1T can't be from home, for, as you
know, Sophie is in Loamshire hunting
y d supposes me in Hounslow. And he
added, with a happy laugh at his recov-
cred bachelorhood, I'm entirely my own
master II go now, may come back
presently"
''No, no, Not tonight. shaking her
head. Jim is coming home to dinner,
and, although a duet is sometimes melo-
dious, | have never heard harmony in a
trio" she said.
But | must see you again" he said,
with insistence.
Come tomorrow, then"
Tomorrow is your birthday. You
didn't think I'd forgotten it, dearest, did
you?" he said tenderly.
Il expect that you have a convenient
memory" she said. with a little sneer
which was yet unable TO destroy the
beauty of the face.
Jack Dalrymple came up to the girl.
"Lalage," he said. you are unfair. for
- I l. IL l.,.f
think Of you-morning. noon and night"
He took her hand. 1t lay INCREASINGLY in
his. the pretty pink palm uppermost. He
bent down and imprinted burning kiss
in it, shutting the fingers that they
might hold this record of his infatuation.
''My darling" he went on. speaking hur-
riedly. you mustn't mind. but I've sent
you present. ] came up from Hounslow
today purposely to buy it. You'll wear
it. won't yoU? | didn't ask your permits
SION
The ubiquitous Mallory again appear
ed. "ff you please. sir. they have sent for
you again." he said reproaehfully.
Lalage laughed as the sound of the
door shutting upon the captain came to
her. II was a pity he had been sent for.
1t had Eeen an amusing scene, and It
might have developed into an exciting
one. He was so very easy to play upon.
Now, heigh-ho!-and Mrs. 0tway gave a
yawn of prospective boredom-there was
nothing before her but a dull tete-atete
dinner with Jim. who would probably
tell her little trivialities about the law
courts and with pride would retail his
dull remarks-remarks which it required
an expert in legal wit to comprehend
were intended to be an amusing repartee
But Jim was distract tonight. His
usual bright happiness was clouded. He