The Press., 1903-12-31
THEIR GAME OF HEARTS
 By Elsie Carmichael Copyrsoht. 1905. bv T. c. MeQare

In this way. ne OneEeu HIS dEHi'
 looking at her downcast, piquant little
 face with a world of pity in his eyes.
 Don't take it so hard. dear" he whis-
 pered.
 She raised her head and flashed him
 a defiant look. You forget" she said
 Jelly. Don't take advantage of our
 having to sit next one another through
 a long dinner to treat me so. I don't
 see what Mrs. Clarke was thinking of
 Don's eyes twinkled. Well, real
 y," he said, 'I don't see that Mrs.
 Clarke can be blamed. How could she
 know that you had refused me last
 evening? If you don't want to talk to
 me you can talk to your other neigh
 bor"
 Nan looked at the fat. stupid old gen
 tleman on her other side and made a
 little moue. "1e Is certainly the lesser
 of two evils" she said and turned her
 round white shoulder to Don.
 The latter. with seeming eagerness.
 talked to a gay young widow on his other side. and Nan listened with wan dering attention to the dissertation of the elderly gormand on the delights of pate de foie gras.
 The conversation between the widow
 and Don waxed most frivolous. Nan
 felt the angry tears coming to her eyes. It was not fair to treat her so | Never since she had known him had he deliberately turned his back on her Il Every one would notice it. She hated that widow.
 | "Ah. that will be gloriousr' cried the latter. Will you come for me at 3. and may really drive those grays of \ yours all the way out to the club? long to feel the reins in my hands again. I haven't driven good horses for so long. Most people are afraid to let me try, but you know I can drive. don't you. Don? Do you remember long ago. in those good old days. how we used to go spinning out to the Country club and Then her voice dropped, and Nan heard no more. Oh, if only Archie or Dick or Nal | calm were next her. wouldn't she show Don how little she cared? But this | stupid old Mir Jones could hardly be induced to take his attention from his plate for moment She talked excit- | edly. the color mounted into her checks and Don. who watched her surrep- titiously. thought he had never seen her so charming. It was bittersweet thing just to sit next Der this way. even If she would not speak to him. He listened only half mechanically to what Mrs. Wright was saying. His mind would wander back to that last evening when he had finished that de- lIcious waltz with her and they had strolled into the conservatory. He could still hear the last strains of the music die away. sobbingly sweet. She was radiant In her filmy rose colored gown that he told her looked like a bit of sunset cloud. She had seemed happy and content until he had made the mis- | take of telling her he loved her. and | then the whole radiant world was | suddenly turned to cold gray tones, as when the evening colOrs in the sky fade into the twilight.
 The hostess rose. and he stood back to let Nan pass. She had never q look for him. but chatted gayly with MadGe Trelawney as they left the room. Then he threw himself back in his chair and smoked in silence. not listening to the talk about him.
 When he strolled into the drawing room half an hour later Mrs Clarke who was near the door. held out de taining hand. "I want you to take Nan into the library to play pingponG." she said.
 But perhaps she won't want to- ob- jected Don. Mrs. Clarke looked at him shrewdly.
 Don't you think l know that you and Nan have quarreled?' she asked. "Am I blind? Be good boy and make 1t up."
 'I am willing enough to. Mrs. Clarke" he said so earnestly that his hostess felt as though he had taken her into his confidence and led him up to the low couch near the fire. where Nan was still talking to Madge Trelawney. The color had gone from her face now. and she looked tired and listless.
 '1Take MT. Prentice into the library and make him play pingpOng. Nan" ing very duly tonight. and I want some one to start them up bit"
 Nan was surprised to find herself moment later alone in the dimly lit H. brary with Prentice. She had not in- tended to come. Now that she was there. however. she longed to sit down | on the low seat before the fiickering fire and have him tell her again how he loved her. If she could hear those | words now she thought her answer | would be different. He had taken her hry loo IIn k.,I- her love too much for granted and hurt her pride. But all that was over. She dared not yield to the spell of the | fire light. She picked up racket and | tried the delicate little celluloid ball on | the table.
 Come on." she said. We might as well play a set to please Mrs. Clarke"
 They played a game absent minded ly. Love one" he said when they had finished
 "But 1t isn't" pouted Nan. Its no | score right. You won that game"
 "Oh. did I ?" he inquired. 'I am sur prised. You always win"
 ''What:" asked Nan scornfully. | ''What gaIne do ever win. Don? am stupid at most S.:mes. and you Il know it."
 ''Oh. hearts," he said.
 But this isn't heartsr' she cried. willfully misunderstanding him. Its pingpong, and it isn't love one"
 But 1t always is for me-" he said. She went on playing and ignored the subject
 ''I think this will probably be the last game we will have together for a long time," he said mournfully after they had played in silence for a few minutes.
 Nan missed the ball. "Whyr she | asked. The color left her face and then surged back again. ..-
 ''I am going to start for South Africa next week." he said. Some business interests tsal m mo tbora and if oil y,.ou \