New-York tribune., 1903-02-22


she insisted. 'I-myseIf-
How can judge you in that intimate way?"
You have surely known me intimately-you
have known me for years.
Il viii take your word for il that YOU haven't"
answered; but still Elsa's face looked grave.
But, then,'' she suggested If you didn't take
the trouble TO find out what l really was be-
fore''-
"Oh, never doubted what you werer'
w hat?' she demanded, with a quick, upward
glance. But before could have explained, even
II would, she added, imperiously: Tell me
about your friend"
You would have liked old Howard" said.
Was he i'll very Iong?' she asked.
He broke down soon aztec we landed
But didn't he get any better?''
Not much 1t was tedious business for the
poor fellow
And for you?"
"Oh. weIr'-
Didn't his illness rather handicap you?" Elsa
suggested.
I dare say it did-a little"
Who nursed him.
You must understand we were miles away
frem everywhere and every one
Then ii was you''-
There was no one else
still she cried, I suppose he wasn't Ill the
whole tine2''
No but he was never quite we'll I ex-
plained. of course. he had his better periods
You might have taken him TO some town
have got him off your hands,
4 might
Why didn't your" she demanded, severely.
You see. we had pooled our funds and taken
a cattle run and stocked ii, and, besides, How
ard was everlastingly hoping for better times"
Then said Elsa. it was really his illness
which prevented your success"
Anyhow" 1 returned. we had agreed TO
chun.7
But" asked Elsa, do you-do you think it
Old Howard would have done The same by
me-
I wasn't thinking Of Mr.. Howard"
..Why-of the girl you left behind you said
Elsa
I -r-h ha-rF 7 Ta-fsf ted
Was il quite fair TO herr"
You had left her waiting for you" cried Elsa
But then, you see, she didn't know re
OF course" answered Elsa, with a smile.
..You-you were forgetting" suggested.
Yes II was forgetting she murmured, and
her face grew grave again
IN any case I said, 1t would have been
Impossible 70 leave Howard in the lurch"
SO you stayed%'-
Why yes
And did the most Of the work."
There was no one else TO do it
! And when he was IL, you nursed HIM?
I'm afraid the poor chap had rather rouSh
time Of it l said.
wen. You know" cried Elsa. I think you
always were little rough
Not Ike the johnnies in the picture over
there2' I suggested, as we reached the emu OF
the gallery and turned, retracting our steps
/ along the other side.
How do you ike this one! she asked. 1He
picture the right --
Isn't II supposed 10 be ! tournament! IN
quired. o,
You see the woman with the fair hair
cried Elsa in curiOusly nervous voice.
1t is something like your own color re
marked. as We stood yard apart gazing al the
large painting. 80.
'Oh but her hair is fairer than mine SAID
Elsa. looking first at the canvas, then turning
her blue eyes quite anxiOusly TO mine
L don't see much difference assured her
She appears 10 have chosen the tail knlght
for her champion" she suggested
Lucky beggarr' I answered.
DO you think he is lucky?' asked Elsa, anu
she held her white gloves by the wrists IN her
right hand and struck the palm Of her left Win
their fingers.
Immensely"
In some way she suggests yourself" I
answered. -
DO you notice anything inappropriate? she
demanded
'Inappropriate?'
'In-iD the pictureT
Nothing whatever -,
Don't YOU think" she exclaimed, as she
turned her ewes towards ii, that II would
have been preferable if the knight hao choSeH
the lady2' za
"After ALL I said, lit wouldn't have made
much difference . .o,, ioa
..You-you really think it wouldn't crled
Elsa Frightening in the most extraordinary
TT seems to amount to very much the same
thing" - how
WHY of course she answered, ana her
clear laugh rang through the gallery
Especially if the chap got killed"
.'Oh why should you take such a oISilaI
,,iaLv9'' cried Elsa. For ny Tart," she ADDED,
7 feel convinced they married.