Smyrna times., 1903-09-16


then, aren't your photographs all over
LOndon?" she asked.
Mark bowed, but guessed by her
tone that she had never seen his por-
trait.
He sauntered aimlessly about, con-
versing first with one and another till
at length he found himself addressing
the host himself. And Jermyn was
agreeably surprised; Elsie's father was
not nearly as formidable as he had
pictured him to be; on the contrary
his attitude toward the young lion of
the season was courtesy and geniality
itself
"Ah! my daughter tells me she met
you in Paris" he remarked. Zone
of the first to discover your genius,
believe? Elsie's dear girl, my dear
sir!'
"She isl" assented Mark, earnestly
"AIways a dutiful girl, and a prize
worth the winning" continued Mr..
Renton. briskly. cts a pity we're
to lose her so soon-but there! the
men, the men! I was young myself
once"
'You mean some one will fall in
love with her?" queried Jermyn anx-
iously.
Has fallen in love. Scores of them.
By the way there she is with Lord
Mapleson."
Mark Jermyn turned and followed
the others glances to where Elsie
stood talking to the man he had no.
ticed few moments before.
''Are they"
Engaged, my dear sir, engaged.
And to be married shortly. My wife's
wonderful woman; she's arranged it
/ allr
Marks first impulse was to flee,
but he resolved to learn the truth
from Elsie's lips first. At last he
caught her glance, following her into
small ante-room leading from one of
the principal apartments. When the
door closed, he took her hand, and
looked into her eyes.
"Elsie," " he asked. els it true?"
She avoided his gaze.
els what true?" she murmured.
'That you're engaged to Lord Ma
pleson?"
Her eyes filed with tears and she
turned toward him passionately.
"No!" she said vehemently. "He's
asked me frequently, but I've always
refused. But Mamma insists, and
the rumor we're engaged is about al
ready. Oh, Mark, Mark" With an
outstretching of her arms that was
irresistible; whats to be done?"
He took her in his arms.
'You love me, what's to prevent our
happiness?"
"Mother-she insists. Father, ]
know, would rather 1 married a man
of my choice"
"And I insist on you marrying mer
he cried earnestly. "That is, if you
are willing to become the wife of g
nonentity?"
She looked up quickly.
'Who is the nonentity?" she asked
) "You, the clever artist or-with ges
} ture of disdain-''Lord Mapleson?"
2 ''Then darling" he cried, 'if YOU
, mother will not consent, it must be
l runaway match. You're sure yor
5 don't mind intrusting your happiness
e to me?"
mo, indeed, Mark, no! love you
= oh! heaps more than did two years
e ago, and that's something, isn't it?"
He admitted that it was, and Kissed
. her, when some one calling Elsie, sh,
e had to leave. Mark strolled back t
e the drawing room with lighter heart
d Some one was asking Mr.. Rentol
: whether Jermyn was to play; the hos
y shrugged his shoulders, but the mu
o sician at once interrupted with th,
u remark he should only be too de
g lighted.
g A move was made to the piano, Will
y all vol ces hushed as it became know
il that the great Jermyn was at the in
g strument. He ran through several o
J, his better known things in succession
= playing as he had never played be
g fore. The applause at his conclusion
unlike most drawing room applause
b was for once sincere.
IS Mr.. Renton was profuse IN hi
( thanks and then his less genial wifi
n inquired as a special favor, whether b
a would give them a novelty.
e ga novelty?" repeated Mark, an1
ious to please his prospective parent
q "Ah, yesl had almost forgotten. Tt
o days the twenty-second, isn't il
There is one thing 1 play once yea
r and always on the twenty-second @
}. this month"
The last notes of the song wer
i gradually dying away, when all q
he