Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-23
THEIR GAME
OF HEARTS Y
BY Elsie Carmichael
COPYRIGHT, 1895. by T. C. Mcclure

Il am awfully sorry" he said meek
". but his eyes belied his words. Il
really wouldn't have come if | had
known l had to inflict myself on you
in this way" He offered his arm.
looking at her downcast, piquant little
face with a world Of pity in his eyes.
Don't take it SO hard. dear" he wis
pered.
She raised her head and flashed him
a defiant look ''YoE forget" she said
icily. Don't take advantage of cur
having to sit next one another through
long dinner to treat me so. | don't
see what Airs. Clarke was thinking Of"
Don's eyes twinkled. We'll, real
ly,' he said, Il 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. HE 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. 1t was not fair to treat her so.
Never since she had known him had
he deliberately turned his back on her.
Every one would notice it. She hated
that widow.
"Ah, that will be gloriousr' cried the
latter. "Win you come for me at 3,
and may l really drive those grays of
yours all the way out to the club?
long to feel the reins in my hands
again. l haven't driven good horses for
SO long. Most people are afraid to let
me try, but you know | 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
uItIDntN. anu .N8H ItOEt-
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 Mr.. Jones could hardly be
induced to take his attention from his
plate for moment. She talked excit-
eddy. the color mounted into her cheeks,
and Don. who watched her surrep-
titfnnSlv thatrnp,t hs, had
so charming. 1t was a bittersweet
thing just to sit next her this way. even
If she would not speak to him.
He-Kstened 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 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 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-
tanning hand. Il want you to take Nan
into the library to play pingpong." she
| said.
But perhaps she won't want to-" OBJ
| jected Don. Mrs. Clarke looked at him
| shrewdly.
Don't you think / know that you
| and Nan have quarreled?" she asked.
Am 1 blind? Be a good boy and
make it up"
| Il 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.
Take Mr.. Prentice into the library
and make him play pingpong, Nan"
begged Mrs. Clarke. Things are GO
ing very duly tonight, and l want
some one to start them up a bit"
Nan was surprised to find herself a
moment later alone in the dimly lit Ii
brary with Prentice. She had not in
tended TO come. Now that she was