Evening journal., 1903-09-22
THEIR GAME
OF HEARTS
Copyright, 1905, BY T. c. Mcclure
BY Elsie Carmichael


Don't take 1t SO hard, DEAR" he whis-
pered.
She raised her head and flashed him
a defiant look. "You forget" she said
icily. Don't take advantage of our
having to sit next one another through
a long dinner to treat me so. don't
see what Mrs. Clarke was thinking Of"
Don's eyes twinkled. "Well, 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
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,
t-lked 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 gloriousg7 cried the
latter. "Will you come for me at 3.
and may / really drive those grays Of
yours all the way out to the club2 I
long to feel the reins in my hands
again. / haven't driven good horses. for
so long. Most people are afraid to
me try, but you know / can drive,
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 Mr.. Jones could hardly be
induced to take his attention from his
plate for a moment She talked excit-
edly, the color mounted into her cheeks,
aid Don, who watched her surrep-
titiously, thought he had never seen her
so charming. 1t was a bittersweet
thing just to sit next her 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 a 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 a 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 l blind? Be a good boy and
make it up"
Il am willing enough 10, 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 60
ing very DULY tonight, and 1 want
some one to start them up 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
there, however she longed to sit down
on the low seat before the Pickering
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
by surprise last night He had taken
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 a racket and
tried the delicate little celluloid ball on
the table.
"Come on" she said. I'VE 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 it isn't" pouted Nan. TITS no
fun TO play with you. You never keep
score right. You won that game"
"Oh, did I?' he inquired. Il am sur
prised. You always win"
"What?" asked Nan scornfully.
"What game do ever win, Donq /