The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14

ISJ1NlOLASll lNI ~ -. = 81 t-A0S S,SOs 8aa
said she, leaning back In the hanson and
EwntchIng tho busy crowd, and not no
3ticing the sudden alteration lnSthe face
OF her companion al these words. z" bout
teltstlays ago lie came to see us 1--WE are
staying at Croydon, you know Mama
doesn't think It Is good for Aline to live
In Londor), and he gave us each a ten.
pound note, and iife's been q sort OF
paradise ever since.
Deverill listened to this speech with
mingled feelings OF interest. pity and
sort or terror. He. guessed whose money
"stroke OF luck and the knowledge that
1t was the two hundred which the Major
had obtained from him by unfair play
filled him with a sort OF sick dismny on
the one hand and OH the other with
tender pity for these three poor girls.
which, In the case of the beautiful crea-
ture beside him. centuated the passion
with which she had inspired him.
"a very cheap paradise" said he, after
a moments pause.
"Cheap! Do you think 50? Ten
poundsl' And she turned to him again
with that look OF girlish fun IN her
eyes which was one Of her greatest
charms. ,"yyell, you see we're not used
to the society Of lnillionaires, she went
on, with a demure littlc glance. I'VE
looked upon 1t as quite u respectable
fortune. And then besides"
She stopped short. and bit her lip.
Besides what?" said he.
WELL you know, II It hadn't been for
this couldn't have gone to luncheon
and the theatre! Tc turn up In rags
.nt the Savoy Is Just one OF the things
that one can't dot! She Laughed, and
he laughed, and then she added with
sudden change TO dcinure gravity: How
H. ri t,a M t,1,s al
YOU MI this! Although you know It
all quite well without my telling! She
would say / was lacking In reticence.'
Wouldn't she? You know Claudia
"she would be quite wrong though.
At least she would be wrong II she
meant to scold you. like to .c. hear Just
what you think" said Deverill, who felt
himself slipping moro than ever under
the spell
she said impulsvey. ''I3ut you've been
so very nice to me that ] feel you're
different ai
"That's what I like you to feel" said
himself, in order that he might speak
with the judcous mixture or confidence
and GOODNESS which she preferred,
ct shouldn't tell anybody else TINT y
wanted to go to3the 'Gaiety, ~ che added
quickly ut sounds so very-frivolous.
b.
prised when you heard me say so.
II think " was q little" admitted
.Deverill. 9''1 had n sort Of feeling that
you ought to have chosen a classical con-
cert, or an improving lecture 3
She laughed merrily. = III
II thought so, And to some people
1 should have pretended n did. But
not to you. don't want TO- pretena
to you, to be any better or more serious
than I really am I like you to know
that the rcal mo is q girl who likes
life and brightness and brilliancy,8 who
longs for 1t, yearns for 1t; and then
perhaps you'll understand why. it Is that
I've got no sentiment about me. I'm
too superficial, I suppose.
smiring her traightforwardness as he ad-
$:nired everything else about her. It
made him sure that she was as inno-
cent as child; and It made him long
to snatch her in his arms. to carry her
away with him out Of danger Of the
tainted atmosphere into which she might
be drawn at any moment.
no. Il don't think you superficial.
said he. You're honest, that's all.
You're the most honest girl ! ever met,
B Just as surely as you're the lowell est.
BY ever 50 slight a change OF feature
she showed again. In that disappointing
way OF hers, that she did not want con :
with her again to care what he said 70
her provided he might look at her and
meet her eyes, he took his tone from
her, and listened to her chatter, until
they got to the Savoy. Isl
Her den1,ire delight In her surround-ai
ings, her frank enjoyment Of the male
rial pleasures OF the excellent luncheon
all amused, interested, charmed = 2: n.
And the feeling that he must marry the
girl take her away, 81 carve q brilliant
path through the world for her, grew
stronger rs the afternoon wore on. a no
she enjoyed the fun and the sparkle OF
the Gaiety variety entertainment as she
had enjoyed the luncheon.
so that when they came out into the
gloom Of a drlzzllng October q evening"
he pleaded with her not to go home YET.
',You must have dinner first. 4 said he,
"Oh. not dinner. I don't mind q cup
OF tea at an a. B. CT" said she. 4,
Nonsense. You know very We =!
| there's no more harm in dining than IN
"oh, yes but there Isl said she,
|#"Curat ties have cast a sort of sanctity
over a cup OF tea and q buttered scone,
while about the very word dinner there
| a certain suggestion Of go-aheaded n ess
which is just what Claudia would &oi rs
approve" 5
well have tea and buttered scone
between tho soup and the fish. sa a !
DeyerIll With decision. THAT will de-
5odorize the dinner. won't It J,
She was too happy to hold out, ana any.
Deyerlll began to ask himself Whetner
she were not also too fond OF him. For
she had begun, as the afternoon went
on on to give him from time to time q little
smile Of pleasure without saying anything.
which he told himself with flutter q
the heart, a girl only bestows upon q
1 man she cares about. ). 4. 4 ~
60 thev went to Gatti's and sitting In
tho upstairs room, chatted and exchanged
4 comments upon tho performance while
| they waited for their dinner
There were the first diners TO arrive,
i for it was still early. and thus they we're
able to enjoy the pleasure OF a solltary
| Il, 1uhich thew were SO nluCH