The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-17

very glad. I hope yog have used all
your tact, Tact is more essential 10 life
than bread"
Anna touched the top OF the desk ten
I'm afraid 1 have not used
any tact
-'What?'
"Oh, don't blame me, Jeanne; don't
blame me II / have made an error. no
one will suffer but myself have done as
1 think best-as seems best to me-
Mrs. Maxtead looked at her slowly.
"A mistake never involves one person
alone; don't imagine that What exactly
have you done?"
The girl was silent for a moment; her
fingers moved slowly to and fro. At last
she looked up. This s Friday: my en-
gagement at the 'Colinthian ends to-
morrow night" She stopped.
Mrs Maxtead nodded. She felt the
sense of impending knowledge was con.
scious of it with a half-realized dread.
Yes, she said in quiet voice
Well. Maurice will know tomorrow
Don't look at me like that 1t seems
as Ii your eyes were boring holes.
have thought 1t out-aH of it" She
spoke fast He must know. and can
not tell him-and cannot write. There
Is only one way left; he must see for
himself She paused and passed her
handkerchief over her lips: the gesture
was unusual to her, one that never
suggested itself. save in strong excite
ment- Mrs. Maxtead saw it and made
a mental note
Explain" she said.
oh. can't you see for yourself? Cant
you understand? ! have written to
Maurice. asking him to come 10 from
TreScar tomorrow He will arrive late
in the afternoon: he will want to see
me as soon as possible Now. IL is the
height of the season. and few people in
town have an evening to spare. What
more natural than that we should meet
at a place of amusement What more
natural than that you should have box
at the 'Corinthian?'
Anna. Are you out of your senses?"
Anna lifted her head Sometimes I
| think am Do you remember the night
we dined with Maurice at Trescar? Do
/ you remember what Doctor Penrhyn
said about geniuses? Perhaps you are
| right. after all; perhaps 1 am a genius,
| and ps this is my mad time" She
! laughed unsteadily
Mrs Maxtead moved across to her.
but she drew away. Don't touch me
Jeanne; l couldn't bear TO be touched
just now 1 am all,-she made an ef-
| fective GESTURE am all in little bits
The other walked back to the dressing
table ana rested against IL. looking at
the girl with attentive eyes For once.
| 1t seemed. she could find nothing 10 say
! Annals fingers pressed the letters in
her hand; her nervousness was rising.
1 hllr she de S-r
81 in control
/ Look at something else. Jeanne: I
abominate being summed up"
| Mrs Maxtead lowered her lids INV
dear child she said. I'D turn that
matter over quite three times il I were
you Never put man in a false posi-
! ton. If you have any other course: even
love can be killed by single Incident
II the incident be strong enough. It's
a preposterous way of breaking il 70
him. Perfectly preposterousr'
Anna set her lips. It's the way
wish to do it,
Why not writer
Because L cannot. know you don't
understand. and 1 know that 1 can't ex-
plain: so il must rest there But 1 have
been trying to write it for week past.
and every time the pen Satisfactorily
sticks"
Let me write for you2 With half n
sheet of notepaper Maurice can be made
to understand. 1t was Joke In the
first instance-a very harmless joke;
afterward. you fell in love-that covers
everything. Maurice isn't Puritan or
an imbecile. He isn't the sort OF man
to shut his wife into a harem- After
/ 81, Ell IL
will be prouder OF you than I am
There isn't a man living who wouldn't
lose his head over your preferences. Let
me write? Find me a pen and let's
make an end of it once for alp
Anna remained rigid. ''You don't IN
derstand. 1 want him to see II all In
a fiash-one big fash 1 have my rea-
sons; 1 know exactly what 1 am doing.
1T is a very dangerous game. Aman
can have an overdose Of enlightenment"
II know: but you don't understand
Mrs. Maxtead shrugged her shoulders.
And as -Sappho'?''
The girl turned az meant It 20 be
'Sappho.' 1 want 10 make no senti-
mental appeal"
The other laughed CURLY. ''And did
YOU suppose that I would assist at the
denoument?'
mo. 1 supposed you would stay ~
home 1 tell you because 1 want you 70
, know, not because 1 want you to CO.
operate 1 have told Maurice 10 be In
good time and to wait In the box; hs
won't have to wait very long"
NO Ten minutes ought TO set hin
right" Mrs Maxtead's manner was
dry.
Anna looked down at her letters II
= think / have said everything nov,
jeanne
You have said good deal: 1 almost
. think it's my turn" Her eyes CLEANED
and she dropped her bantering tone
, You are grown up. Anna. and you have
great future in front of you; but to
me YOU are still child In my eyes
YOU will always be young / will al
ways look back on you from my thir-
teen years start Now in dealing with
a child. what are ones principles? Re-
ward il when it's good; punish IL when
it's bad; always. under all conditions.
=, shield il from its own mistakes 1 havs
no intention of letting you work this
scheme. If you are mad. all the moro