The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-24
The Losing Game
BY ANNIE REESE LOCKE

dence.
But why do you imagine anything
has happened" he asked, gayly.
For answer she turned him lightly
toward the cheval glass between the
drawing-room windows.
"A merry heart maketh a cheerful
countenance,' " she quoted.
We'll, isn't it enough to raise me to
the seventh heaven of happiness to see
you. from whom | have been separated
an interminable period-some 10 hours,
and if that isn't a sufficient excuse
there's my wedding, and, incidentally,
yours. drawing closer every day; just
one month; l have counted the hours. -
Still there is something else"
Mind reader! When we are married
| will have to make a study of hiding my
thoughts"
1T is a specific object, and you are
holding it behind YOU
Guess what it is"
"A present for me?"
"Well-not exactly"
Us it yours?"
In a way; as you belong to me, what
is yours is mine"
Then it is mine"
With a flourish Everard brought forth
a fiat brown paper parcel.
ALLOW me, Miss Porter, to present to
you the first copy of the great American
novel which we, the reading public, have
so long awaited: The Wheel of Life
by Dorothy Porter-good God, are You
going to faint, Dorothy?"
She had turned so pale that he caught
her on his arm, fearing she would fall.
In moment she attempted to give him a
r~eassuring smile.
Its nothing, only the shock Of sur
prise; see | have worked on it SO long"
Everard felt a moments vague doubt
that her hating explanation was made
quate, but he pushed the thought aside
Indignantly, telling himself that she was
always sincere.
But do not understand, Jack, how
you got this" Dorothy continued, hur-
riedly. My publishers said that it would
not appear until February, and this is
November"
well it won't virtually be out until
then; this is merely a sample copy sent
to the bookseller; | found it at Grey's and
asked him to let me bring it up to show
to you. Aren't you going to open it?
Give it to me-"
She was turning it over in her hands
and gazing at it curiously. He took it
from her, eagerly cut the cord and tore
off the covers
Isn't it exquisitely gotten up; a per-
feet triumph for the bookmakers! By
Jove, the Roycrofters themselves could
not design a finer edition."
His e~xtravagant praise covered her
singular silence.
Il like this verse from Browning"
said he. reading it aloud from the fly leaf,
Your title haunted me; | thought | was
more familiar with Rabbi Ben Ezra "
He sat down and turned to the first chap
ter.
Don't read it tonight, Jack" said the
girl in a depressed voice.
"Oh, l must just glance over it; you
have kept the motif so secret, now, when
it lies in my grasp, can no longer re-
strain my curiosity. don't believe III
be half as excited when my wonderful
novel Hidden Flames appears. | have
actually got it under way, Dorothy;
written a couple of chapters which I'll
bring up and read to you. I'm not a bit
secretive, like some people know; you
are as familiar with my forthcoming
novel as | am myself
His eyes fastened on the book, he was
unconscious of her ghostly pallor. She
walked to the window and leaned far out
for a breath of air.
will you not come and look over it
with me, darling? Authors lever tire of
reading themselves in print"
His voice seemed to come to her from
a great distance. There was a long pause,
and then she was reused to the necessi-
ty of saying something by his exclaim-
ing:
Dorothy"
81 am not well, Jack, I have a head
ache" she managed to murmur.
With lover-like solicitude he fastened
to her side.
you are as pale as a lily. Will you
lie down on the lounge, or shall | go and
leave you alone?"
GAS we'll now as any other time" she
muttered, to his bewilderment.
What, dear?"
Nothing. No, you needn't go. I'll
stay here by the window"
He drew an easy chair close to the
easement and fetched a cushion for her
head before returning to the ook He
read the first few pages in ~pleasurable
excitement, and then a disagreeable sus-
picion took possession of him; as he hur-
riedly SKINNED the leaves his race as
sumed an expression of i~ncredulous hor-
ror. his brows contracted in a fierce
frown. and his brown skin turned to a
paler shade, his mouth settled into lines
OF pain. He was unconscious or the
LAPSE of time: his eyes were not lifted
until he had scanned the last page, and
then he found Dorothy was regarding
him in a Fascinated, terrified manner He
laughed harshly, and the girl shlvered at
tbe sound. She rose and came unsteadlly
toward him.
81 found your novel absorbingly inter-
esting,' said he, ironically.
ooh, hush!" she cried, sinking into a
chair opposite and close to his.
81 have no excuseInot the slightest.
After O told me your plot it o hold
of me SO violently | couldn't get 1t out
of my head. At first thoughtl would
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