Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-03-29
The Losing Game
By ANNIE E LOCKE

Nlidl SOl1Clllili5 Iuohh ohN
ant nature had occurred. She instantly
demanded to be taken into his conf
dence.
But why do you imagine anything
has happened?" be asked. gayly.
For answer she turned him lightly
toward the cheval glass between thF
drawing-room windows.
"tA merry heart maketh a cheerful
countenance.' " she quoted.
'Well isn't II enough to raise me tn
the seventh heaven Of happiness to see
YOU from whom | have been separated
an ,nterminaDle period-some 10 hours,
and If that isn't a sufficient excus,
there's my wedding, and, incidentally
yours. drawing closer every day; just
one month: | have counted the hours.
".;till there is something else"
.Aiind reader! When we are married
will have TO make a study of hiding my
thoughts"
at is a specific object, and you are
holding it behind you"
Guess what it is
~ present for nie?"
"Well-not exactly"
rs 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
q 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 A she attempted TO give him a
reassuring smile.
ITS nothing. only the shock OF sur
prise: see / have worked on it so long,
Fyerard felt a moments vague doubt
that her hating explanation was made
quste. but he pushed the thought aside
Indignantly. tei.,ng himself that she was
always sincere.
But I do not understand, Jack, how
you got this Dorothy continued. hur-
richly. 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: / fo,td 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-"
d. 80, ,rr,fy, ~ a nNDr iN hoy In anHs
and gazing at it %curiously. He took il
from her. eagerly cut the cord and tore
off The covers.
isn't it exquisitely gotten up; a per
fec. triumph for the bookmakers! By
Jove. the Roycrofters themselves could
not design a finer edition."
Els e~Xtravagant praise covered hel
singular silence.
II 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
lie sat down and turned tothe first chap
ter.
Don't read it tonight. Jack, said the
girl in a depressed voice.
'Ch, | must just glance over ii: yol
have kept the motif So secret. now. wheI
il lies in my grasp. / can 10 longer he
strain my curiosity. | don't believe II
be half as excited when my wonderful
novel Hidden Flames appears. ] have
actually got it under way. Dorothy
written a couple of chapters which II
bring up and read to you. I'm not a BIZ
secretive. like some people l know: 20,
are as familiar with my Forthcoming
novel as | am myself"
His eyes fastened on the book, he wa.
unconscious of her ghostly pallor. Sh,
walked to the window and leaned far on
for 4 breath OF air.
VIII you not come and look over i
with me. darling? Authors never tire o
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 pecessi
t ty of saying something by his exclaim
ing:
Dorothy"
II am not we'll. Jack. | have a head
ache she managed TO murmur.
: With lover-like solicitude he hastenet
= to her side.
you are as pale as a lily. Will yol
lie down on the lounge. or shall I go an,
leave you alone?'
= las well now as any other time sh
: mustered, to his bewilSrment.
what. dear?"
Nothing. No, you needn't go. ri
D sta9 here by the window
He drew an easy chair close to tn
easement and fetched a cushion for he
head before returning to the book. n
+ read the first few pages in pleasurabl
pATRiEK WHITE q !c0MS