The San Francisco call., 1906-09-23


there VAS that in her voice. her eyes,
that made Wade forget he had eveI
turned an epigranl. She took him open.
~, artlessly. yet rather shrunk from
drydon. Wade thought he understood
lit was because Grydon knew Yet
he was unprepared to have her lay
her hand on his sleeve. say imperiously,
Como with me- and draw him apart
quite ont of earshot OF the other two.
don't read much, but ! read your
book, she began, abruptly. THE rea :
son was | overheard-well. some people
talking about it. They said what you
mad made Julia do was impossib1e-no
woman not utterly shameless would ask
a man to marry her. And I wanted to
see how YOU had made her do 1t, be-
cause It was what had done myself"
Mentally Wade whistled. Aloud he
said, persuasiyely. Won't you tell me
just how you came to do it?'' conscious
ell the while of a curious revulsion Of
feeling. Billerica was no longer a
human problem. but rather an abnor-
maiity. She looked over his head q
moment, swallowing hard. Something
in her face recalled to him dog ready
TO whimper, yet restrained by fear
Again he felt himself soften to her. II
won't ever teli--not even Gsydon,v he
said, very low. Billerica dropped her
said, impatiently. After so much talk
a little more doesn't matter. Only
Billy mightn't like tits for his sake
! want you to understand. He isn't a
fortune hunter, and l didn't fall in love
with him If / did nurse him back from
deaths door over yonder. He had been
shot. you know. and, nursing him I got
TO know hin-how strong and patient
he was and how we'll he knew horses.
oil
enough to talk about. / had loved them
and ridden lot ever since L could
remember Then you know. sydney
had racing stable. At first I Thought
OF getting one by way OF filing UP the
time, but | shouldn't ever have asked
Billy to marry me- so he could manage
it. If there had not been something
more init
And that is2' Wade queried. finding
Billerica SILENT He had an elfin. all
most impish, delight in following out
the threads of living drama. once he
had laid hold on their ends. TELL me-
the something more lie entreated
BillericH half turned from him.
Wait You may see.- she said her
lips shutting tight; then with quick
inconsequence: You were as wrong
as you were right--in the book. mean.
You made Julia court man she loved.
SHe = COuidn nave done thdt-befng
what she was. She would rather have
given away the money that stood be-
tween them. | didn't speak out because
of my money-Billy thought OF it as
little as did. told him, The only
way we can keep people from saying
you are trying to marry me Is to marry
me at the start but the marriaxe
needn't make any diHerenre--to you.' !"
He agreed with your w ade asked,
speaking evenly, though Biflerica,s
amazing condolences had almost taken
his breath. still they did not make
him misjudge her--he had delved too
deeply into human hearts not to .now
the human propensity TO speak, out to
strangers things iinpossible OF utter
ance to familiar friends BillerIca nod
ded. Yes, he agreed. but first he told
me a lot--why he had meant. never 10
marry anybody AS II was that way
with him my plan suited. i won't tell
you any more, only that another woman
had made him lose faith In all OF us. /
didn't wonder--I have not much faith
in anybody-not even myself
You must trust your horses. and. I
should think. your jockey Wade said
as Billerica paused, putting UP her
glass and turning toward the lawn.
She had been facing the paddock, lean
ing heavily against the dividing bound
ary. Wade saw her hush. tnen grow
suddenly white. CovertIy he let hfs