Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03

| heel and walked by her side to the car. A
moment later they shot out upon the great
pike joy of summer colonistS and motor
ing tourists. They Lad covered mile be-
fore he spoke.
Excuse my curiosity, but isn't this all
very sudden?'
The girl fairly wrung her hands as she
replied:
months, but I did not dare take the mat
ter up with Mr.. Smylie. And tonight-well
If you only knew what he thought of elope-
| ments?"
Carruth's grip on the lever frightened sc
suddenly that the car fairly bounded for
ward, and the girl chung to the seat In a
SpaSm of fear.
After long pause he remarked In oddly
constrained tones:
II presume he is handsome?"
Yes replied the girl. looking straight
ahead, wonderfully handsome. The first
time 1 saw him he reminded me of an
! idealized Italian, figure that had stepped
from a painting. And he dances divinely."
abr commented the man dryly. And
he is poor l suppose?"
Poor as n church mouse"
Il am glad that the good, old-fashioned
| love still lives and 1ourishes."
That's the rub. If only 1 were sure
that it IS the good, old-fashioned kind. l
don't suppose dancing masters make much
money not even as much riding mas
ters," she added thoughtfully.
"Ah!' exclaimed the man again, this
time in an entirely different tone.
| only this morning 1 thought of going
to Mr. Smylie and having 1t out with him,
but he and Mrs. Smylie were so absorbed
in preparations for the dance-and-well, 1
cannot explain my feelings. de trusted me
so implicitly" There was almost sob
in the girls voice, but the man steeled his
heart against her misery and her pretti-
ness alike.
you know, the very first time Mr..
Smylie talked to me about the position he
/I,~ 11~ Mo- -
when he is in earnesD, If you have the
good sense and tact your mother had be-
fore you, you are just the girl l need to
keep my Bessie in line. She is a bit will
obligations that she really. cannot do jus
tice to the child. Then you know how it
is with girls and their stepmothers. There
is always that feeling"
Mr.. Smylie always has a nice way of
putting disagreeable things commented
the man, as the girl stopped chokingly. But
he did not look down on the shrinking fig
ure. The Junction, merely elongated
tached. was just ahead, its single window
throwing shaft of light across the road.
Yes. that is just it, responded the
girl feelingly. at was because he was
lutely, that 1 did not want him to know
how wretchedly I had failed in that trust
But then you never can count upon love
as a factor. can your
mo, SAID the man Win certain GRIM
ness in tone and expression.
No one had ever counted on 1t less than
he. Only four months ago, while enjoying
that after-dinner cigar in the Smylie H.
brary. in cold-blooded fashion he had dis
cussed this very girl, then an unknown
quantity. And now, with his hand clutch
Ing the lever of this machine. he was call
ing himself various kinds of a fool. Ut
course. he ought to have known there
would be flaw In the gem feminine, how
ever pure and clear its CLEAN; but he
could not recover easily from the sudden
realization that this flaw was a sickly SEN
timentalism, the unthinkdng unreasoning
passion of silly girl for a dancing mas
ter. And climax to the whole affair,
he was actually helping her to elope from
his friends home!
Again the girls gentle voice broke upon
his thoughts.
IF only had been frank and honest!
never should have taken the place. 1 was
too young. 1 lacked judgment. but then
l did so need the money!"
ITO be frank said Carruth, sternly, IT
do not think you have been exactly on the
level with Mr.. Smylie, but"
The car shot around the side of the de-
pot, and Peggy Moreland fairly rose to her
feet. swaying, as she cried:
"Oh we are on time. There they arer"
Carruth set the brake and stared hard
ahead Two youthful figures were scurry-
ing around the corner of the little building.
"If 1t were not for making a scene I'd
have you thrash him as he deserves" cried
Peggy, with sudden wrath. She was run
ming after the young people, Carruth, half
dazed. close at her side.
Bessie" she cried, and folding her arms
around the girl she sobbed out her heart