Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-04

| Mrs. Whiting rosa from the table and went
10 The study t. x" through the mail with
| Frances fennel. and To approve some din
ner lists which the latter had been indus
| lrlousiN building mp. ont OF mat eiials that
she delighted 10 mingie with a malicious
| enjoyment OF the private spit"s which She
/ could satisfy 10y seating mortal en- mics
! together. without the knowledge of their
! hostess. and by om,;ing, at the last mo-
| ment. some one WHO would b. sure 10
| weak vengeance fog the Slight
Left alone Mary always dTifttd 10 tho IL
brary and she sat down by ia" tir. la Io, X
over magazine with a delicious sensational
! idle enjoyment She had Not heard from
! Mary Haddiug sIuca her last letter Iau,os-
! ing her own check for hundred dollars
had been dispatched. and ShN hogan t.
/ hore that May had awakened nj last 10
! the futilhy OF demanding money that
never given to her reprcs -ntativr. Leonard
! Bishop, too had y Gifted 10y her warning
and was combining himself To- moro ranren-
! tional hours, that Mary fclt NOR Sc
] curity In her mornings IN the library when
"A freedom from engagements permitted her
! any morning hours at all.
But She Lad scarcely cut the leaves az
| her magazine before she heard the distant
sound OF the front doo- opening and clos
| ing. ard presently fnatman came through
the k'dwng rooms usher-iEg a guest into
the library, a favor which was only &C
| corded to the elect OF Mrs. Writings ac-
! quaintances Mary looked up t.cpfore
! with interest and was startled to SEQ Fred
| Cheever. With a lackeys keen apprsCia-
| ton of social precedence tho footman had
|
was most infreGueat visitor al The house.
| and scarcely entitled 20 the intimacy that
| the library usually designated.
| Mary put aside Ter nagazinc and h-ld
| ont her hand with cheerful smile though
she had experienced momeutarY twiug.
| Of embarrassment at the sight of thrnVer
I alone at that hour.
| But his manner which was frankly kind.
| was enough To disarm her doubts. "lvc
! brought you some vlolets ON Harriet"
! he said, putting the box on the table, "ShH
asked me to send the footmau up Win
| them as l passed in the motor. but /
| thought Ia bring them myself"
Harriet has the violet craze this
| month" Cheever went on. standing oppo-
! site, his great fur coat thrown open and
| revealing the erect elegance OF figure
! which would have reduced Leonard Bishop
to despair; all the women ct 1t toward
| spring believe its their idea ~ Lent"
! Il have great love TO- vi"lFts mys.!t,'
Mary rejoined. smiling. they were my
mothers favorite flowers. i Harriet at
! home? l want particularly to see far.'
AT home?" Cheever laughed; ITS her
! day for doing charity. She's gone 90 a
meeting OF some board; took her mp there
in the motor befo~e l came here. ana she's
| to lunch with Christine Jerome and to go
| with Archie to n childreus ball after~ard
What was 1t? Can I play Mercury? III
probably meet her at dinner he added.
! laughing
Mary hesitated. she was perplexed. The
pressing nature of her errand the imme-
| date demand for a decision in NJ. Apples
|
would come up and he would be forced to
! decision Mary had no faith In his strength
| to reach one and stand by II under the
pressure Of impending ruin. a sudden
recollection that Cheever himself had dis
| cerned the situation and stated 1t. almost
| It stood. at the White House strength
ened the impulse she felt to speak TO him
| In place Of his wife. She had no confidence
| In Cheever's sympathy. he was too tho
! oughly worldly, but she knew that ne was
not only wealthy but prodigal in the use
! ...ss 81. EtiQr11f
| blush which rose to her forehead trans
1 forming her face into its rosiest and most
| attractive aspect, aroused CheeNers inter-
| ested attention.
What is it," he demanded persuasively;
John the Baptist's head on charger
| Mary laughed involuntarily and her laugh
was one Of her attractions. 1t Is almost
as bad she said blushing more deeply.
II wanted to play upon her sympathies. to
make her lend some money to an unfortu-
| nate
Cheever laughed himself She's got
| sympathy enough. but the money-you'd
better try me, Miss Hadding. he said, his
| eyes twinking.
9 @bnt didn't believe in your sympathy"
He continued to langh a little. but his
| eyes lost their twinkle and he moved
nearer the fire; they had both remained
| standing I'm not as black as I'm
painted" he remarked dryly; who's your
| beggar?"
1T isn't beggar." Mary fastened to ex-
| plain, ITS a matter about a mortgage
which Mr.. Scheling threatens to fore
| close
Cheever whlstled softly. looking at her
| with amused eyes. rs 1t possible that
| your beaux yeux cannot win him to forget
| such small consideration as filthy lucre?
| WHY don't you appeal to him direct?' he
| demanded: Il hope he's really TOO pad
| after ALL
| Mary shuddered frankly: she was recall
ing the magnate's afJer-dlnner face.
Tall, hon looking
at her with an intentness of which she was
| scarcely aware.
You OWNED the truth about poor Mr.;
| Apple" she re joined, and went on 10 tell
him the facts OF the case as briefly as she
! could.
His note must be overdue; did You ask
him2' said Cheever. the business man at
once interested in detail.
| Mary shook her head. Il never thought
! Of It," she admitted simply.
| That's just like woman, he cX-
claimed. Just like Harriet; and it is to be
! decided tomorrow
| Yes, and the poor wife and children
don't YOU see. Mr.. CheeverT' Mary.s face
was full of sympathy: she had the faculty
| of emotional natures of transferring her
self IN spirit into the midst of the fortunes
of others.
| do what Schelling wantsi" said Cheever
scornfully Apples as weak as an old
| clothes-line."
| mently; he must do what Is right; he's In
| office"
| Cheever burst out laughing: his amuse-
! ment shook him with Spasms OF delight.
| oh, the innocence" he exclaimed, the
| innocence Of the untnitiated"
! Mary's face changed sharply Il know
| what you mean. but it's all the more rea-
! SON why he should be upheld and made TO
| do right"
| Cheever turned and leaned his elbow on
| the mantel. regarding her amusedly. as he
would have looked at some new and clever
exhibit. These evidences of an active con-
| science were exhilarat!ng Why do you
| care much?" he asked curiously.
| Il care--to nave him 90 right, poor little
soul. and I'm sorry for her >"
All. no." he said maiciously, mot
| bit OF 1t: there's something else. You want
| to punish Schelling. to thwart and defeat
| him"
| Mary glanced up at his smiling face. half
amused at his dlscernment and secretly
convicted by his arraignment. Perhaps
| do she admitted reluctantly.
Then I'm with you" he reJoined, laugh
ing again: how much Is II altogether?
Something like ten thousand dollars. /
think" Mary falte-ed: the sum suddenly
seemed immense to her ignorance.
pa tuuip IaJ nd I