The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-09-11
The Daily
Short Story
AN UNBELIEvING MOTH

l
his Star-an event TO which he
had striven, to be automatically
exact, 2 months and 26 days, he was
so agitated he could scarcely play
his conventional part, much less
make the clever remarks he felt
We're the occasions due.
The Star-othewise NADIA Bart
lett-was so used to masculine eff
forts at brilliancy, which were often
signal failures. that the words
this is a pleasure" startled her. by
their simplicity and evident SINGER
ity, into looking quite definitely at
the man who said them She ia
vored him with a most bewitching
smile, sending him deeper into the
mire of the commonplace.
Let's go out where it's COOL"
was his next remark, incoherent to
him, but apparently understood, for
his suggestion was seconded by a
deepening of the smile.
Bruce Ware had made so many
pilgrimages UP those particular
steps, it seemed sometimes to him
that he must have worn a pathway
peculiar to himself. Fer a Moth. he
seemed to himself to presume. But
at the end of the pathway was the
golden smile of NADIA Bartlett, and
in its witchery he forgot to remem-
Der his presumption.
This night was no exception.
NADIA, radiant in glorifed gown of
white, came to meet him with gra-
ciously extended hand.
so glad to see you, Bruce. |
was feeling horribly lonely until
the maid brought your card"
| Bruce, struggling against the de-
sire to believe that the pleasantly
personal in those words could have
any deeper meaning, smiled in a
manly. whole hearted way.
BE careful, or I shall soon be
advertising myself as a sure cure
for the blues"
Don't do it. It's selfish, perhaps
but I'm not willing to share my
need Of your society,""
Il don't think there's danger of
competition, as long as you can en-
dure having such commonplace
duffer about" Bruce answered, with
his usual simple directness.
Miss Bartlett bent over a huge
mass of crimson roses and appar-
entity infinitely admired each sepa-
rately. Then she looked up at him
with a peculiar smile. Don't you
rather underrate yourself?" she ask
ed, very slowly.
Rather it is apparently you who
Overrate my value. ! don't know
just why, NADIA. you are so kind to
me-you who know SO many bril-
| liant men,
| Miss Bartlett was beauty
woman of the world worldly, and
an exceedin clever writer. There
fore no logical reasoning account
ed for the exquisite and very evil
| dent blush that tried to rival the
crimson roses.
| Don't you?" she questioned,
pausing for a wee time. Then she
hurried on: 'So-called brilliant
people don't always satisfy one. I
feel so often like a puppet that
must dance just so, or my public
will tire. It's drag, this trying
to keep the pace. | can be just my
self with you, Bruce, and it's such
a comfort"
| when you need comfort-when
you feel blue-though God knows
why you should-send for me-"
Bruce admonished, with a Loyalty
tender smile.
only them"
The almost whispered words
swept him to where she stood, still
toying with the roses.
| Don't look so, NADIA! can't
stand it, loving you as I dol" He
| took her hands in a clasp almost
harsh And don't let my telling
you this make any difference. I'm
only that ?"-with a tenderly
wistful ghost of smile.
That's enough for a chump like
me. Don't torture me, dearie. I'm
willing to take crusts."
quite wiling"
Don't NADIA! Your sweetness
only makes me wretched!" He let
her hands fall and stood looking
at her with a miserable attempt at
smile.
"Why wretched?' This time the
glory of her eyes fairly dazzled
! the Moth.
"Because-oh, NADIA! You can't
really care for q chump Hike me?
Can your"
NADIA INDUCED a fetching smile
"P'raps | can't-but I do"
Bruce caught her to a wildly
beating heart. But he could not
wholly believe.
"Why do you, NADIA? There are