Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21

nus 81 dib III ptltft ltf without seeing
or the people who passed or observing
their glarces Of admiration and curiosity.
4 am sure We all heard of her AT Mays
studio teas; she took Us into her condolences.
1t was this Mrs Whiting"
The fat lady In purple satin and dla-
monds?' asked Leonard bluntly
Mary nodded she wrote Ia MAY ana
asked her to come here tor three months
me in Mays s,ud!o?'
Yes: I've done IT over twice since. In
black and white and in half ints." Leon
ard said with comfortable assurance.
Mary bit her lip and then went ON fore
Ing herself to finish the story MAY sent
1t to Mrs. Whiting, without my knowledge.
as her portrait"
"Oh. that's good" exclaimed Leonard
Bishop; 'plattcr-face sent your picture,
Did she suppose she looked like youn' He
could not restrain his delight. and Mary
waited for his laughter To subside before
she went on.
Mrs Whiting took it in good faith" she
continued at last. and sent for her. May
wouldn't come here; she wouldn't leave
Paris-Gus Schuze Is there"
Lord, Has she rOpcd Gus in!' iutrrp0-
lated Leonard in deep enjoyment
She wouldn't leave on his account
Mary said bleakly, dlscouragng hts merri-
ment. and in a Wild moment. at her sug-
gestlon. We planned that | should make the
visit and play the part. 1t was iolly. mad
ness, If you will. but | came and I've been
here as Mary Hadding tor Just two months
anu u IN" pay - nearly Played OUT,
then Cinderella and the pumpkin will dis
appear I'm good earnest There is nothing
more to ii than that; there is no mytcry
behind it,"
conscious Of seeing things I'm their true
light. my dear child" he said at last
don't you see that you are here an i'm
postor? That blooming old three hundred
FOUNDER might have you arrested for OBJ
tanning money unoer false pTctenses"
Mary colored deeply and her eyes dark
ened. Thank you" she said stifliy. II be-
lieve I'm painfully awe TO the enormity
Mistake? Why. It's worse than that: IL
any one should give you away there'd bo
an explosion. Don't You see how you've
placed yourself?"
She was silent: his bald way of stating
the case was distinctly distasteful. but It
was none the less true. and she began to
see it in new light. What more was i'm
pending she could not divine. but felt that
he had something IN store for her. Yet won
dered If she could not defeat him after all?
He was so distinctly insignificant, so little
of a man. She regarded him with medita-
tive eyes, her inner self withdrawn into n
mental calculation of their relative posi-
tons and the probabilities that We're In her
favor.
Her brooding glance affected him in
quite an unexpected way: he had the van
ity of insignificance he fanced that she
was reconsidering certain opinions of hers.
rather frankly expressed. and that she
This notion. coupled with his overwcening
sense of his merits. melted his mood.
Il can't make you see your peril. Mary"
he said. after waiting in vain for reply:
why, it's mere luck that il Is / who dis
covered you instead of some other fellow.
There can be no question between us that
can't be settled amicably."
She was sufficiently startled out Of her
revery to turn her full gaze on him. and
found his significant look wildly repulsive.
Il do not think were always very
amicable.' she said stifiiy; Il distinctly
member several bitter disagreements."
That was before We understood each
other Leonard said with increasing sig
nificance. Il am sure you know how feel
about you, Mary, and l believe you meant
to give me some assurance of your own re-
len.ng when we met last. / am counting
on our understanding each other. 1 believe
do
They had left the public thoroughfare and
were walking through one of tho more Sc
cluded city parks. Mary flushed with in
dignation. seeing that he was pursuing his
advantage to extremes. and she was u lit
tie frightened. too at heart, at the turn
affairs were taking; contrary to all her
previous experiences they seemed to be
slipping beyond her manipulation. There
never was any understanding between US.
Leonard. she said frgidly, you know
that well as l do
But you knew loved YOU" he persisted,
land you never discouraged me-"
I'm afraid l thought 1t rather amusing"
to marry me: ! was too poor; you couldn't
afford it and your sentimental pathos
struck me as simply absurd"
He WINGED little under her plain speak
ing. but he stuck to his point. But I
loved you and you knew It," he said, land
love you still. You have known 1t all
along"
She walked a little farther in silence be-
fore she stopped and faced him. Behind her
stood great hemlock loaded with snow,
and around her the park stretched away
white and sparkling in the afternoon sun
shine. Leonard" she said in a distinct,
cutting tone ''how absurd 1t is for you to
bring me out here to make love to me; you
know I have refused to listen to you be-
fore! l still Mary Lang; these fine
clothes, this atmosphere Of success and
wealth. are as perishable as the snow on
that hemlock Dough: a touch will scatter
both. l am still poor and you are also
poor: YOU don't want to marry me, and l
wouldn't marry you. Don't make 1t any
more of a farce than 1t Is.
Il do want to marry you" he said dog
gedly. Il never knew how much l loved
you until 1 saw you with that man the
other night. I'm not a fool. Mary: II you
won't have me you shan't have him under
false pretenses. What's to keep me from
shouting your secret from the housetops?
How do l know you have been sincere
with me? There's probably some other
motive behind all this play acting"
Il have told you the plain truth she
said coldly; IF you want to run and tell
Mrs. Whiting. pray do so.
Her contempt stung him without rousing
any latent manhood. He grew more angry
as he saw how wide the breach was be-
tween them. but he had cheap kind Of
cleverness which helped him disguise his
feelings. He was quick enough to see that
he had not scored point by forcing his
declaration upon her and he shifted his
course as easily most small craft trim
their sails to the wind
Il shant do that yet" he assured her:
Il mean every word I've said. and I've got
a handle, Mary; you can't afford to quar-
rel with me. Come let us be friends he
went on. with sudden burst of generosity.
and there is no reason why l should be-
tray you"
She drew a long breath; her courage had
been born of desperation and was more or
less fictitious: at the thought of a reprieye
she weakened. She realized by the intense
relief she experienced how terrible had
been the prospect Of losing all that she had
gained. She was willing. she felt that she
was willing, to pay a price for her i'm
munity: she could afford to tolerate Leon
ard Bishop II that meant continued OPP
to lead a larger life and to-yes,
to see Lawrence Ryland Il think I've al
ways been your friend Leonard she said
SO gently that he started and looked at
her.
CTo be Continued Next SundayD