The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-01
ByC.M. and AIN. Williamson.
Copyright 1907 BY the Authors.

realize how little have to offer to
such girl as your sister. Now you
understand all, don't yo,i--oven IL you
didn't before? ] love her, and II I
go to Algiers-----"
Don't say any more" managed to
cut him short II can't bear---I mean,
understand. Ibid guess before"
il was true. had guessed, but j
wouldn't let myself believe. hoped
agaiffat hope. He was so much kinder
to. me than any other man ever took
the trouble to be, In all my wretched.
embittered twentyTthree years OF life.
"Di might have told me- l went
gasping on, rather than let there be
long silence between us Just then.
had enough pride not to want him
to see me cry--though, II 1t could have
made any difference, would have
groveled at his feet and wet them with
my tears. but she never does tell
me anything about herself"
"she's 80 unselfsh and so fond of
you. that probably she likes better to
talk about you instead" he defended
her. And then felt that could hate
him. as much as I've always hated Di,
deep down in my heart. AT that min
ute / should have liked to kill her,
and watch his face when he found her
lying dead-out Of his reach for ever.
Besides he hurried on, i've never
asked her yet II she would marry me.
because--my prospects weren't very
brilliant, She knows, of course, that
love her"
And IL you get the consulship, you'll
put the important question:" ! cut
him short, trying to be fiippant
Yes. But l told you tonight, be-
cause I-because you were so kind.
felt I should like to have you know"
Kind! Yes. had been too kind.
But II by putting out my foot I could
ve>crushed every hope of his for the
future--every hope. that is, in which
my step-sister Diana Forrest had any
part-I would have done 1t, just as /
trample on ants In the country some
times. for the pleasure of feehng that
I--even I--have power OF life and
DEATH
swallowed hard to keep the sobs
back. I'm never very strong or well.
but now felt broken. ready to die. /
In the ballroom.
..Theren' / said. THE two dances
you asked me to sit out with you are
over. I'm sure you're engaged for the
next"
yes. Imp. am"
ITO DIP
mo, have Number 10 with her.
Thirteen! Unlucky number"
ANY number IL lucky that gives me
a chance with her. The next one. COM
ing now, is with Mrs. George Allen
dale"
"Oh, yes, the actor managers wife.
stuart likes theatrical celebrities. This
house ought to BIO very serious and
political but we have every sort OF
creature here-provided it's an anus
ing. or successful, or good-looking
one. BY the way. used Maxim de Rem
zie to come here. when she was act
ing in London at George Allendale's
theatre? That was before Di and 1
arrived on the scene, you remember"
81 remember. Oh. yes. she came
here, 1t was in this house I met her
first. off the stage l believe"
What a sweet memory! Wasn't
Mrs. George awfully Jealous OF her
husband when he had such fasc!nat-
ing beauty for his leading Iady?"
II never heard that she was"
you needn't look cross with me.
I'm not saying anything against your
gorgeous Maxine"
"of course not. Nobody could. But
you mustn't call Miss de Renzie my
Maxine please. Imp"
II beg your pardon" said, You
see, I've heard other people call her
that--in joke. And you dedicated your
book about Lhassa, that made you such
famous person. to her, didn't your
mo. What made you think that?"
He was really annoyed now, and was
pleased-if anything could please me,
in my despair.
"Why. everybody thinks 1t. It was
dedicated to M as II the name were
secret, So
Everybody is very stupid then.
M is an old lady. my god-mother.
who helped me with money for my
expedition to Lhassa, otherwise l
couldn't have gone. And she isn't of
the kind that likes to see her name in
print. Now. where shall take you,
Imp? Because I must go and look for
Mrs. Allendale."
"I'll stay where I am, thank YOU"
said. and watch you dance-from
far off. That's my part in life. you
know; watching other people dance
from far off"
When he was gone, I leaned back
among the cushions. and I wasn't sure
that one of my heart attacks would
not come on. / felt horribly alone and
deserted; and though hate Di, and
always have hated her. ever since the
tiny child and her mother Ca beautiful.
rich, young Californian widow came
into my fathers house in New York,
she does know how to manage me bet
ter than any one else. when l am IN