Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
BY
Mary Inlay Taylor,
AUTHOR OF my LADY CLANCARTY." ETC.

that morning to express had been over
heard by Frances was not AT loss to
| imagine her source Of information Yes"
she replied slowly and without excuse ,r
explanation 1T IS true
Mrs. Writings resdess fingers tapped tho
papers sharply for an instant ard her faco
wore an inscrutable expression. Are YOU
! aware. she asked deliberately ''of tho
/ construction thnt in view Of Fred Cheever'.
character. !s likely TO be- pat upon such a
/ transaction?"
i have become painfully aware OF It
| within the last Few hours Mary replied
, bitterly: Il confess before that. l thought
! 1t possible that people might credit young
woman OF good reputation with some sin
| gleness and purity Of purpose"
| Mrs. Whiting leaned back In her chair
said. there Is mercy In the world for q
| woman"
Nor was when Christ wrote with H's
finger In the DUST exclaimed Mary
We'll W. haven't the Jewish dispcnsa-
ton, we don't use stones" observed Mrs
/ Whiting coolly. but the methods OF
ciety are quite as eifcctuaL''
! Against the innocent" said Mary with
/ renewed bitterness
Mrs. Whiting asscntcd. Usually against
/ the innocent woman. The really guilty,
my dear. are too clever to be caught. There
! is nothing SO stupid as trying to play inno-
cent in a rsque role. and society never par
| dors stupidity
! impotence, do you suppose that l am al
ways posing? Give the credit OCCASION
ally of unpremeditated folly. l know
have been foolish. but ! Indignantly deny
that any one has the right TO Judge my
conduct by the standards OF Fred Cheever
/ The plain truth OF it was that / intended
| TO speak to Harriet. he came IN with some
! flowers from her and a message and on
! the impulse of the moment l told him II
| Apples predicament He made no diff-
| Guilty about lending him the money! sup
mo- HAT I'll
| 1t was not until afterward that l realized
my mistake, my folly in asking him." she
| colorad as she spoke and her eyes wero
/ Indignant
Mrs, Whiting regarded her with a sar-
castle smile Not until Cheever let YOU
know it. I fancy" she observed remorse-
lsssiy; but how d!d It set out? Now
/ Christine Jerome would have got that and
| moro and no one been the wiser. l suppose.
/ though ii was those Apples. The man is
| II stupid little fool. and the woman-a per-
som! the large purpie-clad shoulders wero
! shrugged contemptuousy. but why did
! you do it?'
Heaven knows retorted Mary d,sua'r-
ingIy; II suppose I had a good impulse l
couldn't help plying him. he wrlggled IN
| Schelling,s clutches like miserable trap
! ped rabbit
Mrs. Writings eyes narrowed and her
! face flushed "A little. so. 1t vas really to
! thwart Mr.. SchelinE? | wanted especially
! TO tell you that Mr.. Schelllng has spoken
! to me. He says he has tried TO speak u
|
| continually"
! Mary laughed bitterly 1T is difficult e.
/ do sometimes and il entertans me; Il Is
| Ike switching a freight train"
Mrs. Whiting tapped the desk again; her
! expression was one OF anger not unmixed
! with amusement. Il advise you to marry
! him.. she said at last; If you go on a.
! you nave begun you may find that there IS
no one to marry. Men do not set a standard
of moral behavior for themselves. but they
| want all the virtues of Cordelia in their
wives If breath of this Cheever-Appls
! affair reaches Schelling he will probably be-
| frightened off at once.
Mary bit her lip to suppress a sharp
tort, for in the midst OF her troubles, her
strong common sense was reassertng itself
and she knew that she could not afford TO
sacrifice Mrs, Writings friendship. Il
| should not imagine him so timd," she said.
Mrs. Whiting elevated her brows. My
dear Mary she replied he Is the sort Of
man who wants a wife who will be credit
| to him. He doesn't want a woman who
! has been talked about There Is nothing
now to occupy society but bridge scandals
and appendicitis-it's mid-Lent-and If this
| gets out they won't leave a shred OF your
character l warned you against Fred on
account of Madame Syrene but you don't
! heed warnings. l really don't know whom
you expect to marry and can't afford 20
support you. Schell!ng wants to marry
| you. I believe he has something like ten
| or fifteen millions. one can't tell how much
| these trust magnates have but have no
! doubt l could get him to Settle a million or
divorce.
would be secure"
Thank YOU" said Mary meekly, "if I
married him ! should need about that. per-
| haps even little more!'
footman appeared at the door Mr..
Schellings in the drawing room, madam. to
! see Miss Hadding."
Mrs Whiting nodded; the servant
withdrew she turned to the girl He has
| come to speak to you: told him he could
| see you uninterruptedly at this hour"
Mary looked at her in Amusement and
| turned a little pale.
"Of course l can't coerce you" continued
! the big woman calmly, but my advice to
| you is-take him! 1t may be your last
| chance. too. 1 hurried matters a little be
cause Of this talk about Cheever. You can
put II down at once by announcing your en-
| gagement to Scheling and-well-really l
DO not care to have any more of this phi
laundering going on in my house"
Mary rose. Have you also arranged
with him that am to accept him." she in
qured quietly
Mrs. Whiting shrugged her shoulders
again and pointed to the door. Men hate
to wait" she observed
Mary laughed softly she went out,
though her heart was exceedingly bitter.
She was conscious Of a sharp thankfuness
that Schelling was in the drawing room.
amidst the gold and white furniture. and
not in the library. To have this farce
enacted where Ryland had stood a few
hours before would have been too ex-
Quisitely painful.
The big was standing in front of the
great white marble mantel in the first
drawing room and his appearance was dis
ttnctiy bridal. He wore the freshest pos
s:ble morning dress and hts spats were Of
white cloth. He had large fresh camellia
in his buttonhole and white tie. Marys
keen sense of humor helped her to greet
him easily and she took seat with her
back to the light that she might have the
advantage OF semi-obscurity. for Mrs
whiting OF those persons who
ordinarily keep the blinds down In their
drawing rooms to save the furniture and
carpets from fading. Economy like a gray
mares tail comes streaked.
Receiving no encouragement from Mary's
manner. the magnate seated himself oppo-
site with the deliberation Of great weight
and regarded her compossdly. He had so
manifestly come with one purpose in view
that she gave up all hope Of evading II
and waited for him to speak: but she was
keenly aware that she owed her tndiffer-
ence TO her fearlessness: q faint shudder
ran through her at the thought that had
she been dependent or feeble minded girl
she might have felt forced by crcum-
stances to contemplate this Objectionable
creature as a means OF escape from poy-
erty. that she might even have been driven