Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-04-12
Author Of The Sewers" "Roden's Corner.
One Generation to Another" Etc.

ened back in thought to their first meet
ing. to the hundred links of the chain
that brought them TO the present
moment-they knew; and Millicent feit
that they knew.
care you going to be married tomor-
row." asked Guy DISCARD deliberately.
He never was q man to whom sue
cessful appeal for the slightest mitiga'
ton of justice could have been made.
His dealings had ever been with men.
from whom he had eXacted as scrupu-
Ions an honor as lie had given. He DID
not know that women are different
that honor is not their strong point.
Millicent did not answer. She looked
TO Meredith to answer for her. but
Meredith was looking at DISCARD, ana
in his lazy eyes there glowed the singu-
lar affection and admiration which he
had bestowed long time before on this
simple gentleman-his mental Inferior
Are you going to be married tomor'
row." repeated DISCARD, standing quite
still. with a calmness that frightened
her.
Yes" she answered, rather feebly.
She knew that she could explain 1t
ALL She could have explained 1t to
either of them separately. but to both
together, somehow it was difficult.
Her mind was filled with clamorinc
| md nlnI
si1le excuses, but she did not know
which to select first. None of them
seemed quite equal to this occasion.
These men required something deeper
and stronger and simpler than she had
10 offer them.
Moreover, she was paralyZed by a
feeling that was quite new to ber-a
aorrid feeling that something bad gone
from her. She had lost her strongest
her single arm-her beauty This
seemed to have fallen from her, 1t
seemed to count for nothing at this
time There is a time that comes as
surely as death will come in the life
of every beautiful wOman-a time
wherein she suddenly realizes how
trivial thing her beauty Is; how
limited. how useless. how Intellectual!
Milicent Chyne made little appeal
ing movement toward Meredith, who
relentlessly stepped back. 1t was the
magic of the love that filed his heart
for Oscard Fad she wrOnged any
man in the world but Guy Oscard.
that little movement. full of love ana
tenderness and sweet cOntrtiOn. might
have saved her But it was Oscards
heart that she had broken; for broken
they both knew 1t to be. and JACK
Meredith stepped back from her touch
as from pollution His superficial. i'm
agined love for her had been killed at
single blow. Her beauty was no
more to him at that moment than thu
beauty Of a picture.
ooh, Jack!' she gasped; and haC
+ there been another woman in the room
that woman would have known thai
Millicent loved him with the love thai
comes once only. But men are no,
very acute in such matters; they
; either read wrong or not at all.
SIT is all q mistake" she said breath
lessly, looking from one to the other
"a most awkward mistake" sug
; gested Meredith, with cruel smile
J that made her vince.
, 'Mr Oscard must have mistaken me
} altogether" the girl went on, volu0lJ
. addressing herself to Meredith; sh'
!: wanted nothing from DISCARD. II may
have been silly, perhaps, or merely
ignorant and blind. How was Il
know that he meant what he saidr
How. indecd?' agreed Meredith
with a grave bow.
Besides, he has no business to come
!. here bringing false accusations agalns
ME. He has no right--it is cruel ane
uugentlemanly. He cannot prove any
thing; he cannot say that l ever dis
tinctly gave him to understand-er-
anything-that l ever promised to bt
engaged or anything like that"
She turned upon Discard, whose de
meanor was stolid. almost dense. III
looked very large and somewhat din
cult to move.
HE has not, attempted to do SO yet
suggested Jack suavely, looking at hi:
friend.
81 do not see that it is quite cues
ton Of proofs" said Oscard quietly IL
a voice that did not sound like his a
all. 1--WE are not in court of jus
tice. where ladies like to settle these
questions now. If we were l coult
challenge you to produce my letters
There is no doubt Of my meaning II
them"
"There are also my poor centriDu
| tons to your collection" chlmed II
Jack Meredith. "a comparison mus
have been interesting to you. by tn
same mail presumably, under the SANE
postmark."
81 made no Comparison" the cir
cried defantly; "there was no question
Of comparison"
She said it shamelessly, and 1t hur
Meredith more than it hurt Guy Us
card, for whom the sting was intended
Comparison or no comparison SAT-
Jack Meredith quickly, with the keen
ness of a good fencer who has beef
touched. "there can be no doubt OF tn
fact that you were engaged to us bot
Of tho Game time. You told us boil