Evening star., 1907-09-01

ness of this waiting came home acutely 10
the girl as she walked listlessly along the
wide avenues without soul TO speak 70
Friends Of several months ana acquaint-
ances Of Yesterday passed her with an un-
seeing stare or scurried down convenient
byways to avoid a meeting. HAD she oeei,
smitten with q plague her Isolation coulo
not have been at once more rapio io,, NOR nU H;s7
dain of her own kind. Large hearted her
self and fearless she could not understand
the meanness and triviality Which mace
such things possible. win a v,sion on SUI tua
absurdty of her former success; she mad
been applauded and courted because she
was a rich woman's niece; with the Same
beauty and the same attractions sne was
now discarded and alone. Even Christine s
hospitality was half-hearted, and capt.
Jerome was plainly patronizing. Harriet
had not been to see her, but she had writ
ten her one sweet note OF assurance, ana
Mary clung desperately to her faith In her.
The brutality of Molly Lanes candor had
left her few illusions as TO the otners,
however, and she was amused TO see
Leonard Bishop coming toward her with an
expression that was manlfestiy luli Oh
doubt as to the propriety of being seen
with one who had been dropped from So
ciety like fallen star.
But a spirit akin to her old mischievous
one stirred in Mary's bosom. and she had
no mercy on this miserable httle cad VINO
SANSS~
months and embittered many moment Dy
the threatening persistence of his suit. She
held out her hand, therefore,, and 1orcea
him to halt in the center OF crowded
thoroughfare where he felt himself at once
the cynosure of all eyes as he talked to the
heroine Of the latest society scandal.
II haven't seen you for a long time,
Leonard" she said wickedly; where nave
you hidden yourself?
Leonard, suddenly convinced that in her
failure she was turning to him for rescue,
took alarm on the instant and reddened
with discomfort. I've been awfuiIy Dusy,
he said hurriedly; i've got an engagement
now with Judge Fennel: you know I'm DO
ing a head of him in black and white, and
I'm to do Mrs. Fennel."
II thought she belonged to the class and
era of crayon portraits on easels In the
corners of the 'parlor, mockeu Mary;
you can't do her justice, Leonard.
She's not so bad, except her nose, ne
replied uneasily, trying to eaten the eye
of a fashionable acquaintance VINO passed
in an automobile and only stared; III you
don't mind, Mary, I'm in hurry-put-ah
where are you staying!
Mary laughed softly and passed on. EFT
tu, Brute" she said to herself with her
first sensation of real amusement.
dawned on her with increasing force, and
Rylands apparent desertion with the others
had left wound past healing. She had
not seen him since the night in Harriet
CheeVer' S library Wnen ne ndu dSsuieo iei
of his love. His silence was inexplicable,
for she was 10th to ascribe to him the mean
and shallow motives of the others. Ihat
he had learned the truth from Col FoXboro
and been utterly confounded by 1t she had
no means Of knowing, and her feelings
We're full of a woman's contradictions She
had been too deeply hurt to endure more
and shrank from the ordeal Of another in
terview, for she was nobly resolved to re-
fuse to permit him to sacrifice himself, yet
to see him, to hear his voice
Christine was out, on her usual rounds,
and her servant admitted Mary without a
word; the house seemed silent and empty
and even oppressive after the freshness
and sunshine of out of doors. She pushed
aside the portieres and entered the draw
ing room, slowly drawing off her gloves.
The shades were half down and her eyes
were unaccustomed to the dimness. At
first she was hardly conscious that there
was any one in the room, then she saw a
tall figure coming toward her. 1t was Ry-
land.
Mary" he exclaimed in low voice, 'I
understand-and l have come
She stood still, her face white. .'Don't!'