Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
XI-Continued.


lie was keen enough to see that she cared
q great deal to conceal her position and
that their, were serious motives behind it
all. He OWNED love affair or something
like 1t and a glow of satisfaction passed
over him: in that case fortune had really
delivered her into his hand and he had no
motive for allowing her to escape. a quick
vision of playing the hand longer and
deeper of gaining Mrs Writings favor in
som" material way, flashed in upon him.
Mary lowered. Mary as q social leader
wouli be a dazzling possibility. especially
if her triumph included his and she could
not very well dispense with him. since he
could. at a touch, knock the corner stone
from under her castle and crumble 1t to
ruins. He seemed to consider moment,
as To permit a full apprehension of his
power. and then he replied to her assur-
ancr of friendship with the easy air of
master of the siiuation We'll let it go
at that" he said cheerfully; well call 1t
friendship. for lack of a better name, and
l suppose you mean to present me TO Mrs.
Whit.ng-your aunt-and the rest OF swell
dom. l noticed that you were hobnobbing
with all the big guns al the ball It's Ike
you, too. Mary: l always believed you'd
get there. you were id plucky.'
Mary shuddered, the language of Leon
ard Bishop was not the language of Law
renee Ryland or of Portucarrero. Cncon-
sciously she had been measuring things by
new standards and could not forgive her
self for ever having been acquainted with
Bishop. Il ought 10 have presented you 20
Mrs. Whiting before / went out with you
today" she said with an uneasy attempt
at kindness; it is certainly unconven-
tionai 10 go TO walk with a man who has
not called.
"Oh. that's all right between US, Mary
he said easily.
She WINGED; his familiarity forced the
truth upon her reluctant mind; anything
like bargain with him was a mistake
She had erred and she began to see 1t;
bargain meant obligations and she felt
keenly that he was mean enough to push
his advantage to the limit. but she did not
know how TO undo it now, and the slmile
of the goldfish in the globe came back upon
her with renewed v!vidncss; after ali, So
ciety life. with It's artificial limits and It's
insane round of vacant and monotonous
gayeties. was only a large goldAsh globe,
full of shining, struggling fish. existing
through the kindness of Dame Fortune,
who controlled the water spigot and gave
them n change at intervals
They had been walking slowly and were
now again upon thDroughtare. Mary
looked about her i'll desperation for
familiar face; she would almost have wei
coined Judge Fennel as means OF escape.
but at the moment no one OF her world APP
peared. Instead 1t was The hour for the
government offices to close and there was
thick stream of business people sweeping
down upon them and enguf!ng them. Mary
saw one or two tired girls glance enviously
at her rich attire. and remembering how
recently she had glanced, with Similar feel
ings. at the beautiful costumes In Paris.
she experienced curious sensation of be-
ing unreal. mere dressed and SewSawed
figure in a show.
Meanwhile Leonard pursued the subject
nearest his heart with undated interest.
What do you do in this society of yours
he inquired. I've always kept out of 1t
stupid bali going and eating aDyway'-thlS
with the superiority of the uninvited-"and
confess l don't understand how You pass
your time. | believe III have to look into
it. now that you are here to be a guide"
1T will not divert YOU" Mary observed.
with cold amusement at the thought of
Leonard's hopeless struggles to be So
ciety man. and II expensive. They play
bridge. drink champagne ana cocktails and
smoke costly cigarettes. You can do none
OF these things without bankruptcy; I'm
considered prude because l don't play
bridge: l couldn't without going to the
poorhouse; and you know | never smoked.
even in Paris
Il should enjoy the champagne" said
Leonard: we didn't get much of that in
the Latin Quarter. l fancy / shall like H.
even to the cigarettes, II the other fellow
supplies them
He rarely does in my observation" she
replied uryIy, llluk llidl people uSutI!S
try to take advantage OF others and get
something for nothing. I'm not sure.
Leonard. that you are clever enough to get
either cigarettes or champagne without
paying for them. and they have TO be pad
for In one way or another. by tips to the
servants or bonbons TO the hostess.
We'll. l shall come around to see that
three hundred weight of yours and Try my
luck" he said confidently; when shall
you present me?
Mary sighed; there was no way out of it.
or rather all roads led TO Rome. and she
must shake him on now before the length
of her absence with this stranger was too
marked. she knew that Frances Fennel
would time it. and the very fact that he
had made that fatal sketch of her would
lead to conjecture.
We are at home on Sundays after g.
she said in dull voice: come then. but
do not expect too much; l am only pawn
on the cheSsboard.
He smiled incredulously. Il saw you at
the ball. he sad significantly; Il shall
be sure to be there at 5. and you'll have to
be good to me. Mary. d word a
whisper. and your palace topples over"
They were almost in sight Of Mrs. Whit
ings house and Mary stopped. I'm afraid
l cant be threatened" she said with a
lightness that she was far from feeling:
and you had better not go on we Will
say goodbye here.
His face fell. is this a game of hide
and seek. Mary he asked sharply. "or are
you trying To shake me?'
"A little of both" she answered with q
faint smile. and also surrender TO ex
pedency
"Oh. hang 1t. does she play the dragon?'
he exclaimed moodly.
"Of course, she replied. suatCh!ng even
at subterfuge, and also there are con-
ventionaities.
Hang couventiOnalities" he said sui
lenly; that's your way of beating me off q"
She held out her hand with propitiating
smile Sunday at ) then. she said
There was finality IN her tone and
manner that he was forced to accept but
he did SO with bad grace. he mad cher
ished vision or returning with her to a
coy tete-a-tete over tea table by cheer
full fire as compensation for the bleak
chill of windy corners. but no such ai!uring
prospect opened before hI.-i; instead he
found himself returning dsconso.ate, with
q curious feeling of failure, To his cheap
hotel and a miscellaneous dinner. where he
could not even permit himself TO enjoy the
company OF his fellow guests for lear or
making a mistake just on the eve of mis-
social debut.
XII.
Mary managed TO slip into the house
without encountering Frances Fennel-with