The Washington herald., 1907-01-22
A SELF-ANNIHILATED SUITOR
BY JEANETTE WALDEN.


a man must be willing not only 20
eTace himself. but to blot himself out
of existence, If necessary. for my sake.
Jean Boyce made this statement with
out generalization, driven 10 IL by sheer
ennui. Il was the third time that she
had been called upon 20 give her reason
for not acquiescing in Maurice Ankeney' {
belief that they were made for each other,
and this time she wanted it to be final.
They had just turned the corner into
her home street. Jean fastened her
steps as she spoke with a little laugh Of
impotence.
Maurice Ankeney looked at her first
with disappointment in his frank blue
eyes, then speculation. and at last amuse-
ment Gould ycu care that much for
any one?" he asked. coolly.
"Oh. no" her tone was matter-of-
fact, 7 couldn't 1t isn't in me-
"Oh, I see, you demand it as a COM
pllmentary quality in others.
he continued his scrutiny of her faca
as a smart trap with a man and woman
in II rounded the corner. The woman-a
stoutish blond with a mountain OF
lavender pIumes on her head-was driv-
ing
The warm color that came 10 Jean S
cheeks as she returned the mans rec
ignition. deepened as the trap rolled past,
for she knew that Maurice was watching
her and she felt the new, strange intent
ness In his gaze.
As for Ankeney. his expression sud
denly became a mixture OF calmness and
stern determination, TN do IT," he ex-
claimed. And for this apparently &c
centric remark, he was rewarded by an
electrifyiug look OF inquiry from a pair
Of dark eyes.
do what?"
"Ehace-I mean extinguish myself by
getting him for you"
The dark eyes became inscrutable-
II you want Harold Buckley, you shall
have him." he continued precipitately, as
they mounted the steps Of Jean Boyce' S
home. 1T will be an easy matter. He
is only dazzled by her millions. It's you
he really cares for. Madge Racer has no
right to buy"
Maurice Ankeney, I'll never speak 10
you again" AS Jean faced him with this
emphatic announcement. her bushes were
fully accounted for by her anger.
"AH right, might as well die one
way as another" and ne was gone.
In the days that followed, Jean Boyce
had a new experience. Maurice Anke-ey
had never stayed away 50 long before,
and she had missed him-a condition she
had not thought possible. Still there was
the COuntcraCting annoyance OF Harold
Buckley and the heiress. 1t Is true, she
never realized that she cared for Buckley
until she found that he was out or her
reach But Jeans self-analysis could 80
no deeper than this, and her state of
mind became chaotic once moro, when
one afternoon Harold Buckley called.
Jeans resentment was not wholly dis
PEELED by Buckley's keenIy correct valua-
ton Of the heiress. She was fishing for
a husband he said, and its a good
thing just to know such women. Il
makes one expert at estimating char
acter"
Jean interpreted this last remark: a
man does not need 10 be bitten more
than once" and she found herself
wondering why she did not feel battered
by his confidence. Still she felt graft
fed by her triumph in bringing him back
She did not understand until afterward
why his next remark quenched her Ella
ton.
"She has Maurice Ankeney on her
hook now. or rather. he took her by
storm. I never saw a fellow maneuver
So" He spoke contemporary. But
he's welcome"
How small Of him." observed Jean
Then all at once she thought OF Maurice
strange promise to her, and she won
dered-no II could not be, he only wanted
a cloak for his mercenary ambitions.
Jean did not feel altogether compli-
mented by the ease with which Harold
assumed his old relations. sui, when
he asked her 10 take an automobile ride
that same evening. she accepted.
Her pride in Harold Buckley's per
sonaI attractiveness was extended 20 his
splendid machine as they went bounding
over the road with a red October sunset
in their faces
Another automobile came footing up
behind them and passed them on the
road. It was occupied by Madge Racer
and Maurice Ankeney.
The vague depression that had been
haunting Jean became poignant She
felt misused.
queer taste, he has" she observed.
with a curl of her lip. Then to hide
her plQue she conjured a spirit OF daring.
on. let's pass them. Do, do
Harold Buckley, ready to please her,
or possibly Tor reasons Of his own. en-
tered into the sport and put on power
with great abandon
Jean vas almost delirlous with the ex-
citemenr of the swift motion. How
jolly" Then came a sudden joitInx
and a desperate adjusting Of brakes.
They had struck rocky place in the
road. Before Harold could slow up Jean
was almost shaken from her seat. The
suns rays. on a level with their eyes
blinded them There was a loud report
q scream from Maurice Ankeney's auto
which they had grazed in stopping. and
they t5ppled over into a shallow ditch
with an extra tire hanging to one Of the
wheels
Jean felt sharp pain IN her arm a.
she picked herself up Then the dlversloe
Of what followed made her forget herself