Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21
XII.

| Al.
| Mary stopped to fasten ner furs in front
| of the long mirror in Mrs. Writings re-
| ception room. AS she did so she glanced
/ at the reflection Of her own distinguished
| figure. in its perfect setting, remembering
with some amusement the vastly different
one that Leonard Bishop had seen so often
in Paris.
She was waiting for him to keep his ap-
pointment and had anticipated his arrival,
being ready before the time. She did not
wish to have him walt in Mrs Whiting s
reception room; such delay was too full
Of possibilities, and she had confidence
in Leonard's discretion. even If he wished
to be discreet The approaching interview.
the necessity Of compromising with him, of
silencing him in some way. had hung over
her with nightmarish persistence. AS the
time drew near her nervousness assumed
unusual proportions; she moved from win
dow to window. watching for his appear
ance and forgetful that her attitude might
be easily mistaken for one Of eager ex-
pectancy AS she parted the curtains and
looked down the long avenue she was on
level with the street, the reception room
being on the first floor. 1t was a small and
far less brilliant room than the others and
was used for business PURPOSES, filling the
part of kind of social waste-paper basket.
Persons whose standing In society too
elusive to be Immediately decided even by
the butler were sent into this apartment:
bores, real estate men, newspaper reporters
and church people always found themselves
lined up between its four walls. 1t was
even on record that one bishop, who looked
rather lean and shabby. got there by mis-
take when the second man was at the door.
It was there that Mary chose to receive
Leonard Bishop; not because she had al
ready learned the delicate adjustments of
fha cia1 Ia hut ha
one room least likely to be entered by Mrs
Whiting or Frances Fennel, the ubiquitous
social secretary. Promptly at 4 O'Clock
Mary saw Leonard's slight figure turn the
corner Immediately below the house and
hurry toward it, The wind was high and
whipped his overcoat and trousers about
his thin legs and stirred the rather lengthy
curls about his ears. The Insignifcance of
the man was more forcibly impressed upon
her than usually; she stood moment look
ing at him with mingled feelings of con-
tempt and uneasy dread. Then the old ac-
quaintance, the ease of the Bohemian life
her friends led in Paris flashed upon her
and made the conventionality Of waiting
for the butler to announce him seem alb
surd. Why let him excite comment by
coming for her by appointment before he
had called. when step would take her out
to meet him as II by unprecedented acct
dent? Without a moments hesitation she
turned and walking quickly to the door.
went out and closed 1t behind her.
She met Leonard before he turned into
the road under the porte-cochere and
greeted him with easily assumed indif-
ference.
There was flash Of surprise in his eyes,
but he disguised 1t with a smile as he
joined her, falling in with her plan with
an ease and familiarity that alarmed her.
AS they turned together she glanced In
voluntarily at the house, and especially at
the window which she had Just quilted. To
her surprise and chagrin she met the eyes
| Of Frances Fennel. who was leaning in her
very attitude of few moments before. on
the same window ledge and hooking out at
them with evident interest. Mary's angry
amazement was Immediately controlled by
her instinct Of self-defense. and she waved
her muff at Frances In amicable greeting
and farewell. receiving In return a de-
risive smile. which lost none Of its sting
from passing through the window pane.
Leonard, whose keen eyes missed nothing.
saw the interchange of greetings and
raised his hat. thus disclosing his artistic
head. with the hair parted In the middle
and twining into curls over his ears. The
sight OF 1t always filled Mary with amuse-
ment and disgust. and she could not but
imagine the comments that Frances was
likely to make.
Meanwhile they were walking briskly
away from the house. with the wind blow
ing fresh and cold in their faces. and the
wintry sunshine on the snow making the
atmosphere peculiarly brilliant and translu-
cent Handsome carriages whirled in every
direction, automobiles speeded past. and
here and there an awning stretching across
the sidewalk. like an attenuated pink and
white worm announced an impending en-
tertainment
Mary had not spoken; she was trying to
adjust her mind to the delicate balance of
circumstances. trying to formulate some
plan by which she might achieve Leonard 8
silence without entering into particulars
She wanted to shut him out. to hedge off
the danger of his knowledge of the situa-
ton, to evade and to silence him.
He. on the other hand. was buoyantly
confident Of his own mastery of the situa-
ton; he felt that some curious twist of
fate had made him the real arbter of her
destiny. and was far from considering 1t
his duty to relinquish his hold upon her.
They had now fairly turned the corner
and entered another of the broad avenues
Mrs Writings house Leonard turned and
looked at, his companion with amused ad-
miration and amazenent. realizing every
detail of her costume: its richness. her
beautiful furs and her fashionable hat.
well. Mary" he observed amicaDly, ut
certainly beats the Dutch!'
In the Bohemian society Of tie studio
and the pension in Paris they had all slip
ped into the easy use Of Christian names.
ment to her there; but here LeOnard's
familiar of her name filled her with
disgust He had never indeed seemed so
insignificant before: his talent for drawing
which was genuine, had given him a per-
sonality in the studio, but in the penetrat-
ing light of anOfher sphere or society he
was revealed wholly unworthy Of his
talent Genius. in Mary's eyes, had here
tofore seemed to clothe even insgnificance
with larger life. and she was surprised and
discounted to find that suddenly sophisti-
Gated by her new associations, she could
only observe his fantastic style of dress
and his ambrosial locks.
She walked on without replying to his
outburst. trying. indeed, to find a reply,
but he anticipated her.
What have you done with platter-face?"
he inquired maliciOusly.
May Is still in Paris Mary answered
quietly: didn't you see her before you
came here?'
Il never see her when can help it, you
know" he replied carelessly: when l go
there she always wants me to tell her that
some new daub is an inspiration; I've lied
my soul into purgatory more than once to
get out Of the studio with a whole skin.
But how In the world did you change
places with her, and what are you driving
at here?'
There was no possible evasion, and Mary
felt 1t; in fact she had swiftly decided to
tell the whole truth She was facing the
situate with desperate courage; she would
probably lose all through this little insig-
nificant pen and ink dabbler. but she could
not dispose Of him. Insignificant though he
was; he was powerful In the knowledge of
her affairs, and she too proud to stoop
to any of the arts of coquetry to silence