Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-06


but his desire for them was gone now, and wnen
he reached the grave she saw him lean above the
railing about it and drop them inside, one by one
One day early in May as Margaret was arrang
ing a wreath for her husbands grave, sitting
under the shade of the cedars, she heard horses
hoofs on the level road that swept only few
yards from the grave and rose to her feet to see
the riders. They were John Ashland and young
lady who was visiting his mother; she was beau
tiful girl and her riding habit fitted her to per
fection A few stray, dark curls had slipped from
beneath the hat that she wore tilted over her
face; hat with scarlet wing in 1t that seemed
to reflect the glow of her dimpled cheeks. There
was a cluster of the scarlet japonica buds at her
throat too, and she seemed to have divided the
flowers with john for he was pinning one or
two blossoms in his buttonhole, as they rounded
a curve in the road and came in sight of the
clump of cedars.
Margaret had never felt conscious of her
plainness before. She colored painfully as John
raised his hat and, in spite of her own confusion,
she noticed the sudden look of constraint that
passed the girls face. The riders were gone In
an instant, but the whole face OF nature had
changed for Margaret Leslie.
"He is beginning to care for some other woman"
she said to herself. "I am so glad that his whole
life will not be wasted" and then poor, incon'
sistent Margaret to show her gladness, burst into
tears. She had grown rather tired, too, and went
back to the house, leaving the fowery garland
where 1t had fallen and where John found 1t just
before sunset when he passed He seemed rather
pleased at finding it, too, for he picked up one OF
If it's fragrance carried him welcome message;
and the smile still fingered about his lips as he
waited for Margaret Leslie in her sitting room.
She came in very She had laid aside
the Grape he so disliked, and wore a soft, gray
dress with a knot of volets at her throat. She
seemed to think some explanation OF this neces
sary, for she gave it at once "Dr. Henshaw
has advised me to lay aside black; he says that
it is detrimental to my health. l would prefer
to wear black as long as I live yet I am sure
that Andrew would wish me to obey DR.. Hen
shaw, who has been so kind to me-"
John Ashland too wise to say what he
thought and talked on various topics and at last
she touched upon the subject that he had been
sure she would touch upon before the evening
was over "Who was the lady with whom you
riding this afternoon, John, she asked MIN
quietly at last
"Who-Lulu Martini" he asked, as unconcerned'
ly as possible. I'VE passed here this afternoon,
didn't we? She is staying at our house! don't you
think her very beautiful young girl?" Margaret
gave sly peep in the glass.
"Young?" she said, doubtfully. 'Is it possible
john that you really thought her young? She
must be quite as old as am
"O MOI" said John quickly but carelessy, Il
assure you that she is ages younger than you
are, Margaret and her complexion Is simply per-
fect-as creamy as magnolia petal
Margaret flushed to the very roots of her hair
Her complexion had always been a sensitive
point with her from a child as John very well
knew. She looked up at him quickly to see IL
he was teasing her, as he had been used TO 40
in the old days, but his eyes were bent on the
floor as he picked the bits of faded Japonlca
from his buttonhole and ground them to dust
between his fingers. Are you in love with her,
john" she asked, presently, after long pause
"Who-me?" asked John, absently Yes-nom
certainly not" briskly. Whatever could have put
such queer idea as that into your clever little
head, Margaret" She sighed but did not an
swer him.
All this time John sat staring at his boots
with an energy worthy of better cause. Woman
like she was the first to recover from the awk-