Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-30
The Fighting
Chance. sG ;;;;i;:, y:
Copyright 1905, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
w.
Copyright, 1905, by the Curtis Publishing Company
. Copyright, 1906 by Robert w. Chambers.


ways known this; that he had never
really counted on anything else, though
he had throttled his doubts by cover
ing her throat with diamonds. Her
strangeness, her pallor, her acquies-
cence, the delicate hint of depravity in
worst in him had attracted him, only
to learn, little by little, that the faint
of corruption was only faint infect
ing others, not her; that the promise
of evil was only a promise; that he
had to deal with young body, but
an old intelligence, and mind so old
that at moments her faded gaze al
most appalled, him with its indolent
clairvoyance.
Long since he knew, too, that in all
the world he could never again find
such a mate for him. This had, I'M
admitted even to himself always re-
manned a hidden secret within this Sc
cret man, an acknowledged, I'M
drawn on reserve in case of the fall
ure which he, even in sanguine moods,
knew in his inmost corrupted soul that
his quest was doomed to.
And now he had no more need of Sc
crets from himself Now, turning his
gaze inward, he looked upon all with
which he had chosen to deceive him
self. And there was nothing left for
self deception.
'If marry you,'' he said calmly, Eat
least l know what am getting"
81 WI marry you, Howard. I've
got to marry somebody pretty soon.
You or Captain Voucher"
For an instant vicious light flashed
in his narrowing eyes. She saw it
and shook her head with weary Gym
icism.
mo, not that. 1t could not attract
me even with you. 1t is really vulgar
that arrangement. Noblesse oblige.
mon ami. There is a depravity in mar
rying you that makes all lesser vices
stale as virtues"
He said nothing. She looked at him.
lazily amused; then, inatteative, turn
ed and paced the floor again.
"Shall l see you tomorrow" he de-
manded.
''If you wish. Captain Voucher came
down on the same train with me. I'll
set him adrift if you like"
is he preparing for a declaration?"
sneered Quarter.
81 think So" she said simply
"Well if he comes tonight after I'm
gone, you wait a final word from me.
Do you understands" he repeated, with
repressed violence.
NO. Howard Are you going to
propose to me tomorrow"
You'll know tomorrow" he retort-
ed angrily. 81 tell you to wait. I've
a right to that much consideration
anyway"
Every well, Howard" she said, rec
ognizing in him the cowardice which
she had always suspected to be there.
She bade him good night. He touch
ed her hand, but made no offer to kiss
her. She laughed a little to herself,
watching him striding toward the ele-
vator.
She turned leisurely, her slim hands
balanced lightly on her narrow hips,
and strolled into the second dressing
room, where Mrs. Vendenning sat sui
lenly INDUCING in that particular spe-
cies of solitaire known as THE Idiots
Delight"
''well?" inquired Mrs. Vendenning.
looking up at the tall. pale girl she
was chaperoning SO carefully during
their sojourn in town. What did
Howard Quarter want?"
He knows. l think. but he hasn't yet
Informed me-"
an tell you one thing, Agatha"
said Mrs. Vendenning. gathering up
the packs for a new shuttle. Grace
Ferrall doesn't fancy Towards atten-
ton to you. and she's beginning to say
so. When you go back 10 ShotOver
you'd better let him alone"
I'm not going back to Shotover,"
said Agatha.
What"
NO. l don't think so. However, I'll
let You know tomorrow. 1t all depends
but l don't expect to-" She turned
as her maid tapped on the door oh.
Captain Voucher Are yOu at home 10
himT' Tipping the pasteboard on to
the table among the scattered cards.
Yes" said Mrs. Vendenning agrees
sively. unless you expect him 10 flop
down on his knees tonight. Do YOU
Il don't-tonight. Perhaps tomor-
row. don't know. / can't tell yet
And TO her maid she nodded that they
were at home TO Captain Voucher.
Quarter had met him, too. just as
he was leaving the hotel lobby They
exchanged the careful salusatiOus Of
men who had no use for one another.
On the EnElishman's clean cut face a
deeper hue settled as he passed. on
Quarters not trace Of emotion. but
when lie entered his motor be sat holt
upright. stiff hacked and still necked.
his long gray gloved fingers moving
restlessly over his pointed Heard
The night was magnificent Myri-
ads Of summer stars spangied the
heavens. Flank. driving bis big motor
ooTthward through the night. Leila
Mortimer beside him. twice miSi0ok
The Eiimmer Il a fre1y for the distant
lamp q a meteor. which amused Leila.
and her clear young laughter f0ate1
hack - the ears q Sylvia and SiEarl .
CurleyI CD i'm their cUrners IL the huge
tonneau- But they were too Profound
b occupied vith each other 10 heed
The sudden care free laughter Of the