Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-17

conndencel
 You ask me if it is true any more. You mean about his habits. If answer you, 1t is because cannot be indif- ferent to what concerns him. But be- fore l answer l ask you this, Would your interest in his fortunes matter to him?"
 She waited. head bent, then:
 q don't know. Mir. Plank" very low.
 "Did your interest In his fortunes ever concern him?' .s.
 "Yes, once"
 He looked at her sternly, his jaw squaring until his heavy under lip pro- jected. within my definition of friend ship, is he your friend?"
 "You mean he"-
 "No; I mean you. l can answer for him. How is 1t with you? Do you return what he gives-if there is really friendship between you, or do you take what he offers, offering nothing in re- turn"
 She had turned rather white under the direct impact of the questions. The jarring repetition of his voice it. self was like the dull echo )s distant blows. Yet it never occurred to her to resent it nor his attitude nor his self assumed privilege. She did not care. She no longer cared what he said to her or thought about her, nor did she care that her mask had fallen at last. It was not what he was saying, but what her own heart repeated so heav- fly that drove the color from her face. Not he, but she herself had become the pitiless attorney for the prosecution; not his voice, but the clamoring con- science within her demanded by what right she used the name of friendship to characterize the late relations be- tween her and the man to whom she had denied herself.
 Then a bitter impatience swept her and a dawnlng fear, too, for she had set her foot on the fallen mask, and the impulse rendered her reckless.
 "Why don't you speak?" she said. "Yes, I have a right to know. I care for him as much as you do. Why don't you answer me? tell you I care for him.
 DO you?" he said in dull voice. "Then help me out, if you can, for l don't know what to do, and if l did l haven't the authority of friendship as my warrant He is in New York. He did go to the country, and at his home the servants suppose he IS still away, but he isn't. He is here alone and sick-sick of his old sickness. l saw him, and"-Plank rested his head on his hand, dropping his eyes-"and he didn't know me. I-I do not think he will remember that he met me or that I spoke. And I could do nothing. absolutely nothing. And don't know where he is. He will go home after awhile. call every day to see-see what can be done, but if he were there I would not know what to do. When he does go home I won't know what to say, what to try to do. And that is an answer to your question, Miss Landis. give it because you say you care for him as do. Will you advise me what to do, you, who are more entitled than I am to know the truth, because he has given you the friendship which he has as yet not ac- corded to mel"
 But Sylvia, dry eyed, dry tipped, could find no voice to answer, and aft CT Il little while they rose and moved through the fragrant gloom toward the sparkling lights beyond.
 Her voice came back as they en- tered the brilliant rooms. "l should like to find Grace Ferrall," she said very distinctly. Please keep the oth- CTS off, Mir. Plank"
 Fleetwood had missed his dance with her, but she scarcely heard his eager complaints. Quarrier, coldly inquir- ing, confronted them, was passed al- mort without recognition and left be- hind motionless, looking after them out of his narrowing, black fringed eyes of a woman.
 Then Terrall came. and, hearing his voice, she raised her colorless face.
 twill you take me home with you, Kemp, when you take Grace?" she asked.
 "of course. don't know where Grace Is. Are you in hurry to gol It's only f o'clock"
 They were at the entrance to the sup per room. Plank drew up a chair for her. and she sank down. dropping her elbows on the small table and resting her face between her fingers.
 "Pegged out. sylviaf" exclaimed Fer rall incredulously. You? What's the younger set coming to-" and he mo- tioned a servant to fill her glass. But she pushed 1t aside. with a shiver. and gave Plank strange look. which he scarcely understood at the moment.
 "More capriees. All sorts of 'em on the programme" muttered Ferrall. looking down at her from where he stood beside Plank. 70 tempora! o Sylvia. Plank. would you mind hunt ing up my wife? I'll stay and see that thls infant doesn't fall asleep"
 But Sylvia shook her head. saying: Please go. Kemp. I'm a little tired, that's all When Grace is ready I'll leave with her" And at her gesture Plank seated himself. while Ferrall. struggling his square shoulders. saun- tered oT in quest of his wrr-. stopping a moment at a neighboring table to speak to Agatha Caithness. who sat there with Captain Voucher. the collar of superb diamonds and aquamarines on her slender throat a pale blaze of splendor.
 Plank was hungry. and he said SO in naG n Wasa