The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-01-03

realize tnat. But you can't prevent il.
| And when you come to think Of
wouldn't It be better to be
friends p
For you,s said Miss Ferringham,
with spice Of malice.
Montfort sat silent. He had swift
brief vision of Archie as he used to
be before dramatic passion for the
star who had dazzled his father had
put new, unnatural enpity between
| them Archie as little boy in a
white suit, with toy cricket bat in
his hand; Archie, who always looked
upon him as his best friend until
now. And the vision hurt.
He looked quietly across at the
beautiful woman slipping her tea with
fine air Of unconcern.
You mean you can separate US
There was a sudden hard sound in
his voice. Miss Ferringham had, per
lhaps, heard it before She nodded
silently.
Il know that. Well. you must do
it."
'sYou mean-if I've the heart" Miss
Ferringham said softly.
| Its question of-heart?" he ask"
ed. In the light of his former knowl
edge Of the lady it hardly seemed
possible. why, he's a boy!' he cried,
with momentary evaporation. He's
4 young enough to be your
My-son!' said Miss Ferringhann.
/ 'tOh--I suppose he is. But is 1t quite
pretty of you to say SO? In my pro,
fession"- spoke little bitterly
IT'S so difficult to grow old. Our
youth means SO much to us. The
stage wasn't made for old women.
And you tell me I'm old enough to
be Archie's mother?''
'Tm old enough myself" he point
ed out, TO be Arches father. !
have outgrown boyish fancy for
debutantes-if ever had one. You
and Archie can't have two ideas in
common
We've one she said. Archie
loves me- And Il"
/ She stopped. Not in any embarrass-
ment-he felt that Rather in pass
ing uncertainty as to the word she
| wished to use.
'You don't--you can't-loYe hin"
Montfort said gravely.
She looked up at him. Her face
was moved and softened.
81 love his love for me" she said
cts passing fancyI know that
i It's foolish know that, too. And
you've just told me what knew be
fore-that I'm old enough to be his
mother. But he loves me and I've
done without that sort Of love so
long. love him for caring about
me in the kind of way haven't found
since you
She was silent. For a moment
Montfort was silent, too.
"Pm too old for him." she went on.
II know tive known it all the time.
But it's q temptation, and I'm not
strong enough to send him away. ]
listened to the-the voice of reason
once: but it's too much to expect me
to do that again. But you needn't
be afraid for him. I'll make him hap
py-Ill practice all the arts of IL.
fusion. And he hasn't your brains
you know" she ended.
You're marrying him, Montfort
said, because you didn't marry me?"
I'm marrying him." Miss Ferring.
ham said frankly, because he's the
next best thing to you I've met.
Yes
There was long silence. And
then Montfort put down his teacup.
.Flo," he said, there's chance for
him still--the last chance. You
might marry-some one else. Some
one who listened to the voice of rea-
son-and is deuced sorry for it.
Some one?" she wondered, with
the ghost of smile. The last chance!
Arches last chance or yours?s
Mine" said Montfort: Let him
go-he'n get over it. In six months
time he'll thank us for saving him
| from himself But if we miss this
our last chance is gone, as well as
his"
After ALL" said Miss Ferringham,
la moment later, Its not my fault
that I'm old enough to be his"
Il "Stepmother, : ended Montfort prompt.
ly.-From the New York Evening