Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-09-04


couraged-permitted me to count
His anger choked him, or was 1t the
haunting wisdom of her eyes that
committed him to silence?
II don't know" she said musingly,
what 1t is In you that | am so mad
about-whether 1t is your brutality, or
the utter corruption of you that holds
me, or your wicked eyes Of woman,
or the fascination of the mask you
turn on the world and the secret Wis.
age. naked in It's vice. that you re.
serve for me. But | love youth my
fashion. Count on that. Howard. for
that is all you can surely count on.
And now, at last. you know"
AS he stood there 1t came TO him
slowly that deep within him he had al.
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 10
her. the subtle response to all that was
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. promise; that be
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 nnacknowledged, un-
drawn on reserve in case of the fail
ure which he, even In sanguine moods,
knew in his Utmost corrupted soul that
his quest was doomed to.
And now he had no more need OF Be-
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
Eelf deception. .
"If marry you," he said calmly, "at
least know what am getting"
81 will marry you, Howard. I've
got to marry somebody pretty. soon.
You or Captain Voucher"
For an instant a vicious light flashed
In his narrowing eyes. She saw 1t
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 depravity In mar
rying you that makes all lesser vices
stale as virtues"
He said nothing. She looked at him,
lazily amused; then, inattentiye, turn
ed and paced the floor again.
"Shall I see you tomorrow" he de-
manded.
"If you wish. Captain Voucher came
down on the same train with me. I'll
set him adrift IL you like"
as he preparing for declaration"
sneered Quarter.
II think so," she said simply.
'yYell, If he comes tonight after Pm
gone, you wait final word from me.
Do you understand he repeated, with
violence.
mo, Howard. Are you going to
propose to me tomorrow
you'll know tomorrow" he retOrt-
ed angrily. II tell you to wait. I've
a right to that much consideration
every well, Howard" she said, rec
ognizing In him the c0wardice which
she had always suspected to be there.
She babe him good night. He touch
ed her hand, but made no offer to kiss
her. She laughed little to herself.
watching him striding toward the ele-
yator.
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 1.-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, think, but he hasn't YET
Informed me-"
"I1l tell you one thing. Agatha"
said Mrs. vendenning, gathering up
the packs for new shuttle, GRACE
Ferrall doesn't fancy Towards atten-
ton to you, and she's beginning to say
3d. When YOU 90 back to Shotover