Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-12


that being engaged to me does
not mean that you are married
- ~ to me. You seem to be perfect
SdA0 SAas lv sure of yourself, and of me.
tUA nIo IUy l." here she shrugged her shout
N@%SSS%$sA ders angrily, 81 repeat, l am
SNATSfST8S growing very weary of this as
%aiI6@ sured manner of yours, also, and
rumors of your devotion to Sara Bell, that odious
little actress. If you are to marry me, you must
give her up and at once, do you understand
Wainwright rose and strobe rapidly around the
room before speaking He had been engaged to
Clare Develin for nearly three years and had
always been prfectly satisfied until few months
before, when he had met the fascinating little
actress then he realized that once he was really
in love, his heart had gone from him. Then 1t
that he had realized, too that MS income
was far too small to meet his wants. and MS
friends had been surprised at his sudden eXtraV-
agances. He always had plenty OF money tnese
latter days and yet he did no more work wei,
he can afford to go in debt" his friends would
remark, "he will sooner or later marry the ricn
Miss Develin." These rumorS and whispers mad
come to Clares ears and she had grown angry.
Now she wanted him to account for himself.
please answer me- rather speak, don't go
tearing around like something Wlld sne ex-
claimed impatienty.
What right have you to complain, my dear,
it has been you, not l. who has postponed our
wedding, from time to time. AT any rate we
shall not discuss Miss Bell, she is friend of
mine and I do not care to have her spoken or
contemporary, even by you.
"As you like Mr.. wainwright but will you allow
me this remark? Your friends all discussing
your sudden rise of fortune Now, do not wish
to offend, but you know you are-well-e not
exactly a millionaire, and, in fact, to be blunt.
your friends are very curious as to where you get
your money. l do not ask you to explain any
thing to me if you do not care to- but don't you
think have a right to know something about
these things?" She moved over to the piano as
she finished speaking and began to play snatches
from popular comic opera wainwright, his head
held indifferently to side, replied:
"My dear Clare, you have no right whatever to
aCtin in n m business AFFAIRS
have the money, that is sufficient We shan't
discuss that either. You are in a bad mood this
evening"
every WELL then, are you going now" She
stopped playing and rising, held out her hand. 81
shall be out of town the remainder OF this week,
and possibly all of next" she remarked, as he
took her hand. He did not ask about any Of her
plans, he too could play the Indifferent game, so
with cool good bye, he was gone.
He was angry He knew people were talking,
but what was that to him long as he pleased
the one he cared most for. It was certainly no
body's business how he got his money, that was
his own secret. Clare Develin could be as haugh-
ty as she liked, he did not even need her money
any longer, not if his plans turned out as he
hoped. He had been successful before, why
shouldn't he be this time. well, We'll see," he
remarked sententiously, and disappeared into the
night.
George wainwright, giving one quick, searching
glance backward, as a sudden vivid flash of light
ming illuminated the long stretch of smooth road
bed that lay behind him and his quickly moving
motor, settled himself again firmly in his seat,
with faint sigh of satisfaction. He was going
at speed that exceeded any of his former
records, and so noiselessly did the machine move
that, had it not been for the gentle whirring of
the electric motor, his passage would have been
scarcely remarked by the. occasional pedestrians
who happened to be wandering about at the late
hour of midnight, who, as they hurried on their
way, were unmindful of all save the approaching
storm.
One by one the lights of the suburban towns
faded away, and the bare black fields of the