The Dolores star., 1909-12-10

Oerring was Ouere0 the pOsition-
Something in the quality Of his n.
ticlss had attracted attention: and he
had even handed In several specials
ON his own account. that were &c.
cepted with some show Of interest.
He owed his rapid Advancement
partly. too. to something that. for
want Of . better name. We call per
sonality. Those who came near him
felt its influence. The once boy ap-
proved Of him: the managing editor
stood ready to help him. That he gave
no return to the liking he inspired
seemed to make no difference. His uu.
satisfied heart was . magnet. drawing
to itself the particles Of humanity and
holding them.
His new work took him to the Art
Institute and into the world Of artists.
and he saw his new friend often.
Sometimes they stopped for q word In
the halls: sometimes he sought her
studio in the intervals of work. Their
relation had become that Of good-com-
radesh:p. Derring supposed that he
felt towards her as he would have felt
towards a man-if there were such .
nibu E1o tuAACu " nSi WIN SoNA nS
interest. They discussed every sub
ject in the range Of art, literature and
life. But their intercourse was free
from even q hint of love-making. She
had only the grays and browns OF her
apparel.
With his promotion and increase Of
salary Derring had changed his board
Su- 90 -1n . Mt an nT the
city. He had not thought to ask her
where she lived. 1t had not occurred
to him that he might happen ON the
same place until the FIRST night at din
ner when he raised his eyes from his
plate and found her on the opposite
side of the table, smiling quietly at his
surprise.
That she saw the surprise was evi-
dent. But that she OWNED the accom-
panying vexation could be guessed
only from the care she took to put
him at ease. 1t was like her. She
would not be so stupid as to misun-
derstand him any more than . man
would have done.
1t was three months after the be-
ginning of their acquaintance that he
hurried into the studio one morning
to ask her to lend him q book he had
seen In her bookcase. He was short
of material he explained. He wanted
to work up the Arundel collection. II
she would lend him that book 1t would
save him trip to the library.
In his haste he did not notice.
though he remembered afterwards--
! Ill v-vAl ~
took the book from the case and hand
cd 1t to him. It was q small. leather
bound pocket edition. such as tourists
carry. and. bore In gilt. on the side.
THE Masterpieces of Europe and
England"
YES, that Is It," He opened It at
random, running the leaves through
his fingers. Il will bring 1t back
soon"
With the book still open in his hand
he hurried from the room.
Five minutes later he appeared
again in the doorway.
Il shall have to go to the library
after ALL" he said. abruptly. Il have
brought back your book"
II am sorry you did not dnd what
you wanted" She did not look up
from her work. She could not have
seen the color in his face and she may
not have noticed the slight tremor in
his voice as he replied:
TITS no matter. can find II at the
library.
1t had become q matter of course
that he should come and go In this
easy way. with no ceremony: but 1t
bad not become q matter Of course
that he should leave the studio with
his pulses laundering in his ears. Yet
nothing had happened. He had turned
the leaves carelessly in his hand as he
went down the stairs.
1t had stared at Kim from the white
page: ITO John Dalton, with love.
Helen Gordon"
It rang in his ears as he hurried on
hat and coat and hastened to the IL
brary. 1t danced before his eyes be
tween the pages Of books. With
love-" That meant = history. And
she had the book now. There had
been either parting or a death.
Stupid! He had not guessed or
uiComcu. AHc icbGui Quict VI uei LAG
covered a dead secret.
He found himself. through the day
and as he walked home at night. re-
peating over and over. as II 1t were a
refrain: The ashes Of q dead love-"
Yes, that was what 1t was like-that
restfulness Of hers-passion burned
to ashes. Why had he never guessed?
And was 1t dead? Would she love
again?
The question stung him. He quick.
ened his pace. He had not thought Of
her before as a woman. And yet It
was strange that he had not 1t came
to him now that her womanliness was
her chief charm. But 1t was 80 part
Of her that he had never separated 1t
from her. That she should be thought
- "a A.