The Washington herald., 1909-06-06


his. fellows. unjustly condemned to coventry
harrassing than any ever inflicted upon a
boy In school,
He finished his meal. He dawdled over his
hnger-bow and cigar, and saw that IN the alb
of further political news, the crowd in
front of the bulletin board had dispersed. He
was not even aware of the lateness OF the hour
that other guests had departed, until the vast
diningroom almost deserted, and the tired
seryitors idly waiting for the time of re-
lease. The alcove I'm which he sat parti-
toned into two parts by the inevitable screen
of artificial vines. With sense OF dsappoint-
ment that his evening had been no more profit
able he arose to his feet and was starting out,
when the soft rustic of moving garments and the
ndefBable sense of companionship warned him
that had entered the other section OF
the artificial bower. He started out STOPPING his
head to evade the leaves of a potted palm, and,
without knowledge of curiosity, glanced sidewise
toward the other window In the half darkness
Of the behind and outlined against light
from without, a detected little figure with listess-
ly-hanging hands and shoulder barred by the
unheeded slipping of opera-cloak stood staring
out into the night. His hands came in
quick, unconscious gesture of appeal, and he took
a step forward.
BILLY" he said almost in a whisper "Bllyl-
1t is your"
THE girl at the window started as though
aroused from sleep by strdent shouts. Her
hands together before her, clasped themselves
convulsivly on her breast, and she faced him with
wild startled eyes and hafparted lips, her head
thrown little forward, while the opera cloak,
down.bordered and ilmy, fell at her feet
me! Is il not enough" She stopped, IL at
loss for words He had started toward her with
outstretched arms, his loneliness, his heartburn
ger and his eagerness depicted upon his face, in
his attitude in his impulsive movement; but, in
her voice, in her gesture in her unfinished speech
was barrier that brought him to a halt There
was instant of silence and of waiting, in
which to him the very air pregnant with an
other accusation.
Quite slowly, her slender white fingers unlocked
themselves and he saw that they were bare OF
ornament, that the flashing gem, the
blem of their troth, gone-gone hls
eagerness, his impulse to take her in his arms,
to voice his lonely cry for sympathy The place
was still--so still that the noises from without
the window, the distant clamor of the streettraf-
hc the strident calls all the twisting turbid
movement OF life waited up palpably and
distinct in infnity of individual sounds. An
undefendable blow full in the face could have
checked him more than did her attitude. AS
If dams of repression had burst before ungovern-
able freshets OF emotion she threw her head
back, and took step toward him. And now,
she spoke, her hands shut themselves in anger,
and were held tightly beside her rounded hips.
'You dared to follow me--to look at me-to
speak to me- after what you have done?" she
whispered, rather than spoke. what right have
you? What justification you find after
you" she hesitated, IL seeking some ultimate
lash of scorn with which to scourge him-"after
you lied to me-lied say-lied, as you did2"