Evening star., 1909-02-28


a hash of our lives like this? l want you! l
love you! can't get along without you! Won't
you gi We up the struggle and come back to me,
dear?"
"Oh. you are making it so hard-so hard |!
And just minute ago it seemed so easy!" she
answered miserably. "But after that bank &C
count-and in my name! Oh, l can't SIM
ply can't! 1t seems such a cowardly thing to
do"
He got up and went round to her. 81 sha mt
twit you with it, Ju, if that's what you mean!
he said, great tenderness in his voice, and
greater one in his face and eyes. Come back
to mel Won't you, dear? I'm not asking it be-
cause YOU have failed and l am plying you;
I'm asking it because l want you, because l
can't live out the rest of my life without you:
And-I'm m not going to try. Fighting the world
is no game for woman, Ju. Cant you see that
there's fate about it that makes all the prizes
60 to the men, whether they are worthy OF them
or not? Even in your own field, there's that
big, hulking brute of John Lefingwell slash
ing and cutting into subjects like mad giant
and selling his books by the thousand, while
you-poor little you!-wear cleaned gloves and
dyed frocks and all the other outward signs OF a
useless struggle"
SHE let her hands fall and looked up at him
- "You think | have failed?" she said IN a
shaking voice. You think that because there
is a John Lefingwell in the field there is no
room for Judith LEROY? Well, you are right !;
that's why he was born, Jim She got up sud
denly and stood before him with palms turned
outward lin, the big, hulking brute whose
books sell by the thousand is before you!
am John Lefingwell!"
He stepped back and looked at her in silence,
his lips indrawn, a curious pallor on his face,
queer choked feeling in his throat. On tnen'
of course you don't need me- he said with a
harsh little laugh. and went back to his place
on the other side of the table. -! suppose
that's what you meant when you said : cant,
and that it seemed cowardly thing to do Well,
it was. didn't think it was IN you: -,
Didn't think what was in me, Jim!
THAT sort of thing,-the soiled trock, the
ing" he said bitterly. "You needn't have put
them on Just for the pleasure of this thing, Ju;
I'd have made fool of myself and asked you
to come back if you had worn the robes and
not help it,"
"And you thought dressed like this Just for
your benefit, you funny old Dollops?"' she said
with a laugh that had shake IN it. And you
don't want me after all? You are going to
throw me over at the last minute! Shall l
only evening frock have to my name; and
wear it because haven't the money to buy an
other. Would you like to see John Lefhng-
wells bankbook? If 1 had it. I'd show it to
you His account is overdrawn."
"Oh. that's piffie, Ju! John Lef6ngwel must
oA -~0o o---O~
years"
"Oh, well, John Leffingwell is very extrava-
CANT person." she answered, with an uneasy
laugh She had got on dangerous ground, and
it frightened her.
And yet has only one evening frock, and
wears cleaned gloves? What an idiot you must
think me! You must have made thousands OF
dollars What could you have done with it
one woman-alone?"
"Oh, spent it one way and another; and
Io1pf Of toll of If
getting rather late, and l am tired. If you
don't mind calling cab for me" reaching out
for her cloak, IN say good night and 60 home
do you keep up much of an establishment!
he asked, fixing her with his straight looking
eyes Does your money 60 in that sort OF
thing? Or-no, it couldn't, unless you dressed
in accordance. Where do you ive!"
"Oh, in the same little old house where we
lived-and parted" she answered uneasily.
-" But what is the use of talking now when l am
tired? Won't you order the cab for me, please!"
Il have rung for it" he answered, Wait
here minute while step out and settle the bill
l am going home with you"
She stepped back from him in sort of panic,
and the fear In her eyes wrung him. No,
thank you. l don't need any escort. jim" she
said. 1T is very kind of you; but"
Il am going home with you'll" he repeated,
looking her straight in the eyes.
No Jim please! Not tonight! To-mor-
row, yes, any time tomorrow: but not to-
night Please, for my sake!"
l. l am going home with you'll" he said for the
third time, opened the door, and walked out.