Evening star., 1909-04-24

The second piece was an equestrian
group: cowboy sadding his cayuse. It
was as true to the life as one of Fred
eric Remington's pictures: but for the
moment Nandenberg missed the artistic
triumph. seeing only the good-natured
grin on the face upturned under the wide
tapped sombrero. 1t was the face If
Peter of Tennessee.
DO you think it good likeness"
The voice-a voice low and musical,
but with a tone of laughing mockery in
it-came from behind.
Vandenberg wheeled quickly, stuffiuy
the damp cloth into his pocket in a con-
fused notion that it was his handker-
chef. Notwithstanding all that had gone
before, he had to look twice 10 be sure
that the radiant young woman framed
like a beautiful picture between the por-
there's was one and the same with his
lost love-so much may gown a Ia
mode and the twisted into the common
place English "Beecham."
But what were you doing at the
ranch.'
Just what you were doing at the
Castle Creek Inn; trying to recover from
an attack of nerves -
Vandenberg took the damp cloth from
his pocket and mopped his face with it.
The little alcove seemed suddenly to have
grown insufferably warm.
Il can only ask your forgiveness and
say goodbye. Miss Beauchamp." he said,
humbly. pocketng the cloth again and
holding out his hand.
forgiveness for what?'
The sweet singer at the piano finished
with trilling roulade and there was a
murmQr of applause and a decorous
clapping of hands.
For trying to play King Cophetua 10
your begg:s maid; in other words, for
m king an idiotic blockhead of myself"
Then you didn't mean what you said?
Is that what you want to be forgiven
for?"
Don't" he pleaded. Its Lard enough .
to know that l have lost you without
being reminded of all the different kinds
of laughing stock YOU were making
of me-"
He had the damp cloth out again, and
she took 1t from him gently and spread
it over Peter of Tennessee
THE honors are easy. are they not?'
she smiled. You found it a pleasure
pastime to make love to a young person
who, as Pete would say, didn't know
enough TO go in when it rained. And
the young person."
And the young person found it a
matter for mirth. l only wish your
diagnosis were the true one.'
Isn't 1t the true one?'
You know very we'll it is not. The
pastme part of 1t was all on your side
She looked up with the battling light
in the gray eyes.
preservation is the first law Of ma
ture, isn't it?'
He ignored the platitude. Il cannot
let you put it upon that ground. l am
the loser; you had nothing at stake" He
spoke hurriedly. The guest-tide was
flowing again and he heard Mrs. Calmaine
asking if any one had seen Miss Beau
champ.
How very positive you are," she said,
softly: 'positive-and ungrateful." She
was busying herself with the clay mod
els and the sweet face was averted.
At the words the heavens opened to the
besotted one and he beheld a vision.
''Madge-sweetheart-le me see your
eyes. Did you tell Mrs. Calmaine to ask
me here tonight?"
Since her answer was not in words, il
may not be written down here; but a
moment later. when Mrs. Calmaine lifted
the dropped portiere with a gasped-out.
well, of all things!" Miss Beauchamp
wa blushing piteously. and Vandenbers
had the air of man who pulls himself
together to meet crisis. And he met
it manfully.
Forgive me, my dear Mrs. Calmaine
Miss Beauchamp and 1 are old friends
and more; we are to be married in Sen-
tember. Will you be the first to con-
gratulate us?'
md when Mrs. Calmaine got her
breath she did it.