The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

cause Of her misery, standing there in the
flesh.
There was a knock az the door. and
( Lucy Chancellor hastily wiped her swoi-
! len eyes. She was about 70 call out that
f she was engaged and could see no one
when the doo- slowly opened and the
/ Honorable Res~ie peeped in With a
{ hearty laugh he walked right up TO where
E she was standing
What is II. Lucy. m dear7' drawied
+ the young nan. looking critically az the
/ red-rimmed eyes. Has the psrson John
nie been behaving badly? Hang It, wish
/ I had trounced the fellow in the Billiard
/ room
( She looked al him dreariiy- She could
not help contrasting this diminutfve
4 shaveling with the noble. handsome man
who had Just left her, and she could not
! conceal the look Of scorn on her face
You thrash him-you.' she said with a
laugh. hard and bitter. YOU
And why not. my Lucy2T answered
/ the younS Iordlins inlperturbably; par
( sons are all towards don't Y know"
Look here. Reggie. said the girl, with
a sudden movement. laying a nand on
/ his shoulder. You're a decent sort OF a
chap. We've had jolly times together.
/ haven't we?
Ripping. my dear he drawled. But
what the deuce is wrong. Lucy2 Are you
/ IN the dumps. or what"
He attempted playfully 20 take her lit
I tie hand. but she stepped quickly back
NO, Reggie she said. almost sadly;
no. dear boy: these days are over You
must leave this house OF laughter al
I once-to-morrOw II IS going to be a
house Of mirth no more"
"Oh. come, Lucy began the young
man in wonder. You're not IN earnest.
are you? Cad, Lucy, you're a bundle OF
! surprises
win il hurt you very much to-to so,
! Reggie2'' she asked. plaintively-
Hurt me- Not a bit Fact IS. Lucy,
In not going I'm not that kind Of new
potatoes. and I'll soon help you 10 get rid
] OF the blues. or whatever il is and once
more he attempted to take the hand Of
| the girl at his side.
But you are going. Reggie," he said,
calmly: the old ripping times are over"
Here's my answer. then. my angel. "
and before she was aware he had kissed
her on the cheek
With savage energy she hurled him
from her and the man staggered back
with a laugh. His foot became entangled
in a pile OF cushions on the floor and he
reeled and fell, striking his head on the
/ ccrner Of the table
But he was on his feet again IN an in
slant. and with his hand pressed TO his
temple he sank down on sofa
Reggie. you're not hurt, are your
cried the girl in alarm. as she saw the
blood trickle from the temple
Not much, dear he said in whisper.
Come and sit beside ne"
~Oh. what have I done2 What have
done?- she exclaimed. as she meehani-
caIiy obeyed his word.
He stole his arm gently around her
waist. looking into that pale, frightened
face with greedy eyes. Corner Of the
table is deuced sharp, don't y know" he
drawled: but, dear angel It has been
worth It."
She sprang to her feet. "Oh. Reggie.
you must not speak Ike that" she cried.
All right. m dear" he said, wiping
his brow. Then he looked al her with a
glance meant to be pathetic but which
was only maudlin You'll not have the
heart 10 send me away now. he said.
''Oh, don't speak Ike that" the girl
cried. 1T is more than I can bear, and
she fed from the room
Bal Jove." the man murH1ured: you
rever know women; they're demned fun
" things and with other words. which
were not edifying, ne strobe from the
room, holding his handkerchief TO his
head