New-York tribune., 1910-11-06
The Bo1ted Door
Continued lron' 1lge 9

trenchant weapon! | don't think can ever
look him in the face again. l, | have any re-
grets on your account, they are locked IN my
heart OF hearts, and are OF no interest 20 any
one in the world but me.
1t would be foolish for either Of IS 70 try
20 disguise the exact nature OF our sentimental!
relations. If circumstance has thrown Us TO
gether and made you more or less dependent
upon me, it does not blind me 20 the TACT that
YOU are more in love with Natalie than ever
That is true. my friend. I suppose that after
those few mad moments IN the pavilion YOU
might be tempted TO Salve my feelings by deny
ing it. Don't bother. Women have been
kissed before and have lived 10 tel the story
| fancy | shall.
Though there won't be much need OF my
telling it now. since in some way the pretty
gossip is in circulation. II must have been De
Land; for of course Natalie would remain 81
lent. l suppose II was too good 70 keep Even
poor Jack is perturbed. He has been quite ex-
citing. When / left the Grange I came 70 our
place here. Jack followed. He's as sullen as
a dog with bone. He has been asking me
vague questions which | anSwe- as vaguey.
fancy he's somewhat chastenet. I don't know
why. and | don't care why I don't seem %
care about anything. l uUS- DC tlred' 50 l
think | had better sleep
Goodnight, VuIcan-tha- slipped from my
pen. Perhaps it's as Vulcan / Ike you pest
though Vulcan did win Venus AFTER all didnl
he2 Be good. my friend. Whao next YOU 90
questing kisses choose a lonely Uo-nralntop al
the dark OF the moon. Ak
CARRIOTT sat deep in his chair while ne
- read and reread the pages She had prom
ised to write him when he LETT the Granse
the dav that followed Mrs. Schug .erS party
The spirit of the letter was her, and II re-
freshed him as though it had been vSi.
from herself; but the serious nee that mad
often echoed in their relation appeaIed
more inSiStently here. She fel- her position
keeulv He read that in ever inc. she
had always been so ready with Snter al
the CapriCeS of her frivolous sisters that tne
revelation of her own frailty made more
deleCtable this mOrSel which ad been
thrown broadcast among her dear I'VE nun
dred friends.
In the week that had elapsed B-o0ke had
found himself wondering what MS vie was
thinking; but he realized that his deepest
concern had been for the happiness u AOoy
Kempton He would have given an ,rrn 70
spare her further humiliation and had
thought of and rejected hundred WdyS 20
accomplish that end. NatalieS teelinsS
mattered less There had been times when
ONLY her wOmanhOOd and his tOlerance had
protected her from sharp passages .fc IN
FAINT romance was dead for lack OF Nc triSE-
rnent. Mrs KemptOn had never beer, Will
INC 10 believe that. He had sworn II, but
she ONLY laughed at him. What was the
instinct -hat uat always pat her on the de-
fe1sive with him. even until the very mo-
nent when the chase ended, She "as i7 ms
arms. and the spell had been broken On
that risr- he had found a way past all heI
batteries.
The one thing that stood ou- nos .siy
in his mind was his duty -' --t ne
mad moment as she had rc To Aad
passed. and he saw her again -L al
wavs seen her at the t'rloSv -r ,a JoWh'
whimsical and satirical by -~rus- "ocNlns
at the faults OF Others, and b.cs~ee-y IoleI-
ant of his own Her letter showed nat She
was still untamed, and. while 1er license
still availed against himself Il eeeIned AS
though all the rest of the wor.- had oeen
let into the secret of her folly. Curse theu'
Was there no way To stop thclr prdttlng
tongues? He rose ImpatIenty anI WaIAeu
TO the window He had made = pretty mess
of things from the beginning. and he Scei'leu
TO have an infinite capacity tor bringing
Others in 10 bear the burden ot hrs mistakes;
He had learned a lesson at the cost OF dH
hope OF happiness. There were only wv
things left: to repair damages as best
might. and 10 work IS he had never worAeu
before.