New-York tribune., 1910-12-25

gr1fnly- anu DOuRut SOiAO VI eIOoO Di6'
feathery, yellow chrysanthemums that Dick
loves. a bushel of them, for his den, for the
table, for that queer old silver vase you gave
us that he adores so, for everywhere. And
suddenly, as was following buttons to
the taxi, l thought of you. You were my
salvation! You had never failed me! You
would help me out' She sank back in her
chair, as tired with her recital as was at
it, and looked at me expectantly.
Il told you, Betty, that had an engage
ment. one that means a lot to me, more than
your foolish little head ever could tathom,-
a little bit of sunshine in the monotonous
drab of my existence. And, L glanced at
my watch, Il intend to keep it.
'"Oh, Elinor," she leaned forward in sud
den terror, you're not going to leave me!
II is almost time for Tom to be here. Think
what all this means to me, think what 1t
might mean to Dick,-his whole happiness,
my whole happiness, perhaps. You always
said you liked him a lot" could have slain
her for the hurt she was giving me. Wont
you do this little bit of thing for h1mf
All | ask you to do is to break an engage
ment.
| Again l looked at my watch. l saw the
tiny second hand 60 round once, twice, three
times four times. "I'll break it, l said
coldly.
RETTY beamed. "You angel" she
"Never mind about that" 1 interrupted
roughly but, before | do want to tell
you that it is women like you, selflshly weak,
childishly impulsive, who make all the trou-
BILE in the world, who are infinitely more
dangerous than vicious women who get INTO
tangles, and expect other people to sacrifice
themselves in order to undo the knots" L
positively snapped at her.
Betty stared at me in astOnlshment-as
she had said, was in horrid mood,
"Now remember" l went on, not a
word of any of this to Dick-on your honor!
| don't want any credit for anything. Not
a word of your foolishness, of my rescue
work, not word! Prornise?"
Il promise" whimpered Betty.
"On YOUR hOnor?"
"On nv honor!" said Betty solemnly.
I'm no Good Samaritan, and I'm not
looking for the job" said Grossly. There's
Tom Sanford now. Sit here and talk to
him while 1 60 telephone" And, without
so much is a glance at Tom, off l stalked.
HELLO! This you? Yes, this is Elinor.
~ Have you been waiting there long?...
Oh, I'm so sorry! Say, I've done the most
awful thing l hope you'll forgive me.
Never remembered until few minutes ago
that l had another engagement for this
noon. What do you think of me? I'm
sorry, terribly sorry. l had looked forward
to seeing vou-it's been such long time.
1t was awfully good of you not to have for
gotten me. Very nice of you to say that.
Il don't know what | could have been
thinking of this morning when you called
me up and 1 said yes. Yes, know. That
comes of not keeping datebook. What's
that? l don't understand. With whomo
oh, with Tom Sanford. oh, shame!
That's not pretty word! oh, no, not so
bad as that! He's all right in his way-very
useful sometimes. BY the way, Dick. my
congratulations. Yes, congratulations.
Betty's just been telling me-. L say, she's
Just been telling me-. Betty, yes, your
e-B-E-T-T-Y-don't you know her
name YETI. Just been telling me that to-
day is an anniversary. Yes, she's here at
the Kmckerbocker. l blew in here for
minute and ran across her. We've been
having a nice little visit. Yes, indeed,
mighty well. prettier than ever. So glad !
she's sticking to brown! Listen, Dick L