The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-10-30

SFtEs IEaC Barring Clio know some Se-
cret OF Rutherford's that should be
a bar to his marriage with Anna Clar-
endon. Barring might be bound in hon
or not to betray his friend. and yet he
might feel privileged to school Anna
/ 10 the mysteries of character reading
for her own protection But this was
! mere guesswork on my part The facts
IN the case came to my knowledge
| presently.
About noon of the next Saturday
Barring and Rutherford met accidental
~ In that little piece of pandemonium
that lies at the New York end of the
brooklyn bridge. Rutherford was aboos
to descend the stairs to the subway.
and Barring had just come up.
i hear that you're going out to the
/ Stuarts for the week end" said Ruth
erford.
Barring shook his head.
No" said he; Il was asked, but
I'm not going. In fact. old man, I'm
not going anywhere any more
What do you mean by that?"
Simply that the world is the world
and | am poor" answered Barring.
All my friends are rich. | can't
make money. so must give up my
friends. From him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which
he hath When General Clarendon
came into his brothers vast posses
sions the last link was broken that
bound me TO society, My patrimony
Is too small to mention. Pm a poor
author; that's the size of me. MY
apartments are not garnet. but it's
quite the same thing in these days.
''The Clarendons''
Il know it. They're the last people
in the world to found distinction
upon a difference Of fortune But
they're not doing it you see I'm do
ing it.
Il used TO think you were rather
fond of Anna" said Rutherford. with
more feeling than the simple words
seemed to call for.
Il was and am and ever shall be.
answered Barring. but my hopes ex-
tend no further than that she may
marry good man.. And he looked
straight into Rutherfords eyes.
Rutherford laughed in an embar-
raised fashion as he shifted his
glance
"Confound your parlor magic" said
he. I've seen 50 much Of it that
can't bear to have you look at me.
4 don't see anything that you need
be ashamed Of responded Barring.
.Then wish me WE'LL said Ruthef
ford Wish me well tomorrow.
Barring understood Miss Clarendon
was TO be at the Stuarts for the week
end. and Rutherford had resolved to
try the hazard Of his happiness.
I'm to meet Anna on the platform
below" said Rutherford after a pause.
"She has been at her fathers Office.
We're going uptown together and then
to the Stuarts on the 2 O'Clock train
with some others Of the party /
must hurry. | should not have de-
layed SO long Il is possible that
Anna may be already on the platform
J Walk along down with me.
They went down the stairs together
and as far as the ticker office. where
Barring babe his friend goodby As he
turned back toward the stairs he saw
Miss Clarendon descending
He was not IN the mood TO meet
her. and so he stepped aside into the
: mouth Of a gallery that olens from
the main passage. She passed close
to him. but did not see him. though
for a moment she seemed to look al
most straight into his face He OBJ
served her keenly An overnsastering
impulse had taken possession Of him.
and he exerted ali the power of his
singular gift. developed BY years Of
patient study. She was on her war
to meet Willis Rutherford. of whose
love for her it was impossible that she
should be unaware. Unless she lacked
the intuition of her sex she must
knew that he was on the very verge
of a declaration. The next few hours
would bring her the happiness of love
confessed. If indeed she loved. Could
sha Gerry this knowlaage in her heart
and not reveal 1t to such an observer
as Baring2 In mere sport be had read
trivial secrets in her face. Could he
fail to read 4 secret which IS often
a1nusingIy clear even to unframed
eyesg
Experience whispered 20 him that
the moment was exceptionally oppor-
tune. The girl was hairying to meet
Rutherford Surely If she cared for
him his image would be clear in her
mirsd. And haste itself relaxes fhe
habitual control whereby We oyerlay
what is simple and natural with what
is conventional
Unconscious of his presence. she
passed him and was gone Barring
put up his hands to his eyes and lean
+ ed for Il moment against the tiled wall
OF The gallery. Shame and anguish
swept over him like a bitter flood. He
had spIed upon the woman be loved
/ The long INDUCED habit Of his Pc
euliar study had tempted him with
fhp sudden thoughf of an achievement