Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-11-04
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up were strange to his eyes. Ther"
was no one for him, and he had II
sudden. queer sensation OF not being
at home In the world-this In spite
of invitations from everybody he had
met Oh the ship-except one-the one
who mattered.
Mr.. Coolidge and several other IA
theirs and uncles Of pretty girls had ask
ed him to make their homes his home.
but he had taken Jim Harborough's
advice to heart and excused himself
warily. His Idea was to let New York
society pass before his eyes In review
before risking a premature entangle.
ment. To this course he committed
himself I'm cold blood. Since he could
not have Lesley Dearmer. all that mat
tered to him In q girl was decen
manners, decent looks and-many mil
lions.
He had planned moonlight fare
well for the night before, but Lesley
thwarted him by talking the whole
evening long with sporting youth
whom Val wrathfully stigmatized IN
his mind as suffering from motor BIZ
cycle face, bridge eye, clutch knee and
tennis elbow. Then when she had tired
Of her Irritation she went to bed.
Next morning 1t was only as the
Mauretania neared her slip that the
girl appeared again. Without seeming
to notice LOvelund she stood leaning
her elbows on the rail not far from
him. 1t occurred to Val that after all
1t was a matter Of no Importance to
her that their lives were TO be lived
apart. And the separation was at
hand. He had thought Of this hour.
but now it was here. He was going
to love her. Tomorrow and all the
tomorrows he would have no sweet.
merry, mysterious eyed friend to ad-
wise him and listen, half amused, half
IN earnest, TO his condolences.
Suddenly his heart fell like a large
cold boiled beet root In his breast. He
went and stood behind the girl, dumb
with strange new misery he could
not understand, and, as though she
had hear the 'unerring speech OF his
silence, she turned.
At first her beautiful brown eyes
flashed laughing challenge at him as
If they said: Wouldn't you like to
make me think you really care? But ]
don't think it and won't. And neither
do you care. We've both been play
ing"
Then something In his look softened
hers. She smiled kindly, though not
wholly without guile.
Aren't you excitedT' she asked.
"Why should 1 be excited" he
grumbled.
"Because-well. you're soldier and
know what war Is like. I've heard
that the most exciting thing which can
happen is a call to make a sortie III
the middle Of the night, in the midst
of dream-and on an empty stomach.
But | should think the call to matri-
monial sort.e"-
ION an empty purseT'
"Yes. when it's a question Of selling
yourself to fill It,"
81 don't mean to sell myself. l shall
still belong to myself and to one other.
I won't say who that other is, for I've
pretty well told you already"
Its no use pretending not to under
stand. l know what you want me to
think you mean"
IF l never knew before how much
/ do mean it know it now, when I've
got to say goodby.
Look here, Lesley-dO look at me-
I'm awfully cut up at leaving you"
You're not to call me Lesley"
"You can't prevent my calling you
Lesley to myself"
you'll soon forget the name"
"Never. can never forget you
worse luck. The thought Of you is 60
ing to come between me and-other
things"
1.-THE thought must learn better man
ners-not to butt in,' as we say over
here. Oh, it will soon be tanned. You'll
have 80 much to do"
II hope l SHALL" said Loveland. u
say, are you going to forget me as
soon as we're partedW
The girl was silent for a moment
Then she laughed. II shall make
note of you for my next story but
one" she answered.
you're not very kind"
"Are you sure you deserve KIND
ness?
"Pm sure l want it-from you"
"You have always got what you
wanted in your life, haven't you, one
way or anotherT
Life wouldn't be worth living If one
didn't"
"Oh, it's not much good saying to
you that that's selfish way Of look
ing at life. But you've never had any
lessons, and | suppose you never vii
have. You'll go on getting what you
want and taking 1t for granted thai
you ought to get 1t till the end"
II hope SO sincerely" said Val with
out shame. "But / shan't get one OF
the things l want most unless you
promise to write to me-"
She shook her head. II can't prom
Use that. / wouldn't If could. AS fol
getting your news, shall read 1t II
the papers, which are sure to chronicle
all Lord Loveland does and says and
lot he doesn't do or say. shall see
rumors of your engagement, then al
announcement. wonder II 1t will bt
the survival Of the prettiest-Mis'
Coolidge-or II you'll be knocked dow
II ~ u