The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-09-14

Morgan placidly sewing by the opeI
window and Carlotta leaning forwart
in the old mahogany divan listening
fntently to whatever he had to say
her face rejecting her interest
For grown man, DR.. Duval was
very boyishly homesick and heart
sick. Gertrude Whitcomb parted from
him at the hotel with some irritation
The trip home had been dull She hac
exerted herself for man so ad
stracted that he had scarcely answer
ed. Still, she comforted herself, II
was because of his disappointment
She really did not imagine he had
been so desperately devoted to her!
1t was rather pleasing on the whole
And in very satisfied frame of mind
she turned to the question of what
gown she should wear down to din
ner for the delectation of the other
! guests.
| DR.. Duval at the same time was on
a car speeding out toward the ram
bling cottage. 1t was almost like old
times to be- so welcomed and fused
ever and graciously forgiven for his
winters desertion.
You are SO busy with your work,
we understand" Mrs. Morgan had said
as she got out his favorite preserves.
And Carlotta, the wistfulness of
whose face was hidden from him by
Its Joy in his presence, was like some
graceful white wrath in the shadows
of the big room.
Il had forgotten" he told her with
the privilege of lifelong acquaintance
how wonderfully pretty you were,
Carlotta! What have you been doing
with yourself? You seem to shine"
Don't talk about me" begged the girl,
nervously. A great fear was hers lest
this stupid, laundering man should
discover it was her happiness in see
ing him again that had transformed
her. Tell me of yourself, of what
has happened to you this winter!"
He had come to tell them-selfishly
to demand comfort for his wounds
yet he held his tongue. A dim sense
that he had no right to appropriate
this sweet understanding and ready
sympathy so ruthlessly was struggling
to consciousness, a realization brought
to light by absence that Carlotta was
personality, not merely a haven of
refuge.
1t was a comfort just to watch the
curves of her face, the brooding light
in her eyes. BY contrast his memory
of Gertrude Whitcom's face showed
1t brilliantly taunting, a little cold and
hard
He stayed late at the Morgans, and
when he left he felt oddly contented
and at peace for a man whose heart
had only that afternoon been broken.
He was surprised when next he saw
Miss Whitcomb that he felt none Of
the bitter resentment which had at
first been his at her refusal. In some
strange way that fever had burned
itself out as though a cool hand had
banished it utterly. He simply did
not care. She was just as beautiful
and fascinating as ever, but his ro-
nance had crashed that afternoon in
the foothills and he had no desire to
pick up the broken pieces. She was
too glittering for comfort, and she had
hurt his pride by her carelessness.
Nothing cures mans devotion as
does a stab at his pride. Besides,
Carlotta's smile stayed in his memory.
1t was not, as he argued to himself
some weeks later in a sort of Mortified
dismay, that he was tickle and a man
of unstable affections-it was simply
that he had been under a spell, luckily
now broken, and had gone back to
where he belonged.
Having once found his welcome in
the rambling cottage, he found him.
self drawn there irresistibly oftener
than in the years before 1t was abb
sence, he told himself, that had
awakened him and shown him Car
lottas real loveliness, her sweetness
and womanly sympathy. And when,
half tearfully, before the summer was
over and when Gertrude Whitcomb
was only vague memory. DR.. Duval
told Carlotta Morgan he loved her, he
realized he had always loved her and
always should
Il don't deserve anything so won.
derful," he told her, "as that you
should care about me, Carlotta, I've
been stupid in many ways-but I'm in
my right mind now."
i've always cared" she told him
simply. For a moment she hesitated.
The previous winter. when he had
deserted the cottage, often troubled |
her. But with all her sweetness Car.
lotta Morgan had clever instincts !
That winter was past and he was
hers now for always, and she was the |
rare woman who knows when not to
question.
The night fragrance of roses floated /
In through the open window as they !
talked of the future in serene happi-
ness. In the mans heart was thank
ful and wondering content that things
we're as they were, and in Carlottas
nothing except that she loved him.