Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-30
CHAPTER XII.
Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire
TN spite of the instinct that had warned him
I that the life of these luxurious people was r
not for him. Brooke Garriott had yielded
at last to the petitions of his social mentor,
and had reluctantly promised to 60 on Thurs
day night to the Gerry Schuylers, who were
giving tete ehamtetre. Natalie and her hus-
band at daggers drawn. His relations
with her scarcely improved by the de-
parture of De Land, and the business inter-
view she had grudgingly granted him had re-
suited as he had fOreseen in further msunder-
standing. He had delivered his message in
coldly impersonal Manner but she had angrily
cut him short
eff Mr.. Northrop wishes to give me the
benefit of his advice" she had stormed at him,
"let him come to himself l don't
recognize your right to question my habits ,
my plans"
Il don't question them. 1 simply state
facts. Youv already spent your balance and
most of mine. I'll have enough, of course;
but should suggest"
You'll pardon me, but I prefer to choose
my own advisers. I've doubt that there
will be way to find more money. And c
least what spend will not be wasted in idle a
experiments | shall live l have always
done, for myself and for my friends" -
There was nothing left to be said. Brooke
Garrott had bowed and left the room chilled and dsu
stoned However valiant his bearing in her company. in
secret he wrthed at the outcome of their He
could not understand how he still loved her when every
it that still chained him? Her beauty? 1t could not be
that Her charm? Hardly Or was it only pque be-
cause he had not her. Measured by the intensity
OF his own feelings, he knew 1T was something fate
full than these 1t seemed though he alone had peered
into the depths of her spirit and caught there gmpses
of secret virtues of warm kindly impulses of honely
goodness, purity and moral courage. They were every
birhrght If she lost them her way through
the mazes of life, the fault was with society.
He was shrewder judge of men than of women; but
it seemed very certain that the ways she choosing
could lead only to misfortune If Natalie had betrayed
sign of weakness in her relations with him, that
only indication of the degree of her dislike for him.
and LATIN rhore do
her better left unthought Of Only side of her
character had been revealed to him. but whether the
other to prove fair ugly his duty clear She
was his wife. He must trust her. If evil came he must
take his share of the blame.
A BBY KEMPTON caught him on the rebound When
he left the library he sent note to her rooms:
The Vas-y is waiting. Won't you go with me?
And in half hour, dressed in lannels and motor
cap, she joined him on the terrace. Soon they were
flying toward the harbor mouth in the little craft the
foam flying high about them the low counter settled
down into the seas which fled astern as the Vas-y
SKINNED like disk out toward the open waters of the
sound, past the stately Alicia, where sailors leaned
over the rail and watched them go by. The engine
hummed merrly, and the increasing vibrations showed
that 1t was going its best PAGES.
Even CARROTS professional interest in the perform
not proof against the attractions of his COM
panion. who looked more than usually handsome and
amiable The puzzled wrinkle at his brows had told her
of discontinue and by contrast to the cool enmty
of his wife her frendness seemed attractive than
ever Friendship was the greatest thing in the world,
he thought Friendship after all, only love bridled.
It seemed certain now that his friendship with Mrs.
Kempton had qualities that almost atoned for his other
misortunes. She asked him questions; but talked
to him galy, so that in awhile he as gay as she.
With rare if mordant humor she went the faings
and foibes of the people he had met to meet,
sparng none not even her husband or herself.
I'm afraid Jack has degenerated since you knew him
at college think I've had bad effect him. It's so
easy to degenerate society offers many convent
ences for establishment I'm that in another age
Jack would love quite madly ever; but this
isn't the century of romance. Love is only a mood