The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-08

don't have to put up with such
sights" declared Aiire Clark, frigid-
-ly. even IL am only a 'iady-heip!'
Her companion muttefed something
between his teeth that sounded like
"Bosh!' but made no movement to
turn. Seated or a lower step. he
knew just how the face above him
was looking.
The sultriness of the closed house,
where for a Few days pending the
completion OF certain plumbing alter
ations h had been left sole oceu-
pant, had driven the girl to seek the
comparative freshness circulating
about the brownstone steps and there
JEFF REIN had found her when he
arrived To explain MS absence the
previous evening.
ut takes a woman to make a pyra-
mid out of a grain of dust" grumbled
he.
RS the accumulation of grains
that makes it." corrected the other.
Its not the first time you have NOR
tilted me before my friends. ex-
pected you right up TO the last
Il apologize, dear: / was finishing
some Did work
Leaving me to get home as best
/ could.
1T wasn't so late, and Grace was
with you. Besides. you're not tImid.
Haven't you, for the hest part N q
week. lived alone in this great house 2
MY meniai position. then. iustifies
your treating nc n such cavalier
fashion"
"Yoa know better" Rehnfs tenn
per was rising. THE grit you show
ed by putting you shoulder TO the
wheel in your family's emergency won
nay respect in the first place"
Unfortunately the girl was beyond
being Modified by soft speeches.
Acttons are the crucial test, and
measured 10y the standard formed by
recent association with her wealthy
employers family. with their social
n~icettes and easy courtesy. essential
or ornamental. plain. h~ard-working
JEFF REIN fell i~anentably short.
IF YOU consider me so little now
how would II he after marriage ." was
her protest.
Name the day and III show you"
Its no use. JEFF, ! wont marry
you, I'VE grown to crave those little
attentions, those social obligations that
are meaningless to ycu-and. anyway.
! don't feel I can rely on you"
A dull. thick red burned the mans
cheek. He rose.
''pid | ever fail yeu--when the
thing WIS of consequence"
His muscular hand trembled as ii
=eienched sthe halastrade. and for
a momen the girls resolution ~aver-
sd, but she drew cofdiy bach. -
"Iit say goodnight, as | must rise
early, The plumbers finished TO-DAY,
go I'm Joining the family In the
Ad~irondacks tomorrow
REIN scarcely heard, intent on one
point only. YOU mean it-yon won
marry me?"
Just that. Jen. But we can stITI
be friends"
Stunned by her decision. yet too
proud To show the depth 81 his wound
Rehn went heavily down the steps.
He did not look hack, even when he
reached the corne And with him
departed the girls anger. She shfv-
cred on entering the silent house.
Closing the door, she stood motion
less in the wide hall, the dim light
from a solitary burner falling on her
face, pale With seIf-questioning, What
had she done9 She had not seriously
intended a final break.
Methodlcaiiy she secured the bolts
before entering the elevator 10 as
cend to her room on the fourth fieor-
The machinery was controlled by eiec-
tricfty7 and she pressed the button
several times before the switch.
caught. The car rose with a jerk.