The Washington herald., 1910-07-01

He's lying on the upper stairsr' Betty
cried. and we all ran out Il was quite
true. Dial was lying on the stairs in
bath robe. with one OF Jims Indian war
clubs in his hand And he was sound
asleep.
He looked somewhat embarrassed when
he reused and saw US standing around
He said he was going TO play a practical
joke on somebody and fell asleep in the
middle OF Il. Anne said ne wasn't even
an intelligent liar. and went back TO bed
IN a temper But Betty came in with
me, and we sat and looked at each other
and didn't say much. The situation was
beyond US.
The doctor let Jim out the next day
there having been nothing the matter
with him but a stomach rash. But Jim
was changed; he mO0ned around Bella
OF course. as before, but he was alb
stracted at times, and all that day
Sunday-he wandered of by himself, and
one would come acloss him Unexpectedly
IN the basement or along some of the
unused back halls
Aunt Selma held service that morning
Jim said that he always had q prayer
hook, but that he couldn't find anything
with so many people In the house So
Aunt Selma read some religious poetry
out OF the newspapers. and gave us a
valuable talk on deception versus hon
esty. with me as the illustration.
Almost everybody took a nap after
luncheon. 1 stayed in the den and read
Ibsen, and felt very mournful- And
after Hedda had shot herself. / lay down
on the divan and cried a little-over
Hedda; she was young and il was such
Ia tr-a=y II 7 F,tr
When 1 Weakened Mr. HARRISON was
standing by the table, and he held my
book in his hands In view of the armed
neutrality between US. I expected to see
| him bow to me eurtly, turn on his heel
and leave the room. Indeed, considering
his state of mind the night before, I
should hardly have been surprised if he
had thrown Hedda at my head. CThis is
not a pun. l detest them) But instead.
when he heard me move he glanced over
at me and even smiled a little.
"sho wasn't worth il. he said. indicat-
Ing the book
Worth what?''
Your tears. You were crying over it,
weren't your
She was very unhappy" I asserted
indifferently. she was married and she
loved some one else
do you really think she dido" he ask
ed. And even so. was that a reason? p
THE other man cared for her; he may
not have been able to help it,
But he knew that she was married. -
he said virtuously and then he caught
my eye and he saw the analogy instantly.
for he colored hotly and put down the
book
Most men argue that way" I said.
They argue by the book. and-they DO
as they like"
He picked up a Japanese ivory paper
weight from the table, and stood bal
ancing 1t across his finger.
You are perfectly right" he said at
last. II deserve 1t all. My grievance is
at myself Your-your beauty and the
fact that I thought you We're unhappy,
put me-beside myself It is not an ex-
cuse 1t is weak explanation. l will
not forget myself again.
He was as abject as any one could have
wished. 1t was my minute of triumph.
but 1 cannot pretend that was happy,
Evidently it had been only passing i'm
pulse. If he had really cared, now that
he knew I was free he would have for
gotten himself again at once. Then a
new explanation occurred 10 me. Sup
pose it had been Bella all the time, and
had been married.
THE fault of the situation was really
mine" I said magnanimousIy: Il quite
blame myself. Only. you must believe
one thing You never furnished US any
amusement" 1 looked at him sidewise.
THE discovery that Bella and Jim were
once married must have been a great
shock"
1T was a surprise" he replied evenly.
His voice and his eyes were inscrutable.
He returned my glance steadily. 1t was
infuriating ~ have gone halfway to meet
him. as / had. and then TO find him In
trenched in his self-sufficiency again !
got up.
1T is unfortunate that our acquaint-
ance has begun so unfavorably." / re-
marked, preparing 10 pass him. Under
other circumstances we might have been
friends"
There is only one solaee,' he said.
When We do not have friends. we cam
not loss them"
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.