New-York tribune., 1910-02-27

voice coming down the long length OF the Dim, last
darken1ng room
Mercy! Ted are you keeping Blind Mans Holi
dav?" it said gaiy " You not attempting to
read by this light, are you! OJeebl why don you
light the lamp for your master? You are growing
very negligent of late. This half-dusk IS fr1ghttully
trying to the eyes.
oh is that YOU Kit" said Lessington recog-
nizing the voice No I'm not reading, and don't
light, thanks rather like this sort of thing
if YOU don't mind.
Mind Goodnessl Why should [ mind if it
suits you2 What funny, growy old Teddy Bear
YOU are!' Then came rustic of silken things over
the soft thick carpet, breath OF perfume the move
ment of a radiant shadow across the space where
the open window cut rectangle of skyhght IN the
gathering gloom, and the soft dropping down OF
Something all sken and scented that huddled up
like kitten beside the bed and laid a sheaf of cool
fragrant flowers beside the pillow How is my
growlv-wowly boy this evening? Better! I've
brought you some more of those roses YOU admired
SO much the day before yesterday, Ted dear. What
are YOU staring at the wall for, you stupid boy?
Turn your grumpy old face this way 50 / can kiss
you. Or would you rather | should not?
Lessington twitched round his head suddenly and
look at her did the business Just as it had done
it for him that day three years ago when he had
looked upon her for the first time. ''Oh, Kit" he
said, putting out his and pulling her head
down close to his. You do for me- don't you,
dear? I'm nothing but useless human hulk these
days; but you do for me still? ust little
care for you!'' She put her fluffy yellow head
down into the curve of his neck and made queer
sort of sound then lifted it suddenly and laughed,
flirting back loose strand of hair with hand that
dashed something from her eyes in passing. VIII
of course | care, Tedi I've always cared, and L a
WAYS shall. Who has been putting silly ideas li6
that into your head:
T ESSINGTON moved uneasily. His eyes shifting
- from hers sought the wall and began following
the zigzag lines OF the pattern which ran up 1t
and lost themselves in the gloom overhead 1t was
not to put into words the ungraC1OuS thoughts
that beset him in the face of that challenging oOk;
it was not easy hint of doubts and misgvngs with
that soft, warm hand laid lovingly over his own
True she might be the Ceverest actress in all the
world the most heartless of wives, the most adroit
of dissmulatOrs; but when she spoke and looked
like that
oh l don't know he answered evasvely
Nobody, of course; it's Just fancy. One gets
fancies YOU know, when one lies here like this hope
less, out of the world and with no chance of ever
being of 1t again. Oh with sudden rebellious out
burst that knotted his brows and made his thin
pale hands tighten, Its not right It's not iust
What did [ ever do to anybody to merit punishment
like this Why should have been smitten who
had so much to live for, and others who would
gladly have died be left to struggle on? 1t is not
right tell you 1t is not just
"Tedl' the soft hand closed tighter, with the gen
You mustn't, dear! You only upset yourself
necessarily. Try to bear it bravely there's good
boy. Try to remember that it might have been
worse much worse, dear, fOr-me,'
- But not for mel" he fling back irritablv. 1T
would have been better for me if it had finished me
altogether! Why didn't it, What was the use of
sparng my life, if might never do anything more
with it? Struck down in the very flower of nv
youth. Struck down in the moment of my greatest
triumph, on the very threshold of the biggest coup
l had ever designed in all my lfe!"
" But, dear YOU carried it to success lust the
same Remember YOU had designed everything so
well that able to close up the deal for YOU You
muStn t get to thinking that because YOU were not
able to take active part in the after affairs of the
Milling q Mining Company, anybody but you actr-
ally carried it to success ANYBODY but YOU really
million q us h II Try 10