New-York tribune., 1910-11-13

W11lUOW. y Wdu Sulllt IllICQ HllO uCI eyes
as she turned at last; but she lowered her
lashes as she spoke,
mo, Brooke, II must be going. It's
getting late. | shall be missed | told them
nothing at the Schuylers'. They'll think it
very strange. You must Please take me
over at once VIII you?"
He stood regarding her soberly. "Of
course, he said. We'll go over nov. Only
it seems as though | might do something to
make you happy. You We done so much for
mel \ brotherhood of consolation isn't far
removed from love itself
He had followed her to the table where
She was standing, her back to him, plucking
a rose from the centerpiece. At the last
shoulder But she turned away again, and he
noticed that the fingers that fastened the
rose into her blouse were trembling.
She answered him slowly, choosing her
words with care Don't try to deceive me,
or even Yourself Brooke. know. I've al
ways known. YOU loved Natalie. Do YOU
think for a moment believe you felt what
YOU said that night at Gerry's. I've had
that sort of thing said To me before. 1t had
false familiar ring. and of course it was all
nonsense. Only the presence of Others gave
1t a kind of half tragic dignity which made us
both think 1t meant more than IL pretend
ed" She turned and faced him mockingly.
"Oh, what difference does it make? don't
care what people think. So long as | know
it was only make believe, it can't hurt
either Of us. I'd be sorry to think YOU
could make such fool of yourself. Love
isn't the only thing in the world. There are
other things more valuable. They were the
| things liked in YOU. There didn't seem to
be any nonsense about you. FrivOlity
| doesn't become man of Your mold. Don't
lets be sentimental again. I'm not sure
want consolation. That's the danger of
| friendship between a man and woman.
| There's no telling in what kind of mawkish-
ness it will finish. Be my friend il you like;
but lets end it there Come, let's &c"
| There was a hard little ring in her voice as
she finished, and steel like glitter in her
eyes. She went past him through the door
and he followed, wondering in what he had
failed. Down the lawn they went silently
their thoughts janghng out of tune. This
seemed the inevitable end to their happieSt
hours; nor did they speak after they en-
barkcd except in short sentences.
SHE got out on the Schuylers' float, and he
followed her up the incline to the boat
| house; but she halted him there.
oud better not come back with me
now. Motor over for tea, if YOU like"
He nodded abstractedly, his face still
sober, his brow thatched with Il frown She
started away; then suddenly stopped.
1t YOU love woman why on earth don't
you tell her SOP she shot the question at
HIM like a thunderbolt
He raised his eyes, startled at her abrupt
ness, and dull red stained his brow Tell
her 50! II have told her so. She won't
she e, doesn't believe mel he stopped angrily
She was laughing again, this time with
frank delight which had no trace of innuendo
But she held up her hand with a gesture of
conclI1atlon. DON'T" she cried You
misunderstood me. | don't mean the woman
you like to love; | mean the woman YOU
love whether you want to or not. Imean
your wife! Has it never occurred to YOU
to tell her So?"
lie would not reply; but leaned against
the railing and looked seaward.
-, Thank me for the suggestion won't you3
Oh very well. But think it over. All wo-
men aren't so clever as | am. She can't
know unless YOU tell her. I'm sure she's
insane about YOU. I've thought SO for a
long time
She hpP1n ,,-,Il-al