Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-22

silver dollar for the waiter. The Cool
idges and their party we're still at the
violet-decked table as Loveland passed
by. but he did not see them. He had for
gotten their existence.
Papa, the major has done it, ex-
claimed Elinor Coolidge, looking across
at her father. who sat between Mrs. Mil
ton and Fanny.
Yes, he has done it," replied Mr.. Cool
idge, smiling the wooden smile which was
| Of fair, carved ivory when reproduced on
the beautiful face Of his daughter Il
don't know what's come over the major
since this morning. He seemed to love
that Englishman like a son, on board the
Mauretania; but tonight he fairly jumped
out Of himself with joy when he heard
Van Cotter's piece of news"
I'm sure we were all as nice as we
could be to Lord-to him." faltered Fanny
Milton, who had drained the lake from
her eyes when no one was looking, but
only to make way, it seemed, for a new
supply of salt water.
'Oh. speak for yourself, FANNY" said
Mrs. Milton, with her exaggerated Eng
lish accent "As for me, l.
why, mamma. you were just lovely to
him every minute!' cried the girl, de-
Tending herself briskly. IF you weren't
married. with grown-up daughter. peo-
pie might have thought you were In love
with him yourself sometimes.'
NONSENSE retorted Fanny's mother,
darling FURIOUS look at her child. The
way you talk shows you're not grown
| up"
ceited young man 1 ever saw" broke in
Elinor Coolidge. II could have boxed his
ears often, and 1t would have served him
right. l just enjoy this. It's like u
play"
Elinor,'' said Fanny And 1 don't see
how you can feel that way. He looks so
pale-it makes me sick to think what he's
got to go through, poor fellow, and he's
SO handsome! Did you ever see anything
as beautiful as he looked just now when
he went stalking by us with his head
high. and his face pale, and his eyes like
blue fire."
II certainly never saw a British lord
as handsome. They don't make 'em like
that said good-Iooking Henry van Cot
ter; and then they all laughed-all ex-
cept Fanny Milton. She was wondering
what Lesley Dearmer would do If she
were here tonight. instead of tearing
away toward Louisville as fast as an ex-
press train could carry her. Lesley had
been Loveland's friend, in quite an un-
pretending, humble little way, knowing
that she was no match for him and never
She thought of such odd, original things
to do. Would she do anything odd and
original If she were here now? And If
she did. would 1t be for or against the
man who was down!
AS 1t happened, Lesley was thinking Of
Lord L-oveland at that very moment Per-
haps 1t was kind of telepathy which
brought her image so clearly before
Fanny Millions eyes: for Lesley's
thoughts included Fanny.
1t was not yet time for the colored por-
tiers to begin making down. the beds in
the sleeping cars. and Lesley and her
aunt sat opposite one another, each with
a book in her hand. Mrs. Loveland had
q story OF the south, as she could dimly
remember It, before the civil war. and
she was reading with interest half sad
half pleased. Lesley had novel. too,
one which had been making quite sem
sation while she was in Europe, and her
aunt had bought 1t for her in the Grand
Central station, before taking the train
She had often said that she would like
to read the book, but now, though her
eyes Travelled from one line to another
and she mechanically turned page here
and there, she did not even know no
names Of the characters, or what they
were saying or doing.
| The painting of the great engine and the
rushing roar of the wheels had come to
have a refrain for her. Never again
| never again." she heard them say, as IL
the words were shouted spitefully into
her ears. Never see him again-never
| again. He'll forget you-forget you. Soon
| he'll marry-marry some rich girl
| Then she wondered who the rich girl
| would be. Elinor Coolidge, perhaps? Eli
nor was very rich, and very beautiful, and
! already very proud Everything about
! her was superlative. A great many glow
| ing descriptive adjectives were called for
when one thought about Elinor, and Les
| leys experience as a story writer had
made her expert with adjectives-pain-
| fully expert, 1t seemed now, as her imag-
nation ran ahead-even ahead Of the rush
ing train-to picture Elinor as a bride.
'Oh, I'm sure she wouldn't make him
happy! Lesley thought, and then asked
herself whether Lord Loveland deserved
| to be happy.
| No, of course he didn't deserve happi-
ness with a girl he married for money.
| Yet Lesley couldn't bear to think Of him
| as miserable Or disappointed in life. The
| brilliant sparks which showered past the
train windows seemed to her like the mo-
ments she had spent with Loveland. mo-
ments left behind for ever now and she
| could not help wishing that she might live
| them over again.
| Perhaps / might have helped him TO
be different, II I'd tried" she said to her
| self. as she watched the specks Of fire
which flashed and died. But 1 didn't
| try. / was too proud to try, I suppose.
| 1t was silly kind Of pride, for he could
| be-he could be such a man, If he knew
himself and would live up to himself"
| Elinor could not help him to do that.
| She was not the kind Of girl to dream of
| the existence of that real self, of which
Lesley had fancied she caught glimpses
sometimes. as If behind q veil that never
had been torn aside Miss Coolidge would
| be well enough satisfied with Lord Love
| land as he was, for she would only want
| from him material things, such things as
she could afford to buy with her money.
And IL they married. the bright loveable-
ness in Walls nature would be clouded and
| obscured. He would grow hard and
| wholly selfish.
| But with Fanny Milton, II he should
marry her?
1t was just as Lesley asked herself this
| question that Fannys thoughts few to
Lesley wondering what Lesley would do
IL she saw Lord Loveland held up to pub
| lie scorn.
Fanny would love him." Lesley re-
| fected. But" Her mind paused at
| that but" and she took herself to task
for mean jealousy because 1t was in her
head. or her heart. that Fanny would not
| love him in the way best for his highest
| development. "She'd spoil and pet him,
and make him worse than he is now he