The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-21


come guest directly the door had
closed.
"On the contrary; did not come
to dine. I came to see you, Mary"
The smile had died out Of Guys eyes.
And I have your husbands permits
sion to see you," he added easily.
What do you mean?" she cried,
turning on him with a flash Of in
dignation.
Guy shrugged.
HAS not your husband gone out,
leaving me to your care?"
Mary gave a short, nirthless laugh.
"Just so--for food"
And the common courtesy Of hos
pitality. Do you still intend to sit
on the stoep and leave me-to the
food?"
Guy stepped aside, but Mary re-
manned where she was. His question
had shown her the absurdity of her
intention. Suddenly she turned
about and went back to her favorite
smile returned at once to the mans
eyes.
That's better-it's more dignified.
All, here comes Tanta.''
The housekeeper ambled into the
room with q tray, and proceeded 20
relay the table. When she had pre-
pared the meal she looked up into
the mans face with no very favor
able glance.
your foods ready" she said short
ly, and promptly beat hasty re-
treat from the room.
Like mistress, like maid" Guy
commented, but not without some
chagrin. II seem to have fallen foul
of every one, except Ferman."
Mary made no answer. She bent
more closely over the piece of white
material her deft hands were mani
pulating. Guy drew a chair UP TO
the table and helped himself to some
cold koran. But it was only pre-
tence. Although he was hungry, he
had no desire for food just now.
Mary's stitching went on in silence.
The mans black eyes took in her
every movement. He could see that
the bowed head, with its crown of
beautiful brown hair, was bent low
er than necessary, and there was q
sort of haste in the plying of the
needle.
He felt that appeal was hopeless;
yet he must make it. Why was it
hopeless? he asked himself. What
had so changed her? Never had she
been so attractive to him as at that
moment, when, face to face, she de-
fed him. His pulses Quickened, and
his blood coursed through his veins
in passionate torrent as he contem-
plated her slight, bowed form. He
had no exalted thoughts; but he
would have given ten years of his
life just then to have held her in his
arms and pressed her soft, rounded
form to his breast. But his feelings
had no softening effect upon him.
His desire was a mere passion of the
senses; that, and the invincible long
ing of a thwarted man.
The silence grew irksome. He
pushed the untouched food aside, and,
propping his elbows upon the table,
supported his face in his two hands,
while his black eyes concentrated
themselves upon the girls bowed
head.
Mary, you make things devilish
hard" he said slowly. II came here
tonight to act honestly with you-
to put a few questions and to make
a plain statement or two. You meet
me as though I had done you some
hated the ground I walked on; as
Thoughts though I were beyond
the pale of association. If it is a
crime to love you, then plead guilty.
But never yet heard that any wom-
an regarded mans love for herself
as crime. A matter for pity, per-
haps; but not for-well, the way you
are treating me. Tell me, don't you
think your attitude very unreason-
able? I mean, this refusal to see me
now?"
'It is the only way
Hhe girl looked up. This man was
too clever for her. The GOODNESS had
already died out of her eyes. His
manner disarmed her. Something Of
their naturally soft light was shining
in them again as she faced him. She
even found herself wondering if ne
quite deserved the treatment she had
melted out; if it were as necessary as
she thought.
1.-The only way?" Guy smiled. "That
is an admission of something
don't quite know what. The only
way?" he repeated musingly. cit
seems to me that that sounds as
though you were afraid to have me
around. And if you are afraid
why? You have plainly told me I
am no longer anything to you; that
the past is dead and gone. AS for
me, the mischief is done, so that your
thought is not for me, or need not be,
anyway. This leaves only one other
possible reason-your husband. You