Evening star., 1911-06-11

cream. Mrs. Hazard appeared.
| 4My dear child, she exclaimed, "what is
the matter? Celie says you are ILL.,"
| ooh, it's nothing; but I've been crying
as you know" l added hastily, 3and I'm a
fright, and l can't get dressed before that
gong sounds. l don't feel like talking.
| Would it be too much to ask if might have
headache and stay here for once?'
aOf course you may" she replied sympa-
thetically. Il should have been the one to
suggest it. My dear, don't worry, don't
There's the gong! Send Celie for your din
ner, and if you need me send for me. Re-
member, there's nothing to cry about.
| There!"
She hustled out in her dear, fat way I
heard her speak to Hap in the corridor, and
my fingers, smearing the cold cream, trem-
bled against my face at the sound of his
voice. He loved me-he loved me-he loved
me! Suddenly something inside me gave
way either in my brain or my heart, don't
know which, and l went forward across my
dressing table, my greasy face against the
dainty pink and white covering, and had
real cry, jolly, soul refreshing weep.
| @Ah, Mademoiselle ees in re grand dees
tress!' Celie exclaimed. @Mademoiselle ees
i'll! Mademoiselle as nevaire-'
| l knew Celie was in "ze grand deestress"
herself when she lapsed into English. l sat
up again, wiping the tears from my eyes
and the grease from my face. Get me my
dinner, Celie," said between sobs. am
50 hungry! I'll feel better when eat some
thing"
She looked at me astonished. She knew
l was not quite hopeless so long as l was
hungry. "Mademoiselle will not faint?" she
inquired.
an not faint unless you fail to come with
the dinner" assured her. "Now hurryn
X1HEN the door closed upon her looked
" into the mirror and smiled; not at
what l saw there, although it was funny
enough, but smiled because / closed my
eyes ecstatically. He loved me! He had
kissed me!
| sat there long time-how long don't
know-dreaming. had never allowed my
self the luxury of such thoughts. l had
pushed them back and trampled them down
and refused to listen. How dear was that
expression about his mouth, and how beauti-
full his eyes! l loved the forelock! l had
touched it! l covered my face suddenly.
My throat was tight; was suffocating with
happiness.
| / had loved him from the first knew
that now. | wondered that didn't realize
my danger from the minute Mrs. Hazard
made her proposal to me. | remembered
perfectly now ne nad looked at me tnaC nrSt
meeting,--a silly, unromantic place it was,
crowded street, and l had wisps of hair
dangling about my ears. Funny-silly thing
like that to come sneaking into ones thought
at such time! had learned the sound of
the gray car; l admitted now that l had
listened for it. l knew his step from the
first. knew too that he had always been
near, and had to talk baseball to hint
was part of my job. Baseball? Pshaw! An
excuse! Natalie? Gracious! she never had
a chance, after he saw me! must not think
that! How awful! But he had said so; his
lips said so; his eyes said so. He loved me!
And l cried about it to my hearts content.
| rose suddenly and went to the window,
with my unfastened gown falling about me.
| sank down and put my arms upon the
easement His mother must not know! l
couldn't lose her love and trust. I'd have to
tell 10. Of course l couldn't marry him
l knew that, knew it, knew it! Besides,
Natalie had said had taken her silly ruby.
l must prove didn't. But how? 10 would
know. Poor 10! She knew something was
going to happen to me. She knew from the
beginning l was going to fall in love with
somebody!
| The air was cool and salty and good
against my hot face. Everything was still
and the trees cast long, placid shadows on the
II f IL -