Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
E. PHILLIPS OPPENTIEIM
upper with Mile. Idiale."
Copyright BY Little. Company

supper with Mile. Idiale."
He shrugged his shoulders.
Am supposed to be 6. wanderer out of
paradise. them
She looked at him douhtfully.
They tell strange stories about her"
she said: but, oh. she is so beaui-
full. If l were a man I should fall In love
with her if she even looked my way"
Then ] am glad he answered, that
j am less impressionable-
And you are not in love with herr"
she asked, eagerly.
why should / be- he laughed. She
is like q wonderful picture, marvellous
statue, If you will. Everything about her
is faultless. But one looks at these things
calmly enough, you know. 1t is life
which Stirs life
do you think that there is no life in
her veins, them" Zoe asked
IF there is" he answered. II do not
think that I am the man to stir it.
She drew a little sigh of content.
You see." she said. you are my first
admirer, and l haven't the least desire to
let you CO.
..Incredibe." he declared.
But it is true" she answered, earnest
~. You would not have me talk to
these boys who come and hang on at the
stage door. The men to whom ! have
been introduced by the other girls have
been very few. and they have not been
very nice. and they have not cared FOR
me and l have not cared for them.
think she said disconsolately. Il am
too small. Every one today seems to like
big women. Cora Sinclair, who is just
behind me in the chorus, gets bouquets
every night and simply chooses with
whom she should go out to supper
I.averick looked grave.
You are not envying herr" he asked
Not in the least as long as l, too, am
taken out sometimes
Laverick smiled and sat on the arm OF
her chair.
Miss Zoe" he said. Il have come be-
cause you told me to, just to pro(e, you
see that / am not in the tolls OF Mile
Idiale. But do you know that 1t is half-
past 1? l must not stay here any
longer"
She sighed once more.
You are right" she admitted, but It
is so lonely ] have never been mere
without May and her mother: l have
never slept alone in the house before the
other night. If I had known that they
were going away 1 should never have
dared to come here
1T is too bad" he declared. Couldn't
you get one of the other girls to stay
with your"
She shook her head.
There are one or two whom I would
like to have she said, but they are all
living either at home or with relatives.
The others l am afraid about. They seem
to like to sit up so late and
you are quite right" he interrupted,
hastily-"quite right You are better alone
But you ought to have a servant
She laughed. 49,.
ION two pounds fifteen a week. she
asked. you must remember that could
not even live here only have practically
no rent to pay"
He fldgeted for a moment.
Miss Zoe" he said, Il am perfectly
serious when tell you that have money
which should go to your brother. Why
will you not let me alter your arrange
ments Just a little? l cannot bear to
think of you here all alone"
1t is very kind OF YOU, she answered
doubtfully. but please, no. Somehow,
think that it would spoil everything If l
accepted that sort of help from you. If
YOU have any money of Arthur's, keep 1t
for a time. and l think when you write
him--I do not want to seem grasping-
but l think if he has any to spare you
might suggest that he does give me just a
little 1 have never had anything from
him at all. Perhaps he does not quite
understand how hard it is for me-
Il will do that. of course Laverfck an
swered but l wish YOU would let me at
least pay over little of what consider
due to you. / will take the responsibility
for it. 1t will come from him and not
from me-
She remained unconvinced
Il would rather wait she said. IF
you really want to give me something,
will let yoii-out of my brothers money,
of course, l mean she added. Il haven't
anything saved at all or / wouldn't have
that. But one day you shall take me out
and buy me a dress and hat. You can
tell Arthur directly you write to him.
don't mind that, for sometimes l do feel
ashamed-I did the other night to have
you sit with ME there, and TO feel that |
was dressed so very differently from all
of them.
He laughed reasSuringly.
II don't think men notice those things
To me you seemed just as YOU should
seem. only know that ] was glad
enough to be there with You.
Were YOU rather wistfully.
.'Of course | was. Now. am going. but
before ! go, don't forget Monday after
noon. Well have lunch and then go to
your brothers rooms.
She glanced at the clock.
rs it really SO late?" she asked
1T is. Don't you notice how quiet it
is outsider?
They stood hand in hand for mo-
ment 4 strange silence seemed to have
fallen upon the streets. Laverlck was
suddenly conscious of something which
he had never felt when Mile. ldiale had
SMILED upon him-a quickening of the
pulses. a sense of gathering excitement
which almost took his breath away. His
eyes were fixed upon hers. and he seemed
TO see the reflection of that same wave
of feeling in her own expressive face. Her
lips trembled. her eyes were deeper and
softer than ever They seemed to be ask
ing him a question. asking and asking till
every fiber of mis- body was concentrated
in the desperate effort with which he kept
her at arms length.
lis IL so very late?" she whispered, COM
ing Just a little closer, so that she was,
indeed. almost within the shelter Of his
arms
He clutched her hands almost roughly
and raised them to his lips.
Much too late for me to stay here,
child he said. and his voice even to
himself sounded hard and unnatural.
Run along to bed. Tomorrow night-to-
morrow night, then, will fetch YOU.
Good-bye.
He let himself out. He did not even
look behind to the spot where lie had left
her. He closed the front door and walked
with swift, almost savage footsteps down
the quiet street. across the square and
into New oxford street. Here he seemed
to breathe more freely. He called han
som and drove to his rooms.
The hall porter had left his post in the
front hall. and there was 10 one to in
form Laverick that visitor was awaiting
him. When he entered his sitting room
however, he gave little start of surprise.
Mr.. James Shepherd was reclining in his
easy chair with his hands upon his knees
Mr.. James Shepherd with his face more
pasty even than usual. his eyes trife
ereener his whole demeanor one of un-
concealed and unaffected terror.
.Hullor Laverick exclaimed. What
the dickens-what do you want here.
Shepherd?
Upon my word. sir. I'm not sure that
] know" the man replied. but I'm scared.
I've brought you back the certificates of