Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02

people in Cremona and Mantua and Verona
did see something!"
Don't tell the neighbors, he warned, re-
turning to his usual cautious self. "And
don't jump at conclusions. Oliver has a
machine that will go; but he's not looking
for publicity. Aviation prizes don't interest
him any more. He doesn't need them. He
has produced a business proposition, and
am going to help him reap his profits in a
busincsslike way. l drop you this hint be-
cause | don't want you to measure man of
his caliber by drawing room standards. He
may not have the particular kind of magma
ton you prefer; but he has brains
"Why does it matter how | measure him.
ut matters because you may see a lot OF
him in the next few months"
"Oh!" said Ann without enthusiasm.
"And because | want him treated as one
of the family"
Ann suspected him of numbering at
tempt at matchmaking and smiled inscruta-
bly,. GAS one of the family!' she repeated.
"DO you mean in every way?"
Justin saw the smile and, not understand
ing it, frowned. "Of course, he said. "What
are you driving at?"
u wanted to be sure. If he is to be one
of the family, l shall feel free to tell him his
faults"
"l cure mink" he retorted. 3Let's hope
he'll catalogue few of yours"
DAGE proved his own best advocate. As
= she watched him at dinner, Ann reflected
that, whatever he lacked, he was in any case
handsome, wholesome, modest figure of a
man, whom one might trust to do the hon.
orable thing in all circumstances and very
likely the saving thing in an emergency.
This colored her manner and, as if he felt
the change, the American lost the shy for
mality that had paralyzed her friendliness
and, before she slept, made her the conf
dante of fragment of intimate autobiog-
raphy.
Oddly enough, he chose for the scene of
these condolences the precise spot where she
had listened to Rodoslav. A rounder moon
flooded garden and lake; the air, though
caressing still, had touch of autumn; but
otherwise there was no change. The scent
of rose and oleander, the plash of the foun-
tain beyond the wall of the villa, the facile
music from the orchestra indoor, were all
the same.
1t was the threadbare music that led to it.
"I've heard that before, | think" he said
naively.
Ann laughed. a think you must" she
said.
"You mean it is old?"
OlQcI LlltIl llOSL Vi tllc SlIccC OISiIlS C1ldC
play it. Surely you recognize IL Trova-
tore'?"
mo-" he answered. at was simply a
familiar tune"
She wished he could unsay that confess
sion. 1t brought back the man he had
nearly succeeded in effacing.
"You wonder at that?" he broke the pause.
EYES," she admitted frankly.
aust as you wondered when l told you
had come from America to Italy and seen
nothing?"
II think l understand"
No." he rejoined, @you don't fully under
stand. You can't. And yet" he hesitated,
@and yet you had your part in making me
what l am"
al"
ayes. 1t was you who set me at this
work which has left no room in my life for
the things you miss"
From another man she would have
deemed this preliminary move in game
of filtration; but the serious Page was above
suspicion. II can't comprehend it, she said |
at was that last day at Old Point" he
prompted.
"But said nothing that could have infu-
enced you. How could 1, a mere schoolgirl?
It's all riddle"