Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-02

love and long for woman because OF
what she was, not because OF what she
had.
''You needn't look SO broken up" said
Isidora "Wait till come to the end OF
the story I've got a messenger Wa1tln
in the street with something Tor you.
wouldn't let him in till we'd had our
talk. Now I'm going to call him down, 10
cheer you up bit
She bounced off her chair. ran to the
door and shouted up from the level or the
basement to the street. In announcer mo,
ment uniformed youth walked In ana
deposited a large paper-wrapped bundle:
but it was not until he had been sent
away that Isidora began to open the
parcel.
Il wanted to get the lot" she said, but
my, the bill was highway above me.
I'd twenty-five dollars I'd been savin' up
oh, for something; but you needn't care.
I'd heap rather do this than buy any
old thing for myself. And here's what
they give me after lot Of fuss.
She tore off the brown paper with a
dramatic gesture. and triumphantly dis
played the suit Of tweed clothing which
Loveland had taken off the evening be-
fore in dressing for dinner. Then her
face fell. as she saw that his expressed
no pleasure.
81 thought you'd like these better than
anything, as I couldn't run to ALL" the
girl went on, disappointedly.
You paid my hotel bill"' exclaimed
LOveland.
"onIy a little, weeny part" Isidora
more.'
Il don't" said Val, hastily. "Oh.
you're very kind-too kind. / don't know
what to say. But-your money. that you
And I mayn't be able to pay You back
for days"
II don't want you to pay me back" the
girl said, proudly. ''It's been pleasure
Loveland's heart reproached him. He
had shuddered a little at the thought that
this gaudy young beauty in Haunting
feathers and cheap finery had gone to the
Waldorf claiming him as her gentleman
friend" But it was thought far less
palatable that she should spend her saw
grateful than he would have known how
to be yesterday to q person not OF his
own class-yet gratitude was not now his
strongest. emotion.
He thanked her as best he could for all
she had DONE and talked down her OBJ
jections to being repaid. Now, he said,
owing to her kindness he could walk the
streets without being stared at, and would
lose no time in cabling to his mother. Oh.
he had plenty Of money for that! and
smiling as II 1t were part of a huge JOKE
he showed what the payment of his small
debt to the restaurant had left OF his
eight dollars.
Seven dollars and a bit-nearly thirty
shillings! Why, he was rich. All he
asked now was room In which to
change his clothes.
AS there was a. houseful of empty
rooms this request was easily granted;
and presently Loveland came back to the
kitchen suitably clad for dayight-except
for the detail OF his necktie. He would
have given a good deal for change of
linen; but there was no use in crying for
the moon. And Isidora saw no fault in
his appearance as she walked proudly at
his side, on the way to send cablegram
to Scotland.
Secretly, Loveland would have been
glad to dispense with her company, but
she assured him that she had more time
than anything else" and that she would
be delighted to guide him. Only, they
mustn't go past home, for II pa saw her
with strange gentleman there'd be
trouble"
Isidora peered over her companions
shoulder as he wrote out his message to
his mother. and was much Interested IN
the address. To save expense. he put
only "Loveland, Dorloch, North Britain"
therefore the girls curiosity was not
greatly rewarded. All she could say to
herself was that, apparently, he had some
right to the name of Loveland, and that
he really did seem to expect that "some-
body over there" might send him q re-
mittance. Otherwise, why should he
waste good money on q cablegram, and
without code, too?
since his change of plan about the ships.
But after all, he said to himself, 1t did
not matter. He was always bad cor
observation-disclosures had been-and the
mater just put up with 1t, poor dear. She
wouldn't be worrying, anyway, as she
must suppose him to be on the high seas
at this moment. a passenger on the Bal
tic-unless she had heard from Betty or
Jim-an improbable contingency. Even
If he had sent off letter directly after
landing, she would not get 1t for days
vet. SO his negligence had done no harm.
AS for the marconigram Jim had sug-
gested-why, as things had turned out, 1t
was as well he hadn't wasted money on
it.
Unfortunately, to make his need Of
money clear. Val was obliged to write
long message, even though he attempted
no elaborate explanation, beyond saving:
he had finished and did not see his way
to striking out q single word, he was
vexed to find that he would have to pay
six dollars and fifty cents. Still, his
mother would instantly send tho fifty
pounds he asked for, even If she had to
borrow, and in a few hours this hideous
situation would be ended. He could pay
all he owed; and then. If there were no
hope of anything good in America, he
would take passage on the first home
Ward-bound ship.
Isidora advised him to give as an ad-
dress the house where Mrs. Gernsbacher
was caretaker, as embarrassing questions
might be asked by pa If an answer came
to the restaurant. She was afraid that
Mr. Gordon would have to "chum up
with Bill again for the night If he were
determined not to accept a little loan
from her; and she was grieved to think
of the boring evening he would have to
spend.
It would be fun. she thought if he
would "just drop in at the restaurant
like a stranger" and have some supper
which would cost him as little there as
anywhere. since he was bent on paying.
But Loveland made an excuse which
pleased her so much that she relinquished
the plan almost without q pang. 1t would
be difficult, he said, after all her good
ness to treat her like an entire stranger
He said this carelessly, but to her it
meant a great deal-so much, that she
went straight home almost as happy as
IL he had been by her side.
With his evening clothes under his arm
(the first time in his life. perhaps. that he
had carried a parcel larger than letter..
Loveland found his way back to the
Bowery, back to the Bat Hotel. back to
his friend Bill, who was already in the
reading room. And once again the name
of "P. Gordon figured humbly among
the hundred and fifty dodgers for that
night.
Go be continued tomorrow.