Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-07-08

pressing bis ring. which Sns wore,
rather sharply into her nesh.
Oh. IL only the orchestra would play
that Spring Song OF Mendelssohn'sl
She had been trying 80 hard to shut
Robert Harvey out from her life. aud
this fetched him so wildly before her!
But II live with Idas. then ws two
On the low earth shall prosper hand Ia
hand
Those were the words from stephen
Phillips "Marpessa" which Harvey
had been won't TO SGT to that music,
saying. "They seem to be made for
each other-just like you and I. sweet.
heart"
How ever In the world had she made
herself able to give him upf II was
her cursed love OF luxury. she told her.
self, and what would luxury profit her
without himf What a fool she had
beenl But the worst was yet 20 do.
Tomorrow she was to write the letter
which was to stab his dear heart like
a knife.
"And an awfully stunning fellow;
regular Gibson type, you know. We
tried to induce him to join US tonight;
but, you see. he lives in Louisville"
Alberta turned her head ever 90
slightly. The people back Of her who
had been annoyed at Mr.. Smart's IN.
conslderateness when he first came In
were talking.
"And he leaves for the south tomor.
row. Fancy arriving In fascinating
old New York one day and leaving II
the next! Ma says she'll warrant he
has sweetheart In Louisville. for he's
dead set on going there Immediately.
This morning on deck just before
we sailed into the harbor"- But INA"
who was from Chicago and full Of
western enterprise. finished the sen.
tence for herself.
IT came on him unexpectedly, and
what dye think he was doingf Lean.
ing over the rail and looking Mt a pic.
ture In his watch. 'Ah-ha. Mr.. Har
veyv cried. You're caught at lustl
VIII you let me see her picture? In
few moments I'll show you the
statue of Liberty instead said he,
closing his watch softly aud unstrap.
ping his feldglasses. And. would you
believe It. the winning sweetness Of
his smile took all the sting out of hl
refusal"
"why don't you strike for him. /
Maude. and cut the louisville girl
out" came a laughing poser. "or wasn't
he looking for rich wifeT'
Don't know, I'm sure" was the 70
Spouse. But anyhow he's not rich. }
nnk ha tvfn m ftoV. f,.0xrn hiu rht,ru
coming over-the one who's going to /
take us to the Union League reception
tomorrow. He owns some sort Of
plantation in Kentucky. however, and
people there call him 10 grand seigneur
| cause he's considered so exclusive. II /
appears Mr.. Harvey In his aristocrati (
poverty had horror of the nouveaur
riches" She smiled daintily and gig. \
gled.
The lights went down. the orchestn
stopped playing. and the curtain wen!
up on the third act.
Presently, having had one glass Of k
whisky and soda too much. Smart n
| came back. He looked at Alberta +
closely with a look before which she
suddenly shrank. Shed seen 1t focus 4
ed ere this on many things-his auto
mobile. his diamonds, his horses-butt
never wholly on herself. That glance
Of possession shot through her nerves &
with a sickening humiliation.
you'll loosen the stone In your ring
| If you keep turning 1t round like that"
said Smart in blurred whisper. and
that sort of diamond amt stumbled
against every day, let me tell you"
At the close of the third act, al h
though there was still the fourth to
be played. Alberta turned to her com ,
| panion.
We'll go now" she said simply .
But as he helped her on with her
wrap he wondered at the strange, soft
illumination of her face. 1t was an
illumination he had never seen before
an illumination In which he knew In \
stinctively he had no part
When Smart. having got his hat and
coat. Joined her In the lobby and wal
about to call for a cab one of the glrIst
hands went out to his ready arm. buih
the other deftly handed him his ring.
"l've decided you'd better keep IT,
she said calmly, while. his fingers clos
ing tightly about the Jewel. Smart
gazed with amazement at her STRANGE
smile. an explain to you as we wall
along. No; not cab. prefer 70
walk. 1t isn't far to auntie's." shs
would not suffer his proximity, how
ever brief, In carriage.
"Have you gone mad?" he demand
ed, putting the bauble securely in BY
wallet. "Of all idiotic nonsense! And
besides. you're not dressed for wall
ing"
"Oh. what does little thing lin h
that matter?" cried she. with almost
childs fresh Joy in her voice. "Noth
ing matters now but the big things
And, gathering up her skirts. she add
ed, half to herself. with a queer LITTLE
thrill: I'm going home tomorrow
I'm going home to Louisville tomor
rowp
|