Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-31
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

I'm sorry" he said. stifiy. "My mis-
take. Shan't occur again"
Joeys ear was caught by the tone Of his
voice, and conscience gave her a twinge.
| She patfed Hughes arm in friendly
| way.
"Old boy she said, suddenly contrite.
| I've made YOU angry and I've hurt you.
I'm sowwy-sorry. I mean! Q'm a bit
| upset, you see," she said, smiling dis
| armingly) But I can't marry you, real
~. 1 couldn't bear to be married at all
at present. 1t seems $3.50 unnecessary.
I don't see what 1 should get out OF 1t.
That's q selfish thing to say. I suppose,
but TIL try to explain girls point OF
view to you. You're terrible child in
some respects. so I'll do 1t quite simply
She strOked his sleeve in a motherly
fashion and continued:
Years ago. my dear, the only way a
girl could get her freedom or any male
society was by marrying. Now she gets
as much OF both as she wants, and il she
marrtes she loses all the freedom and
most Of the male society. So why should
she marry at alp
Hughie kept silence before this poser
| He felt incapable Of plunging into the
depths OF an argument-one has to keep
| to the surface in discussing these matters
| with a maiden of twenty.
so / shan't marry for years. if at ALL
continued Miss Gaymer, with the air Of
one propOunding. an entirely new theory.
| Not until I'm getting passee. at any
| rate, and only then il could find a man
whom IT wouldn't give me the creeps to
| think OF spending the rest Of my life with.
Besides, the moment one gets engaged all
| the other men drop off-all the nice ones,
at any rate-and that would never do.
Don't you think my system is sensible
one?'
1T comes hard on the men," said
Hughie.
Yes. poor dears-' said Miss Gaymer,
sympathetically. still, one man is so
tiresome and lot is so nice!''
| With which concise and not unmasterly
| summary Of the marriage question, as
| viewed through the eyes of the modern
maiden. Miss Gaymer turned the CONVEX
sation into other channels and the idyll
| terminated.
Half an hour later they were called into
| expedition.
Joan, with her usual frankness, re-
verted for a moment before they left the
| seclusion Of the trees to the topic that
was uppermost in their minds.
Hushie,' she said. softly, docs it hurt
much?''
II don't quite know yet" said IIugfie
Il mean, are you sad or aDgry-which?
| 1t usually takes man one way or the
other" observed this experienced damsel
Il don't know that I'm either" said
TIughie. neditatively: the only feeling
that i have just now is that I'm desper-
ately sorry. But I'm not kicking
1T is my belief" remarked Miss Gay
mer. with sudden and pardonable asper-
itJ. that you don't care for me in the
least. Do you. now?''
They were a very honest and sincere
couple, these. For a full minute they
looked each other in the face, withou,
speaking. Then Hugiie said:
Joey. / simply don't know, I thought
did half an hour ago, and Id have
sworn II last night. when
He checked himself.
When WHAT" asked Joan, swiftly.
Nothing said Hughie That's rather
beside the point now, isn't IT,
Joan: curiosity struggling with honesty
nodded reluctantly.
Anyhow" continued Hughie, Il though,
did then. but I'm blessed If know now
In fact" he added. in a sudden burst OF
confidence, sometimes can't stand you
at any price, Joey. dear!'
"Ah!'' said Miss Gaymer, nodding a wise
head. II see you don't know your own
mind yet. But You will-one way or an
other-as soon as you get away from me-
A week later another interview tool
place between the pair. on the same
spot.
Business only this time. joey sale
Hughie, with rather laborious cheerful
ness.
IAN right. Did You have good tim,
|, in town." inquired Miss Gaymer, in the
newt able manner of women and orr
entails. who dislike coming to the point Ii
matters Of business without few decen
, preliminaries.
, Yes thanks. have been picking III
. old friends again and generally settlin,
| down." said Hughie. Got a fiat and
!, comic man servant - Scotchman - intro
, duce you some day. He
!, He plunged into a rather rambling de
scription OF John Alexander GObie. IL
: was evidently no more anxious to get t,
business than Joan.
At last Miss Gaymer inquired:
! We'll. Hughie, have you fixed up IN.
Affairs
Yes said Hughie, slowly. DO yo'
want details?''
Mercy, no! 1 don't know anythin,
about business. and don't believe you dc
I either, Hugflie. Do you?"
Not much" confessed the trustee
However 1 must tell YOU at once joey
that your income won't be nearly as larg
as expected
Right Or replied Joan. cheerfully
when do l start for the workhouss?''
IT'S not quite. so bad as that" SAT-
| Hughie "but-
What am worth?" inquired the prac
teal Miss Gaymer.
II can't quite tell YOU" said Hushie
I'm a hesitafing fashion. You see"-h
appeared to be choosing his words rathe
lcarefuliy-'the nominal value Of invest