The Washington herald., 1912-06-02

her was obviously the very best thing
that could happen for him. Yet he felt
certain distrust, a certain unexplained
reluctance to accepting her overtures.
If she discovered her power. she would
drive hard bargain--he knew that well
enough. If she did not discover it.
| He turned away and faced her sud-
denly. '~Yesl" he said, "I'll help you
if / can Wen 20 to London togeth-
er on Monday morning"
A curious look came into her face.
She drew him out of the room.
Come" she said, Il won't ask you
to stay to tea, because my aunt thinks
\ that you are a most improper person
| I'll walk with you back across the
marshes / want you to tell me what
you really think, and / want to show
you the one letter l received from my
uncle"
She read the letter to him as they
walked side by side on the top of the
dyke path, which was high enough now
from the receding waste of waters. The
air was unusually salt Great masses
or seaweed had been brought in and
Jeff by the ebbing tide. The wind had
freshened since the morning. She
walked on in supreme disregard of her
disordered hair and skirts.
'You see" she said, he writes dis
tinctly as one who has, or expects to
have, money Listenl I did no par
ticular good out there" she read, "'but
have brought something home with
me which viii mean a fortune Of some
sort of another. expect you have
had quite enough of your country life.
and you won't object to coming and
sharing II with me. ! am rather
rough sort, and | have a few vices that
your respected uncle Sarsby knows all
about, but / fancy you will get bet
ter time with me than with that SOL
enn old prig. I'd like to do what l
can for you, though we haven't seen
much of one another, but your. mother
was the best sister a man ever had,
and for her sake l look upon you as
the only relative I've got worth count
ing"
She looked up at him eagerly Now
tell me" she asked, would he have
written that if he hadn't something
jewels, or estate, or something of that
sort, which he knew was going to bring
him in money!"
TT doesn't sound So" Deane admit
ted.
She thrust the letter back into her
pocket. you will help me-" she said,
her face glowing, her eyes full of an
ticipation. I'VE will go through his
papers carefully We will find out,
somehow or other, what he meant. Oh
1t is good to think that l have only
few more days to eat and TO sleep in
this CHASTITY wilderness"
you may be disappointed" he re-
minded her.
Never she answered. My uncie
was no fool. What he had l shall dis
cover"
You may be disappointed" he con-
tinued. in the things which wealth it.
self brings you You may find life not
so very much more wonderful a thing
in the city than here in the wilderness"
Don't you believe itw she exclaiP-
ed, with a scornful laugh. Il am not
that sort / am not an artist who can
sit about here for days and potter |
about with a psintbox, and look at !
sunset or a streak of wild lavender, or l
the shimmering of the yellow sands, as |
though it were something so marvellous
that life itself stood still while they |
realized it. / like beautiful places and |
beautiful things, but l hate the imper-
sonality of it all l want to feel the
touch Of lace and furs and fine linen,
to eat soft food, to listen to music, to |
ride when l want to, to sleep when I
want to, to have friends who admire
me, men friends worth speaking to, diff
ferent from these yokels round here
suppose / have got it in my blood"
she added, with little laugh The
WAYS of life don't at
tract me- want the big things"
DO you know what the big things
are?" he asked.
When l have found my way where
l mean to find it, / shall know" she
answered. Here, one might live till