Evening star., 1912-09-22

protestations of loyalty. promising candy.
books, flowers. a choir TO sing beneath
her window. they finally trooped off. half
carrying the rotund Mr.. Kuhn, who had
sprinted himself into 1ellylke state of
collapse.
Rilleau alone maintained his readiness
to brave the perils of smallpox, leprosy
or plague at Miss Warren's side, until
Bernie informed him that the very idea
was shocking, whereupon he dragged
himself away with the accusation that
all his heart trouble lay at her door.
'.Oh, you spoiled it ALL Myra Nell told
her brother, Indignantly. You might, at
least, have let him come in. Cousin Al
thea would have chaperoned us.
The idea, Why did you do such an
atrocious thing?"
Were YOU frightened. Norvin?" The
, girl beamed hopefully down upon him.
Horribly. I'm not over 1t yet. I'm
half inclined to act on Lecompte's sug'
gestion and break in
She clapped her hands gleefully. where
| upon the watchman rose up, saying:
NO, You DON'T
! II wouldn't allow such a thing" said
! Bernie, firmly. 1T would mean scan.
| dali
II can't stay here alone for whole
week. I'll die
! Then I'll join you myself" her brother
| offered.
Myra Nell looked alarmed. ''Oh. not
you! l want some one to nurse me when
fall ILL.,"
What makes you think you'll catch
1t? Were you eXposed?'
Exposed. Heavens! I can feel the
disease coming on this very minute The
| place is full of germs; l can spear 'em
| managed to counterfeit a tear.
| I've an idea" said Norvin. I'll get
| that trained nurse who saved you when
| you fell off the horse"
"Vittoria? She might do But. Norvin,
the horse threw me-" She warned him
with grimace which Bernie did not see.
Hes a frightful beast"
II can't afford trained nurse" Dreux
objected, land you don't need one. any
how
"All right for you. Bunnie. if you don't
care any more for my life than that
I'll scken and die. When a girls rela-
| tives turn against her it's time she was
out of the way"
"Oh. all right said her brother. an
grily. Its ruinous. but 1 suppose you
must have it your way.
Myra Nell shook her head gloomily.
| ''No-not if you are going to feel like
that. OF course, If she were here she
could cut off my hair when l take to my
| water. when my beauty goes: she could
listen to my rawlings and understand. Tor
she is a-woman. But no. I'm not worth
it. Perhaps 1 can get along all right.
and. anyhow, I'll have to teach school or
or be q nun il I'm all pock marks"
Good Lord Bernie wiped his brow
with a trembling hand. "Dyou think
thatll happen, Norvin?"
Its bound to- the girl predicted. in
differently. But what's the odds?"
with real horror. "Oh.' she cried. "Oh!
I Just happened to remember. I'm to be
queen of the carnival. Now. I'll be
scafred and hideous. even II / happen to
recover; but l won't recover. You shall
have my royal robe. Bunnie. Keep 1t al
wavs. And Norvin shall have my hair"
''Here I-don't want your hair" Blake
asserted. nervously. Il mean not with
out
'.It is all have to give"
You may not catch the smallpox after
"Well-have Miss Fabrizi b-by all
MEANS" Bernie chartered.
"You stay here and talk to her while
co. Norvin suggested quickly. "And,
Myra Nell, I'll fetch you a lot Of choco-
lates. I'll fetch you anything, II you'll
only cheer up"
Remember. it's against my wishes
the girl said. But she's not at the hos
pital now: she's living in the Italian
quarter" She gave him the street and
number and he made off in all haste.
On his way he had time to think more
collectedly of the girl he had just left
Her prank had shocked him into a keen
realization of his feeling for her, and he
began to understand the large part she
played in his life. Many things inclined
him to believe that her regard for him
was really deeper than her careless lev
fty indicated. and 1T seemed now that
they had been destined for each other.
1t was dusk when he reached his desti-
nation: A nondescript Italian girl ush-
cred him up dark stairway and into an
old-fashioned drawing room with high
ceiling and long windows which opened