Evening star., 1912-10-10
CHAPTER XXVI.-Continued.

As"
Yes. I've just come of age" he de-
clared. with some satisfaction. Il realize
that I'm free, white and twenty-one for
the first time. I'm going to quit idling
and do something.
What for Instance
We'll, I'm going to marry Felicite, to
begin with: then. maybe. some or my
friends will give me job
II WILL said Blake.
Thanks. but I'D rather impose on
sornebody else at the start. | want To
make good on my own merits uflder-
stand? I've lived off my relatives long
enough Its just as bad to let the de
ceased members of your family support
YOU as to allow the live ones
"Rernie,' Blake interrupted. graNciy.
I'm afraid / won't marry Myra Neil.
You think she won't have you. en- !:
She has been acting queerly OF late, put
leave it to me-"
Norvin was spared the necessity OF
fnrther exclamation ~ the arrival of the
girl herself Miss Warren seemed strange
" lacking in her usual abundance OF am
NAL spirits: she was obviously Ill at ease.
and the sight of her brother dld not
lessen her embarrassment. During the
brief interchange of pleasantries her eyes
were fixed upon Blake with troubled
gaze.
"We-I lust ran in for moment" she
said. and seemed upon the point or ieaV-
ing after inquiring solctously about his
health.
"Ny dear" lid Bernie. with elaborate
JUNCTION. "Norvin and I have just been
discussing your engagement.
Miss Warren gasped and turned paie.
Blake starnmered.
quired:
DIDO you love me. Norvin?'
"Of course l do"
l,;s fSfo
..Oh. Lordy.'' said Myra Nell L
can't marry You. dear.
What Blake knew that his express
sion was changing and tried to stif1e his
relief
termination.
loved you? And. for heavens sake, don't
look so scared. We won't devour YOU.
II can't marry him." declared the girl
once more.
Why
"Be-because I'm already married!
There, Jimmy, I've been trying to get
that out for month.
Dreux gasped "Myra Nell! You're
crazy"
She nodded. then turned to Blake with
'P-please don't kill yourself. dear l
couldn't help it. .
.'Why. YOU poor, frightened little thing!
I'm delighted, l am, indeed. he told
her. reassuringly.
Don't you care? Aren't You going to
storm and-and raise the dickens? she
queried. Maybe this is your way or
hiding your despair
Not at all. I'm glad-so long as you're
happy
And you're not mad with anguish nor
crushed with Why, the idea! m
perfectly furious, l ran away because
Y Of of maven
my husband Once-not once. do you un-
derstand-since we were married On,
you-brute!
BY this time Dreux had recovered his
voice:
Who is the reptile?"
There came a timd rap, the office door
opened and Lecompte Rilleau inserted his
head. saving. gently:
Me! j. I'm it,
Blake rose SO suddenly that his chair
upset. whereupon Rilleau. who saw in
this abrupt movement threat. propelled
himself fully into view, crying, with de-
termination:
Here, Don't you touch her, She's
mine. You take it out on me-.
Blake's answering laugh seemed so out
of character that the bridegroom took it
as merely new phase of insanity and
edged In front of his wife protectingly.
"1 wanted to come in at first and break
the news, but she wouldn't let me- he
explained.
You have a weak heart. You-you
mustn't fight implored Myra Nell. but
Lecompte only shrugged.
That's all a bluff Then to Norvin:
.'Ill admit 1t was a mean trick. and l
guess my heart really might have petered
out il she'd married you. but I'm all
right now and YOU can have satisfac-
tion."
Il don't know whether to be angry or
amused at you children Norvin told
them. Understand, once for all, that
our engagement wasn't serious. There
have been a lot of mistakes and misun-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS all. Now tell us how
and when this all happened"
''Y-yes.'' echoed Bernie. who was still
dazed.
Myra Nell seemed more chagrined than
relieved.
1T was perfectly simple she Informed
them. 'It happened during the carnival.
I--never heard a man talk the way he
did and / was really worried about his
heart-I said no-for fifteen minutes, then
we arranged to be married secretly.
When it was all over l was frightened
and ran away. You're such a deep. des-
perate. unforgivtng person, Noryin. II
think 1t was positively horrid of you
Good Lord breathed her brother.
What a perverted sense of responsible
ity,'
Are we forgiven
It's all right with ne. if 1t is with
Norvin. said Bernie, somewhat doubt
fully.
Forgiven" Blake took the youthful
pair by the hands and in his eyes was a
brightness they had never seen. "Of
course you are. and let me tell YOU that
you haven't cornered all the love in the
world. I've never cared for but one