New-York tribune., 1912-02-18

pair we MADE WIN smile OF encouraging
delight. She was all sparkle tonight,-dia-
mondS, teeth, and eyes radiating together the
immenSity OF her satisfaction at finding her
self among such company, seated at such a
table. toward which with all the fierce in
tcnsitv of her ambition she had struggled for
twenty years. Her triumph, founded on my
despair 1t seemed to me that nv very
stomach boiled in rebellion. | could not eat.
No, must have it out with Victor, then and
there, without waiting another minute. If
had needed extra courage, it would have
been given me by Henry's eyes, which every
now and then, with strange burning look,
met mine across the flowers.
THERE was a sudden burst of laughter as
Miss Carroll, at the other end of the
table, began giving limitations of a London
Coster girl. So, under cover OF this diver
sion, | turned to my hanCt
"Victor, | said, there's something we've
never talked over together Don't YOU
think it's about time, before its too latc?"
"What;" he asked, with a surprised stare
of his round blue eyes. IF You mean the
upset the other day it wasn't my fault. 1t
was the boats. She's crank y regular tub.
I've written TO order a new one
"Oh, | don't mean the boat" cried; then,
lowering my voice, "Nictor, | said, don't
YOU realize we re to be married in a few days?
Tell me frankly, what do YOU think of il,
this marriage!
Victor picked up his champagne glass and
took a nervous sip or two before he turned
to me. His face was flushed, his eyes sur
veyed me doggedly. I'm good little boy,
| don't think: | lust mind when my mama
H. h., 4 u l,,fl
ter grin, "and besides YOU re rather a locker
yourself, as | suppose YOU know, Lili;' And
again his glance Travelled over me with that
look | hate.
But forced myself to lean toward him
with an air Of the most affcctonatc concern.
Thank YOU, dear Victor, for the COmpl-
mcnt. But. YOU see, | have been given 10
understand that, even though YOU may feel
little bit kindly toward me, yet there's
someone else that YOU really want 10 marry
that YOU really love, and who loves yOu-
who? Fay" He spoke quickly, almost
loudly.
Hush" | murmurcd in alarm. "Your
mother is listening TO what We say, and this,
YOU understand, must be quite between our
selves Tell me, she's pretty, this Madcmol-
scllc Fay;"
"Shc's a corkcr.." he replied with a sudden
spark Of enthusiasm, as when he spoke Of his
pups or Of things to eat, "Shc's the lively
kind. YOU scc-not your style at all, Lii.
Blond. Gauzv. Fuzzy. Gee. don't know
how to describe her; but she's an all night
one, all right, anyhow.
"Shc loves YOU very much" | murmured
into his ear.
Ours was in fact the most proper h,tlc in
| terludc between a young pair in 50 interest
ing a situation, and the heads on each side
OF us were turned sympathctcally away.
Across the flowers was conscious OF Henry
eyes, grave and implonng.
"Shc loves YOU, Victor very much;"
Into his face came that mastcr-of-thc-
harcm look that | find so odious-though
| less so for FAY ! will own, than for myself.
"How sentimental YOU are, YOU French.
! Yes, poor little girl, there's not much doubt
about it. Shed leave her happy home for
muh. all right, all right, if She got the
chance"
"Poor little thing" my voice fairly drippcd
with tears And she's not going to get the
chance, after all
He turnci a suspicious face on me. What
are YOU driving at, Lili;'
Nothing, | answered with candid sweet
ness: "only wanted YOU 10 understand how
! deeply ! feel for YOU in this sacrifice YOU re
called on TO make, and if there's anything