Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-25

Bv REX BEACH.
Copyright, 1912, BY Rex Beach.)


enough. What do women know OF bust
ness? 1t is a mysterious word to them.
Now-piquet." He dragged Norvin to A
seat at a table. then trotted away in
search OF cards his slippers clap-clapping
at every step. As If In gleeful applause.
Shall We cut for deal. sieu? All He
sighed gratefully as he won and began
to shuttle. With four hours Of piquet
each day and a lie upon my conscience
feel that shall be happy, In spite of
this execrable smallpox"
Myra Nell's emotions may he imagined
when. on the following morning. she
learned who had broken through the cor
don while she slept.
'Lordy, Lordy." she exclaimed. with
round eyes. He said he'd do It, hut
didn't think he really would
She had flounced into Nittoria's room
to gossip while she eombed her hair.
Mr.. La Branche says it's all his fault
and he's terribly grieved,' Miss Fabrizi
told her Now, now! Your eyes are
fairly popping out
Wouldn't your eyes pop out If the
handsomest. the richest. the bravest man
in New Orleans deliberately took his life
in his hands To see you and he near
you?"
But he saws it was important business
which brought him. Nittoria smiled
guiltily.
Tell that to your granny! You don't
know men as l do Have you really
seen him? I'm not dreaming"
Il have seen him with these very eyes.
and If YOU were not such lazy little
pig you'd have seen him. too. Shall YOU
take your breakfast In your room as
usual?" Vittoria's eyes twinkled.
Don't tease me-" Miss Warren eN-
claimed. with a furious blush IL love
to tease other people. but | can't stand
it myself Breakfast in my room. indeed
But. of course. / shall treat him with
freezing politeness.'
why should you pretend to he Of
fended?"
Don't you understand? This is bound
to cause gossip Why. the idea OF Nor
vim Blake the handsomest, the rich
est
Eyes. yes''
THE idea OF his getting himself quar-
our being here together for days-maybe
for months. Why. IL will create the
loveliest scandal. I'll never dare hold
up my head again in public. never. You
see how ii must make me feel I'm COM
promised" Myra Nell undertook to
show horror in her features, but burst
into a gale Of laughter.
do you care for him very much?''
I'm crazy about him! Why. dearie.
after this-we're-we're almost married.
Now, watch me show him how deeply
I'm offended"
But when she appeared in the dining
room. late as usual, her frigidity was not
especially marked. On the contrary her
face rippled into one smile after an
other. and. Selling Blake by both hands.
she danced around him. singing:
You did it. You did it! You did it.
Hurrah for a jolly life in the pest
house,!
Nine La Branche was inclined to he
shocked at this behavior. but inasmuch
as Papa Montegut was beaming angel
ically upon the two young people she
allowed herself to be Modified
II couldn't believe Vittoria," Myra Nell
told Norvin Don't you know the dan
ger You run?'
Mr.. La Branche exclaimed. Il am desc
lated at the consequences OF my selfish
ness, I did not sleep wink. ! can
never atone"
quite right" his wife agreed. 'You
must have been mad, Montegut. 1t was
criminal OF you to rush forth and en-
brace him in that manner
But. delight OF my soul, the news lie
bore. The joy of seeing him. 1t un-
manned me-" The Creole waved his
hands wildly. as IL at a loss for words
'Oh, you fibber! Norvin told me he'd
''Eh! Impossible. We are associates
in business; business of a most impor-
tant-' But what does that term signify
to you. my precious ladybirds? Nothing.
Enough: then. to say that he saved me
from disaster Naturally L was over
joyed and forgot myself"
His wife inquired. timidly, Have Your
affairs gone disastrousy?"
Worse than that! Ruin stared us in
the face until he came. Our deliverer"'
Blake flushed at this fulsome extrava-
gance, particularly as he saw Myra Nell
making faces at him.
Fortunately everything is arranged
now" he assured his hostess, but this
did not satisfy Miss Warren, who, with
apparent innocence. questioned the two
men until Papa La Branche began to bog.
and founder in his explanations. For
tunately for the men she was diverted
for the moment by discovering that the
table was set for only four.
''Oh. we need another place" she ex-
claimed, for Vittoria.'
The old lady said, quietly. NO. dear.
While We were alone 1t was permissible,
but it is better now in this way
Myra Nell's ready acquiescence was
shock to Norvin. arguing as II did that
these people regarded the Countess
Margherita as an employe. Could it be
that they were SO utterly blind?
He was allowed little time for such
thoughts, however, since Myra Nell set
herself to the agreeable task Of unmask-
ing her lover and confounding MonteEut
La Branche. But Cousin Althea was not
of a suspicious nature and continued 10
beam upon her husband. albeit a trifie
vaguely. Then. when breakfast WAS ont
of the way. the girl added to NorNin
emba rrassment by flirting with him so
outrageously that he was glad To flee TO
Papa Monteguts piauet game.
At the first opportunity he said TO Mt
toria: Il feel dreadfully about this.
Why, they seem TO think you re a-a-
servant. It's unbearable.
That is part of my work: j am ac-
customed to it,. She smiled.
"Then you have changed. But IL they
knew the truth how differently they d
act"
They must never suspect; more de-
ponds upon II than YOU know
Il feel horribly guilty. all the same.
"It can make no difference what they
think Of me. I'm afraid. however, that
you have-made it-difficult for Myra
Nell"
$50 it appears. / didn't think Of her
when I entered this delightful prison.
''You had no choice.
1T wasn't altogether that. ] wanted
to be near YOU, Eittoria.'
Her glance was level and cool. her
voice steady 1t was chivalrous TO try
and spare me the necessity of explaining.
The situation was trying. but we were
both to blame and now we must make
the best of it, Myra Nelrs misunder-
standing is complete and she will be UNI
happy unless you devote yourself TO her
Il simply can't. | think III keep I'd
myself as much as possible
You don't know that girl, Nittoria
said "You think she is frivolous and