Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-11-15
PLAYING THE GAME
BY ENocH KYLE.

OF his life.
II was because he felt 1t incum-
bent upon him to play the game that
he decided to tell the woman he was
going to marry of a certain newly
closed episode In his life. The con-
sideration that perhaps it would be
as well for her to hear the tale from
him first-hand, instead of embroidered
with lies on a foundation of truth, as
she might hear it from some one else,
may have counted for something, too.
But the reason he gave himself az
he knotted his tie carefully before the
mirror on the fateful morning OF
confession was that he must play
the game"
81 hardly know how to tell you,
DEAR" he began awkwardly, standing
tall and perfectly groomed on the
hearthrug that afternoon. Its so diff
ficult to speak to women-pure wom-
en-, like you-about certain things, but
the fact of the matter is, I've been
an awful rotter, Evelyn. and / feel it's
up to me to own it. You're not mar
rying a saint, you know"
The fair-haired woman in the big
armchair looked up at him sweetly
out of innocent blue eyes: Dear, do
know" she said gently.
He moved uncomfortably. But It's
Just what you don't know" he told her,
that I'm worrying about. I'm not
thinking of cards and racing, and
things like that. It's about women |
want to speak to you. Especially one
woman" He paused and bit his lip
nervously.
"Ah!" said the woman softly. look
ing down.
she was a nice little thing" went
on the man. Not quite a lady. you
know, but very pretty, and all that"
Her father drank. She ran
away from home. Hadn't a friend in
the world when picked her up. Only
the streets in front of her. A good
woman like you, Evelyn. can't realize
what the horror of that means.
took a fat for her"
"Ah!" said the woman softly.
II lived with her more or less for
three years." went on the man. gather
ing courage from her passiveness.
she was very grateful for all ! had
done for her; she was really quite a
nice little thing. But, of course, that's
all over and done with now. / set
tied up finally with her today. l shall
never see her again. There was no
reason for you ever to know, Evelyn.
only that I :elt It wouldn't be quite
playing the game not to tell you"
What has become of the girl?"
asked the woman, still softly and still
looking away.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
"Still in the fiat. / presume" he said
carelessly. THE rent is paid till De-
cember." His voice became persua-
sive. He bent down so that his face
was very near the coils of hair wound
smoothly round her head. Don't let's
talk about her any more" he urged.
'Tt's all finished and done with. Now.
don't frown, but Just kiss me, and say
you forgive me-"
You're a very naughty boy, Jack,
said the woman reprovingly, but she
let him wind her smooth white arms
round his neck, as he knelt beside her
on the floor. Then II you promise
never, never to do it again. I'll for
give you" she said prettily.
He caught her, flushed and smiling,
to him fiercely. MY saint" he
breathed upon her mouth"
In daintily furnished room of a lit
tie fiat in Queens Club Gardens q
woman lay dead upon the bed with an
empty phial in her hand. There were
traces Of tears upon her white. cold
cheeks; her closed eyelids we're swol'
len. Her lover had failed her. There