The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-30
CHAPTER xx.-continued.

For Gods sake!" he heard her
murmur, and she impatiently drew
her cloak around her shoulders. Po-
niotowsky put out his hand to help
her, but she drew back from him, ex-
claiming violently: ooh, no-no!" Be
fore he was aware what he was doing,
Dan was holding his hand out to Miss
Lane.
How she turned to him! God Of
dreams! How she took in one cold
hand his hand; just the grasp man
needs to lead him to offer the serv,
ice Of his life. Her hand was icy-it
thrilled him to his marrow.
"Oh-you-" she breathed. "Hello!"
No words could have been more
commonplace, less in the category Of
dramatic or poetic welcome, but they
were music to the boy, and when the
actress looked at him with a ghost of
smile on her trembling lips, Dan was
sure there was some kind Of blessing
In the greeting.
Il am going to see you home" he
said with determination, and she
caught at 1t:
Yes, yes, dol Will you?"
The third member of the party had
not spoken. A servant fetched him
a light to which he bent, touching his
cigar. Then he lifted his head-a
handsome one-with its cold and in
different eyes, to Lefty Lane.
Good night, Miss Lane" A deep
color crept under his dark skin.
Come" said the actress eagerly,
come along; my motor is out there
and am crazy tired That is all
there Is about it. Come along"
Snatched from a marriage contract,
still bitter from his Jealous anger, this
Ito be alone with her-by the side of
this white, fragrant, wonderful crea-
ture-to have been turned to by her,
to be alone with her, the duchess of
Breakwater out of his horizon, Ponio-
towsky gone-Oh, it was sweet to
him! They had rolled out from the
Carlton down toward the square and
he put his arm around her waist. his
voice shook:
You are dead tired. And when !
saw that brute with you tonight I
could have shot him"
Take your arm away, please"
Why?
Take 1t away. I don't like it. Let
my hand go. What's the matter with
you? ! thought could trust you"
He said humbly: you can-certain.
ly you can"
Il am tired-tired-
Under his breath he said "Put
ling"
And she turned on him nearly as
violently as she had on Poniotowsky,
and burst into tears, crouching almost
In the corner OF the motor away from
him, both her hands upon her breast.
On, can't you see how you bother
me? Can't you see want to rest and
be all alone? You are like them all
like them all. Can't rest anywhere? p
The very words she used were those
he had thought of when he saw her
dance at the theater. and his heart
broke within him.
You can, he stammered, rest
right here. God knows want you to
rest more than anything won't
touch you or breathe again or do any
thing you don't want me to-"
She covered her face with her
hands and sat so without speaking to
him. The light in her motor shone
over her like a kindly star, as,
wrapped In her filmy things, she lay
white rose blown into a sheltered
nook. After little she wiped her
eyes and said more naturally:
you look perfectly dreadfully, boy!
What have you been doing with your.
self" T
They had reached the Savoy II
seemed to Dan they were always just
driving up to where some one opened
a door. out Of which she was to fly
away from him. He got out before
her and helped her from the car
We'll. I've got piece of news tc
tell you. ! have broken my engage
ment with the duchess"
This brought her back far enough
into life to make her exclaim: "Oh,
am glad! That's perfectly flnel
don't know when I've heard anything
that pleased me so much. Come an,
see me tomorrow and tell me all abou
it."