Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

be the last time | should see you Tor months,
and, feeling that there was so much at stake,
that wanted so much, began to talk in
flippant tone that didn't at all represent
what | felt My feeling is deep, it is rever-
emit, Miss Give, and here l am unable to
say what l really feel, talking like any clod
hopper about being friends
He broke off and again bit his lip moodily.
There was a pause, and then he said, 81 can't
say anything that is more lame or malapro-
pos than what have already said; so | am
going to ask you pointblank, May we be
friends? When come back will you let me
come to see vou let us have the companion
ship of real friends? | had rather have your
friendship than anything on earth, Miss
Give. Am | distressing you in asking you
to give me the right to win yours?'
Angela was looking at him almost pite
o,1sy The lace at her breast rose and fell
with the heavy beating of her heart. He
met her eyes, and instinctively she rose and
came closer to him, as if she would read him
utterly. He smiled his crooked little smile,
and then she put her hand over her eyes,
with a sudden gesture ofspain.
ooh, | don't know!" she cried.
"Have | pressed you too hard?' he asked
gently.
"Wait-I do not know. think can say
sincerely that if you were going to be in
New York we should grow to be friends"
she said, looking at him with perplexed
air. "and if you come back, or when you
come back, for | think you will if you can,
you shall come to see me-
"Thank you," he said humbly.
"And now do let us take it for granted,
and talk about something else," she said,
with change of Tone
DAMON seized on the first subject that
l came into his head, which happened to
be Frances Helen. From that their talk
gradually drifted to other topics. She asked
him very little about his past life, and he
was thankful for that. He did not want to
fabricate incidents about the youth of Jim
my Sylvester for her, as he had for Mrs
Beldon. There was always the chance of
mixing up the two personalities of Sylvester
and Damon; but beside all that he wanted
to be as truthful as he could to Angela
Give. He spoke of Switzerland of New
York, of books and plays; for his brief excur-
sion through Larrabee DamOn's library had
brought back to his mind what he had read
She talked even more than he did, telling
him much about her early life on the Texas
ranch, and about her days in school and
college. Often he was conscious that she
looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for
something he did not say. Occasionally,
when he smiled, distressed look crossed
her face. The conviction grew upon him
that there must be something unsightly
about his smile; for it had disturbed so
many people since he had become Larrabee
Damon.
He fingered, on the excuse of hoping to
see Mrs. Beldon, Mrs. Chester, and Frances
Helen, although he had heard the child's
nurse forcibly bearing her past the draw
ing room door to her supper. But when
it was long after six he knew there was no
possible excuse to delay further. Besides,
Re had to dress and drive uptown for Sara
Keene and her mother. With long sigh
he rose and said goodby. She had not asked
him where he was going, and he told her
now, indefinitely, that it was on long cruise,
and that he would send her tokens. He knew
Henderson would not approve of his writing
back as Sylvester; and indeed he felt lost
between his two personalities. But if he
dared not write, at least he could send her
things, and she would know he had not for
gotten her.
He held her hand until size gently with
drew it. Then he said stumblingly:
"Goodby, Miss Give, and thank you for
your goodness to me-