The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-11-05

credit without a moments hesitation.
lie wondered how far she had got with
Bivens. Could it be possible that Nan
was with him tonight? No-preposter-
GUS.
Mrs. Primrose greeted him with I'M
usual effusion:
"Oh. jim. this is such a glorious sur
prise. Nan didn't expect you till morn
ing. and she will be heartbroken to
have missed you even for half hour.
My dear. dear boy. you have no idea
how lonely both of us have been with
out you the past two weeks"
You missed me. too, Mrs. Prim-
rose?"
"Of course missed you. jim! You've
come to be like one of us. You know
I've always loved you next to Nan
She spoke with such fervor that Stu
art shivered. 1t was sinister. She evil
IDENTITY felt sure of his ruin.
eve needed you here so much to
help us fix up. We've had the good
luck to rent our second floor to young
millionaire
"MIr. Bivens. yes
why, how did you know?" she ask
ed with start.
DIR. Woodman has just received an
important letter from him. dated here.
and he asked my advice about it"
oh
where's Nan?" Stuart asked. with
sudden anger III spite of his effort to
keep cool.
why. she giving a little box party
at the theater tonight
And our mutual friend. John c,
Calhoun Bivens. is prcsiding?'
why. jim how could you he So
absurd?" she protested Indignantly.
I've been saving money for il month
to give Nan this chance to return
some courtesies she has received from
rich friends | need Mr.. Bivens' mon
ey to pay the rent of this big house
But any attention on his part to Nan
would be disgusting to me beyond
measure"
Yet he's the sensation in high
! finance just now" Stuart said. with
an unconscious sneer. They say he's
destined to become a multi-milion
ARE
Come. come. Jim. it's not like Won
to he nasty to me. You know as well
as | do his origin in North Carolina.
His people are the veriest trash. He
was at college with you
"And how did you know that?"
Not from you. of course. You've
never mentioned his name in your life.
He told me. He thinks you are going
to be the greatest lawyer in New
York. And told him we'd known
that for long time
| Stuart turned his head to hide a
smile.
"But of course he's not in Mans so
cial set | told her the day he came
that we would treat him politely but
draw the line strictly on any efforts
he may make to pass the limits of ac-
quaintance."
A carriage stopped at the door.
There's Nan now" the mother eX-
claimed. rising to go. "Ill leave you
to surprise her. jim"
Stuart heard the carriage door slam.
and in moment the girl he loved
stood in the hall, the joy of an even
ing's perfect happiness shining in her
great dark eyes. He watched her a
moment unobserved as she laid aside
her opera cloak and stood before the
big mirror proudly and calmly survey
ing her figure. Never had her beauty
seemed to him so dazzling. The smile
was one of conscious power. The cor
ners Of the full sensuous lips curved
the slightest bit as the smile faded and
CLEAN of something like cruelty flash
ed from the depths of her eyes as her
head lifted
Stuart, unable to wait longer, was
about to spring to her side when she
caught the flash of his laughing face in
the mirror and turned.
"Oh, you rascal. To surprise me like
this" she cried. with joyous laughter.
Sin all your pride and vanity!"
You can't help being little vain
yourself, Jim. any more than | can
lou huOW you AOONiHS
fellow. These Yankee girls all love
you at first sight-the tall. straight,
sinewy figure. strong and swift in ev-
cry movement, the finely chiselled
face. the deep set. dark brown eyes
under their heavy brows, that big
masterful jaw and firm mouth
Stuart suddenly took her In his arms
and kissed her into silence.
Hush. Nan. don't like the way
you say that"
why? Am I too modest"
mo, too deliberate and coldly mis-
tress Of yourself. l wish you loved me
little more unanimously as | do
you"
swell, let me whisper then that your
return tonight has made perfect end
ing to a perfect day. Oh. jim. I've
been 30 happy tonight! Seated in that
ILL., aAo <.O k1ow 7 eoIk uyoS o0rno-