The Washington times., 1913-06-30

why. yes 1 came early in case you
wanted to so to your rooms first. Do
you know. I've been to the Milan and
band playing. and it's all quite fairy
| tale, isn't it?"
He laughed. and they went out to.
gether into the street. She looked at
him with sudden gravity.
Never better" he answered her
gayly. She shook her head.
You haven't been worrying about
Joan?"
| truthfully.
She sighed.
Il wish didn't. Douglas. didn't
mean to talk Of this just now, for it's
| a horrid subject, and today Is fete
day. But supposing Joan finds you out.
Could she make them arrest you?
Not a doubt about It," he answered.
.'if she choose"
And afterward?"
well. 1t wouldn't be pleasant" he
admitted. 'I think I should get out Of
| it, but 1t might be awkward And In
more pain upon Joan than any she has
Did anyone kill father. Douglasr,
He hesitated.
L didn't"
do you know who did?"
I'm afraid I can guess"
She was silent for a moment. Then
they turned off into the side street
where his rooms were. and she passed
her arm through his.
There. now. I'm going to Danish that
and all unpleasant subjects she de-
elared DO you know. I feel ridicu-
lously light-hearted today. Douglas.
warn you that I shall be frivolous
You'll be very welcome one" he
answered. There was never time
when wanted you 30 much. I've fin
ished my novel. and 1 have fit Of
TT is your own fault" she said. "It
for fortnight"
"And 1 wonder how much you have
missed me all that fortnight Tell me
what you have been doing"
She looked at him sidewise. He al
most fancied that she was blushing.
Tuesday night Mr.. Drexley took me
out to dinner. and we went to the Ly-
ceum," she said. ..--.
HE anat stopped short on the pavement.
She looked up at him demurely.
why. you don't mind. do you. Doug
las? Mr.. Drexley's a friend of yours.
isn't he? He has been SO kind"
a@ansd aeues ne Ana how ore
times have you seen him during the
fortnight. I wonder?"
.'Well-once or twice" she admitted.
ANY more dinner parties?"
I'VE went to Richmond one afternoon.
Mr.. Drexley rows SO nicely He intro
duced me to his sister"
Never knew he had one" Douglas
muttered. Here we are. Come in and
sit down while ] change"
Douglas was not long over his toilet.
When he returned he was inclined to
be thoughtful. For no earthly reason
he could think of, Cissy's friendship
with Drexley irritated him. He did not
understand IT. He had looked upon
was an impossibility. for whom there
was no hope of any further social life.
Was II possible that he could be seri-
ously attracted by Cicely? He watched
her with this though. all through lunch
con, and gradually there crept into his
mind fuller and more complete appre-
citation Of her unmistakable charm. All
the time she was chattering gayly to him
chasing away his gloom, forcing him
to breathe the atmosphere Of gayety and
lightheartedness which she seemed at
once to create and to revel in.
1t occurred to him that IL ever a girl
in the world was created to save a man
from despair. surely she was that one.
Dainty, cheerful. unselfish, with a
charming command Of language and a
piquant wit, CiceIy had made vast
strides in self-development since the
days when they had sat together on
the Feldwick Hills and talked of that
future into which II seemed then so i'm
possible that they should ever pass
DO you remember" he asked her,
what we used to call the pearl light,
the soft crystalline glow before the sun
rise. and how fresh and sweet the air
was when we scrambled up the hill?"
She nodded tnoughtfully
II think very often Of those days. and
the dreams we used to weave together
Sometimes i can scarcely believe how
rear we have come to realizing them.
What a wonderfully still. lonely country
II was!
I'VE used to sit and watch the smoke
curl upward from the cottages one by
one. The farm was always the first
Yes. Joan saw TO that"
And the nights. Do you remember
how sweet the perfumes were-the
heather and the wild thyme? Those
long. COL nights. Cissy. wher we
watched the lights flicker out one by
one. and the corn-crakes and the barn
owl came and made music for us.
1T is like beautiful picture, the
memory" she murmured
Build a fence around and keep It"
he said Life there was an abstrac-
ton. but a beautiful one. London has
made man and woman of us, but are we
any happier?"
II am" she answ cred, simply.
You are happy, because you have not
graspcd at shadows he said Bitterly.
"You have taken the good which has
come. and been thankful"
And you,'' she replied. softly, "you
are known already. In a few months
time you will be famous
AYE. but shall l be happy?" he ;.sked
himself ONLY half aloud
'1f you WILL" she answered. "Tf you
have spent any of your time grasping
at shadows. be thankful at least that
you are man enough to realize II and
put them from you. Life should be a
full thing for you. Douglas, I think
that you are wonderful. All that we
dreamed of for you has come true"
He looked into her face with a sud
den intensity-a pretty face enough.
flushed and earnest.
'Cissy, help me to realize one at least
Of those dreams. WIN your