Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-11


Jerry knew so very, very we'll she had
married him because he asked her thai
the once-Elorious and blssful obvious
ness of il became haunting horror
That's the way men pay for getting the
girl they want. when they know the\
shouldn't have her.
Lola at fifteen. was one of those mira
cIes of girlish. almost womanly. lowell
ness who inspire men with faith III etei-
nifty. No man could look into her great.
dark eyes, or behold that wealth of rip
ping black hair. or thrill at the deep
red Of her lips and the tawny lire of her
cheeks. without believing in his heart 81
hearts that time would not dare assail
such beauty and that ii must endure for
ever and a day.
Jerry. who was just a man. like the
rest. and just as selfish. felt that way.
only more Ills theory was that this
marvel of enhancement would not mere
ly hold her own. but would grow more
and more beautiful. more and more al
Turing more and more coveted by every
man who laid eyes on her.
The circumstance that Lola's inherited
wealth would he conSiCiera BILE didn't in
nuence Jerry in the least. any more than
it did the other fellows who worshipeu.
thus prematurely, at her shrine. He. like
most of the other fellows. had wealth
enough of his own and position a good
rs theirs or hers. He was simply obsessed
by the fear that. she grew older ana
more beautiful, there would be SO many
suitorS. and so many who would be better
than he was. that he wouldn't stand q
chance in the world OF getting her if NJ
waited
When Lola was another year older.
Jerry that his worst forebodings
We're being fulfilled she was infinitely
more lovely. and that one added year had
proved sufficient to bring about her in
Vulnerable admirers. whose profaning
gianceS. he believed in his secret heart.
would allure her into marriage with some
of them almost before she knew 1t.
jerry was distinctly supercilious when NJ
could see his rivals no matter how many
they We're, he knew that not man alive
was worthy of gazing upon her face-ex-
cept perhaps. himself: and he had q
true lovers honest doubts about that
But then he knew. too. that his love for
her had reformed him until his soul was
perfectly white and almost qualified 10 be
dedicated forever to her worship.
!:
So with that he asked her Now. since
Jerry was nearly ten years older than
she was and had been her manly idea
from the time she sprang into her teens
Lola knew that she had always loved
nm: and. besides, he was the only one of
all her adorers who had the mpudence 10
think she could be persuaded TO marry
them and that her parents would let her
mats the way many an unworthy hus-
band gets the best wife in the world
II was really. delightfully."- and happily
romantic. and there were scores and
scores of other girls of Lola's age who
ehFled her having love and marriage
come IN that prompt and daring fashion
I-oia herself appreciated their envy as
Only a girl of sixteen can.
Ana she felt very, very sIIperior RI
them. and. indeed. to all the rest of he
women In the world. when the advent III
little Beatrice gave her the dignity of
motherhood. For a year after that i. ola
:" aters was the happiest girl-woman that
ever lived. "'
But, You see. she was even then scarce
~ more than eighteen years old. and no
matter now much society a devoted hus-
Dano can give a girl, she has the con-
seriousness of being tied down when there
IS darling baby at home even If the
nurse and housekeeper are always there
10 look after her. And she can't he alto
sether blind to the way. every man she
meets stares at her, and stares astonisI
nnent when he learns that she is married
ana mas the dearest little girl who ever
was born She can't be blind either IN
the expression of disappointment which