The Washington times., 1913-06-18

I only nave ALREADY naQ more oppor-
tunities than most men. Don't you
think, yourself, that II is almost time I
buckled to and started life more seri-
ously?"
1T is for you to say" she answered:
| quietly You know better than /. If
You have work in your brain and you
are weary of other things-well. au re-
voir, and good luck to you. Only you
will come and see me now and then,
and tell !, me hST % You onsT ARE s getting on for
She looked at him with eyes trifie
dim, and Douglas felt his heart beat
thickly, and the memory of Rice's pas
sionate words seemed suddenly weak
Il shall come and see you always" he
said, las often as you would have me
| come. You know that.
| She shook her head as though but
half convinced. Then she rose to her
| feet
.There is just one thing l should like
to ask you," she said. This new reso-
luton of yours-did you come by 1t
alone. or has anyone been advising
| your
| Douglas hesitated.
Il have been talking to a man." he
| admitted, .-who certainly seemed to
mink that was neglecting my work."
.'will you tell me who IL was?"
Douglas looked into her face and be-
came suddenly grave. The eyes were
| narrower and brighter. a CLINT of white
! teeth showed through the momentarily
parted lips A tiny spot of color burned
| in her cheeks-something of the wild
animal semed suddenly to have leaped
up in ner. Yet. how beautiful she was.
II cannot do that" he faltered-
Then 1t was some one who spoke TO
| you of me" she continued calmly. You
, need not trouble to contradict me-
Hadn't you better hurry away before
have the chance to do you any harm?
There Is one young man / know, of
melodramatic turn Of mind, who per-
sists In looking upon me as a sort of
siren. calling my victims on to the
rocks. / expect that is the person with
whom you have been talking. Douglas
lesson. I think that / am little dis
appointed In YOU egssSs - - = -
She stood up and smoothed out her
skirts. He was very near at that mo-
ment throwing all thoughts of Rice's
words to the winds and retracting all
that he mad said. After all, II was she
who had brought him back from death.
Whatever his future might be, he owed
1t to her. She looked into his eyes and
felt that she had conquered. Yet the
very fascination Of that smile which
parted her lips was like a chill warning
to him.
II will tell you who 1t was who has
been talking to me-" he said. 1T is a
clerk of Drexley's. man named Rice"
She nodded.
Il thought so. Poor boy! He will
never forgive me-"
For what?" Douglas asked quickly.
That was the crux of the whole matter.
For his own folly" she answered
quietly. Il was good to him-helped
him In many ways. He tried to make
love to me. ! had to send him away.
of course. That is the worst of you
young men. If a woman tries to help
you. you seem to think 1t your duty
to fall in love with her. What is she
to do them"
Cant a woman-always make it
ri CHI hat that Snrt
of thing is not permitted?''
do you think that she can? Do you
think that she knows what she wishes
herself until the last moment. until it
is too late?"
Douglas rose I'D a little unsteadily.
Take my own case" he cried. with
sudden little burst of passion. You
are the most beautiful woman whom L
have ever seen. you are kind to me.
you suffer me to be your companion.
Yet If / commit the folly of falling in
love with you, you will dismiss me IN
a moment without a sigh. ! am only
an ordinary being. Don't you think
that / am wise il I try to avoid run
ming such riskT
What a calculating mortal! Is this
all the effect of Mr.. Rice's warning"
We'll, isn't II TRUTH
She shook her head. II can't pretend |
to say. Do any of us really know. / /,
" W
given circumstances? wish you
would tell me exactly what your friend !
complained of in my treatment OF him..
He spoke-not only Of himself"
Douglas answered. There was man !
called Silverton.
"WlNt?'
He looked across at her in swift sur
prise It seemed to him that her anger |
had suddenly changed into wonderful |
and speechless terror. Her LETT nand
Was buried in the soft cushions. the |
pupils of her eyes were dilated. she was
bloodless to the lips. When she spoke
il was hard to recognize her voice.
What of him? What did he know? /
What did he tell you-of him."
Douglas expression of blank surprise |
seemed an immense relief to her.
"Only-something like what he told me |
of himself. He also was foolish enough |
to rall in love with you, and"
She rose suddenly and held out her
hand.
"Come. my friend she said, II have
had enough Of this Take me out to my
carriage i think you are very wise to
avoid such a dangerous person"
She swept out of the room before him,
and down the broad stairs. A footma1
stood by the side of her victoria until
she had settled herself In the most COM
Portable corner Then he mounted the
box. ard she leaned for a moment for
ward.
You won't Gomez she asked. with a
slight gesture OF invitation toward the
vacant seat.
But Douglas. to whom the invita- ton
seemed. in sense. allegorical, shook his
head. He pointed eastward
"The taste of the lotus is sweet" he
said, but one must live"
zx.--- -x-