Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
MADCAP

love, do it as other gods do-by messenger.
Otherwise your Elysian dignity is in jeop-
ardy You are not the kind of man that
women love, my dear. Come, it IS time that
we joined the others.
She led him down the avenue of roses,
every line of her graceful figure rebuking his
insufficiency, and he followed dumbly, aware
of it.
On the terrace, occupied by couples in
tent upon private matters, she promptly de-
serted him. leaving him to his own devices
without word. He stood for moment of
uncertainty, and then furnbling in his pock-
smoking room in search of a cigarette.
TWO spades declared Archie Westcott
at the auction table, and then when
Markham went out, "Odd fish, that"
"Three hearts," said Mrs. Renshaw.
4Why Hernia asks such people I can't mag
inc. You're never certain whom you're
asked to meet nowadays Prig, isn't he?"
ooh, rather! Has ideals, and all that sort
of thing-hasn't he, Hilda?'
"If his ideals are as rotten as his manners,
| can't say much for en-
@Olga likes him.
ooh, Olga!' shifted Hilda. Anything
for new sensation. Remember that queer
little French Marquis who trailed around
after her at Monte Carlo?'
ooh, play BALI growled Gouverneur.
"Who cares-so long as he keeps out ofhere!"
Unaware of these unfattering comments,
Markham strolled outdoors and into lone
" armchair on the terrace, and smoked in
solitary dignity Indeed, solitude seemed
to be the only thing left to him. He was not
man who made friends rapidly, and the
three or four people whom he might have
cared to cultivate had other fish to fry to-
highland were not frying them on the ter
race. Olga it seemed, had no intention of
returning, and Hernia Challoner was doubt
less already in that happy phase OF expert
mentation so warmly advocated by Reggie
Arrnistead.
He envied those two young people their
carelessness, their grace, their ruddy de-
lights, which by contrast AIDED conviction
to Olga's indictment of him He tried with
some difficulty to analyze the precise nature
of his sentiments toward Olga Tcherny, and
| found at the end of quarter of an hour, to
his surprise, that the only feeling OF which
he was conscious was one of dull resentment
at her for having made a fool of him.
He had awakened rudely tonight He
was now aware that sentiment on Olga's
part had never been banished nor could ever
be banished with woman of her type. He
records of their friendship, unrnindful of
her history, as to which he had been fore
warned.
Tonight the secret was out. The ferni-
nine in her had been triumphant. He was
different kind of fish from any she had
caught, and for reasonsof her own she wanted
him. She had been playing him skilfully
for months, giving him all the line in her reel
that he might be hooked the more easily.
And to what end? Their friendship had
fallen into shreds. What was to follow?
He rose and threw the unsatisfactory Gig
arctic into the bushes. 1t was high time he
was making his way back to Thimble Island
and solitude!
THERE was a rustic of silk behind him,
and he turned. ooh, do stay, Mr.. Mark
ham. l was just coming out to talk to you"
He greeted Hernia with delight, quickly
responding to the charm of her juvenility.
II was wondering if l should see you again.
he said genuinely.
@You see,' she laughed, II don't always
pop in feet first" She sat and examined
him curiously, and then, what a fraud you
are, Mr.. Markham!"
"I?"
"A deep-dyed hypocrite. can't see how
you can dare look me in the face"
"But can-and find it very pleasant.