El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-17

happy out on the ranch? She looked
around upon her small wen appointed
apartment and sighed as she thought
of leaving all these Injuries Well,
she must, at all events. answer Keith's
note. so seating herself at her desk,
she began a letter to her absent lover.
4 Marvel OF Diplomacy.
You have spoken to me OF your
partner as a nice chap" she wrote
If am-pOssibly-tO become ac-
qua1stsd with him some time L would
like to know something definite about
him" Then she paused OF what
matter would keith's friend to be TO
her when she was staid married
woman
She appreciated as she had not
done in months, what marriage must
mean TO her after these years of free
dom She had played so long with the
thought OF marrying this or that man
that until now she had not faced clear
" the fact that when she was Keith
Lacey's wife, flirting, and half accept
ing or almost refusing any man, would
be a little game which she could no
longer play Gould she be satisfied
with Lacy, and Lacy Only-and live
with him out on a ranch away from all
her associates and friends. and pretty
new fashions in clothes and in enter
taining2 She laid down her pen and
wrung her hands.
Was any woman ever so harassed2'
she mOaned- "Oh, / wish knew what
to dol I am tired OF supporting my
self and the children on my small IN
come; I am tired Of having nobody to
look out for me and love me And yet
can love Keith enough to marry him:
Can I love anybody"
She leaned back in her chair and
closed her eyes. and, as in a dream,
she had a swift mental vision Of one
man. the thought of whom thrilled her
She saw again his erect figure. she
saw his deep eyes, the tender and yet
humorous CLEAN in them that she lad
once been able to call forth And this
was the man whom she mad refused
whom she had repulsed and to whom
she had been unkindi Now she might
never see him again-
The telephone bell rang sharply and
she answered il mechanically, her mind
still on the one insistent subject. The
boy at the switchboard downstairs vas
speaking
Robert Maynard Calls.
There's a gentleman calling" he
said. Shall I send him up?"
Who is he2" asked Beatrice.
She waited while there was a short
parley between the clerk and the call
err Then came the startling announce
.Tts Mr.. Robert Maynard that's
calling, ma'am."
The woman stifled a gasp Of aston
ishment and steadied her voice to say
He may come up"
While the elevator was bringing
up her guest, the widow ran into ner
room TO give a finishing touch to her
hair and to exchange the plain hand
kerchief she carried for a dainty en-
broidered one.
Mr.. Maynardr' she said politely.
but with little warmth in her voice
Good afternoon. 1 was surprised
when your name was announced just
now"
She stood aside to let him enter.
but did not offer to shake hands with
him. Robert Maynard, however. no
wise abashed by this omission on the
part Of his hostess. turned TO her as,
side by side they entered the living
room.
a Treaty of Peace.
I'VE have not met in some weeks.
Mrs. Minor ne said, and YOU have
been through a great deal since then
For the sake of the friendship that
once existed between US. viii you not
shake hands with me now
His tone was so frank and cordial
that. before il and his kindly gaze.
Beatrice felt her chill manner thaw-
ing.
Certainly" she said with a smile.
and laid her hand in his. In his hand
clasp there was no sentimental pres
sure and yet. as the widow looked
into his face. she felt her pulses