Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-12

quite innocently into the glare of the srnok-
ing room. Poor olga And she is always
so careful to cover her trails But | warned
her. She shall not trif1e with your young
Affections
"You warned herr he said with a startled
air.
"Yes, that unless she intended to marry
you she must leave you alone"
Markham flicked fly from the donkey's
ear. Him. he said, and relapsed into 81
lence.
She glanced at him sidewise before she
went on. @You know you're not really
angry with me, Philidor. You couldn't be.
1t isn't my fault if l stumbled into the
climax of your interesting romance
wouldn't willingly have done it for worlds.
But | couldn't help seeing, could II And
Olga was so self possessed! Only woman
terribly disconnected could be quite so self
possessed as Olga was. And then the next
day you went away. Flight is confession,
Philidor'
@H-m," said Markham. @If there are any
missing details that you like me to supply,
don't hesitate to mention them
al wouldn't there were any
@And you believe @
3That you re madly in love with the most
dangerous woman in New York, and that
only time and distance can Salve your
wounds and her conscience
He pulled at his pipe and shrugged a
shoulder.
3That's why l say you're fraud, Phil
DOR she went on, "a delusion, also snare
Your beetling brows, your air of indiffer-
ence, your intolerance of the world. they're
the defensive armor for your shrinking sus-
women! Every sitter In your studio an
enemy in the house, every tube of paint
silent witness of your frailty, every brush
stroke delicious pain-the agony of it!'
She tweaked Clarissa's ear and whispered
into its tip. 3It's much wiser to be just a
donkey, isn't it, Clarissa?'
Markham grirned little sheepishly; but
like Clarissa refused to be drawn into the
discussion. Indeed, his patience, like that
of their beast of burden, continued to be
excellent. Herrnia's impish spirit was not
proof against such imperturbable good
humor, and at last she subsidized. Markham
walked In silence for some moments, speak
ing after awhile with cool assertiveness.
ats rather curious, Hernia, if I'm the
silly, sentimental ass you've been picturing
me, that you'd care to trust yourself to what
you are pleased to call my shrinking sus-
capabilities
@But you re in love with another woman
she said, taking to cover quickly.
1I'm in love with all other women he
laughed; "all, that is, except yourself. 1t
must be surprise to one who counts her
conquests daily to discover that of all women
in the world you are the only female my
shrinking susceptibilities are proof against.
Her eyes were turned on him in wide
amazenent, eyes now quite violet and child
like. IL never thought of that, Philidor. 1t
is curious that never thought of that. 1t
isn't very fattering to me, is it?'
3No, especially as the opportunities for
indulgence in my favorite pursuit are so very
obvious
She laughed, but looked away. He had
provided sauce for the gander that made
him seem anything but goose. 3But of
course you-you couldn't take advantage of
them-in the circumstances" she remarked
He shook his head, doggedly whimsical
Zone never can tell just how long ones de-
fersive armor may hold out. I'm sure my
brows are beetlng much less than usual. In
fact, this morning, in spite of severe provo
cation, they don't seem to be beetling at all:
And as for my air of indifference. challenge
you to discover it. If these are forbidding
symptoms, Hernia, take warning while
there's time
9Ob Tn, NOT IN the 1aact alarmed che