The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-09-10

She caught, her breath. There was
an 1nstant's hesitation on her part be-
fore she replied.
You have never been very smart at
making love guesses, Leslie" she said,
It's trick you haven't acquired"
He laughed uncomfortably. Meat
stroke, that"
Following her into the corridor out
side the Offices, he pushed the elevator
bell for her.
i meant what I said, Sara" he re-
marked, somewhat doggedly. "You
ought to get married. Chal didn't
leave much for you to cherish. There's
no reason why you should go on like
this, living alone and all that sort of
thing. You're young and beautiful
and
'Oh, thank you, Leslie" she cried
out sharply.
You see, it's going to be this way:
Hetty will probably marry Booth.
That's on dit, 1 take it. You're depend
ing on her for companionship. Well.
she'll quit you cold after she's mar
ried. She will
She interrupted him peremptorily.
IF Challis did nothing else for me.
Leslie, he at least gave me you to
cherish. Once more, goodbye"
The elevator stopped for her. He
strolled back to his Office with a puz-
zled frown on his face. She certainly
was inexplicable!
The angry red faded from her
re no
automobile. Her thoughts were no
longer of Leslie but of another
She sighed and closed her eyes, and
her cheeks were pale
Workmen from a picture dealers es.
Enlistment were engaged in hanging
a FULL length portrait in the long liv-
lng-room Of her apartment when she
reached home. She had sent to the
country for Booths picture of Hetty,
and was having it hung in a conspicu-
GUS place.
Passing the open library door, Sara
paused for an instant to peer within.
Then she went on down the hall to her
own sitting-room The canary was
singing glibly in his cage by the win
dowsside
She threw aside her furs, and, with
out removing her hat, passed into the
bed-chamber at the left of the coy lit
tie boudoir. This was Hettys room.
Her own was directly opposite. On
the girls dressing-table, leaning
| against the broad, low mirror, stood
the unframed photograph of a man.
With furtive glance over her Shout.
der. Sara crossed to the table and
TOOK up the picture in her gloved
hand. For long time she stood there
gazing into the frank, good-looking
face OF Brandon Booth She breathed
faster; her hand shook; her eyes
were strained as if by an inward sug-
gestion Of pain.
She shook her head slowly, as if in
final remuneration of secret hope or
the Punishment of an unwelcome de-
sire, and resolutely replaced the pho
tograph. Her lips we're almost white
as she turned away and re-entered the
room beyond
He belongs to her." she said, I'M
consciously speaking aloud; land he is
| like all men. She must not be unhap-
py."
Presently she entered the library.
| She had exchanged her tailor-suit for a
dainty house-gown. Hetty was still
seated in the big 1ounging chair, be-
fore the swapping fire, apparently not
having moved since she looked in on
passing a quarter of an hour before
| One OF the girls legs was curled I'D
under her. the other swung loose; an
elbow rested on the arm of the chair,
and her cheek was in her hand.
Coming softly up from behind, Sara
leaned over the back of the chair and
put her hands under her friends chin,
| tenderly, lovingly. Hetty started and
| shivered.
ooh, Sara, how cold your hands
are!"
She grasped them in her own and
| fondly stroked them, as if to restore
warmth to the long, slim fingers which