The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-23
tcopyrisht. fsl4)

Jack Martin swept roun,


the ST Charles Hotel 1t was brilliant
summer morning; and Jack, in his pom.
gee silk cap, his blue Norfolk jacket
khaki riding-breeches, and glossy pig.
skin puttees had the pleasant feeling Of
appearing at his best, and able to look
well-dressed world in the eye.
The veranda was thronged with peo-
pie, and the long rows of chairs, the
general animation, the. sort of holiday
expression on the faces of everyone
suggested the deck of some big liner,
three or four days out. Golf parties,
picnic parties; some very swell children
were being mounted on donkeys; bores
were circulating-male and female-and
there was an agreeable, high-class buzz
that gave an implication OF oongeniality,
eNhilarating mountain air, social free
dom, and new-found friends
Jack was big, manipulating fellow
of thirty, with a pleasant, open face,
tanned to claimants red, and an air of
him as substitute for beauty No, our
hero wasn't handsome; but he had his
points, and there was a perceptible rus
tie of muslin and ribbons at the sight
of him. Of course, the car helped-as
diamonds help a lady-but Lord bless
you, Jack was happier to have his car
admired than himself. and was as. pune
tilious about his lamps as his cuffs.
He leaned back lazily in his seat, and
Lighting a cigar to disguise his evident
intention, proceeded to pass the veranda
in review. He wanted a companion for
a spin, and was carefully celebrating
over the choice of one Yonder was
Miss Stebbins, very alert to catch his
eye and smile. But somehow he wasn't
in the humor for Miss Stebbins that
morning That tall dark girl was pretty
nioe-Miss, Miss-Oh, yes-Miss Sim
clair-but then he'd have to take her
mother. Didn't want to take her moth
er. An old cat, and abominably gossippy
and prying. Little Miss Smith p
We-e-ell, no. She had been a failure
the last time-chattered too much. and
agreed with everything he said, the lit |
tie idiot. Wouldn't mind that stunning |
thing in blue. Only the trouble was that |.
he didn't know her. Pity he didn't know F..
the stunning thing in blue. Must try to
manage it. Had to- She belonged to !
Alice's type-only not half so beautiful
One of those glorious blends that dazzle
fellow-that-. He mustn't think of
Alice, though. What unsupported pow
ers she still had to hurt him, to torment
him, even after two years. He sighed,
and tried to put Alice out of his mem
ory, but she seemed to cling to him, and
nestle her dainty head against his shout
der. Wished, after all, that he. hadn't
seen that horrid blue thing. Wished
he had never come to the internal place. !;
Wished that he was back in his Office,
away.
He would take a man. He hated all
that flirting, and summer-girl business.
The German baron was rather a good
sort; so was the bald insurance man
with the little boy. Only, on the small
est provocation. he would blubber about
his dead wife. 1t was embarrassing. The
poor little boy would blubber, too. Well,
he didn't blame him. Suppose it had
been Alice. 1t was that, he fancied, that
made him so sympathetic. He could see
the bald insurance mans side of it, you
know. Fellows who had felt those
things didn't scott It's only ignorance :
that is hard-hearted. Wasn't Alice =
dead as far as he was concerned? What :
silly little trifes could divide peoplel
She had insisted on his giving UP Joe
and he wouldn't And that
lad ended tended it for ever. There
MAS woman's love for you. Good-by on
'ink note paper, and off to Europe. He
title knew what Joe was going to cost
lin. Poor old Joe, the best and truest
friend man ever had, who would have
ut of his right hand for him. Yet I'M
Joe had wrecked his life He l
would have been two years married now
it hadn't been for Joe-if he had
brown Joe over. But that was Just g,
What he wouldn't do. No, indeed, he 4,
not if it tore the heart out of
is breast.
The wide-open doors showed the
tairway within. OF a sudden Jacks
ttention was caught and startled. BY
jupiter, it took no second look to rec p
gnize the bristly white beard and I'm
shoulders of Senator -"
tickney-. And the girl step behind
i'm? She turned her head-Alicei
Iere in the Catslcills, in the same hotel q
nth hinself-miracle of miracles
ctually descending toward himl
She saw him instantly-through all at
lose people, through all the crush and
ostle; saw him, and turned pale; catch .
lg at her fathers sleeve. Then she IN
niled at him troubled, poignant smile
almost frightened. Jack, blank and
upefied, hurriedly raised HE can Nh