Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-30
Evening Star S
Daily Story
BRUNETTE OR BLONDE? =?
BIZ HARMONY WELLER.

come T6cOnCll6Q 10 inc IaCC LndL Buo
had chosen for life partner a man
Of brunette type. Always. from her
earliest dreams OF love, she had pic
tured a mate whose hair reflected
the glory OF the sun and whose eyes
were blue-blue as the night sky.
But, alas for ideals when Haunted
by facts Martha had fallen in love
With David McVicker, and his hair
was as black as the ravens wing and
his eyes were the deep brown of the
Arabs dusky orbs.
"Oh, dear!" she sighed, "I seem to
set so weary looking at dark hall" "
Martha cast a heeting glance at her
reflection, which revealed trecses as
black as the shadow of the mountains
and eyes only less dark because Of
the, glow of dun red within their
lovely depths. But I suppose since
am to sail Saturday for London and
TO meet David again, I had better
cheer UP and forget my golden haired
knight of fancy"
Martha had not seen David Nc
Wicker for eighteen months.
Martha blushed over the fact that
she had succumbed to Dayid's WOO
ing after q scant two weeks ac-
quaintance, one of which had been
spent on shipboard. After a second
week David had returned to his ma
tive land, leaving Martha with a
most lovely solitaire. on her finger
and a more or, less startled acl1nowl-
cdgment Of Ter engagement.
The six months that were expected
10 intervene between meetings had
dragged into eighteen, and 1t was
With slightly lessened enthusiasm
that Martha made preparations for
The Iong-de1ayed trip.
When the New York sailed into
British waters and the mail came on
9oard Martha got letter from
David in which he regretted the
eact that he could not meet her at
Liverpool. He had been sent to Bel
Fast for at least three weeks on
business. Martha sighed, but was
not desperately disappointed. David
had informed her that Andre Le-
queux, a Belgian, who was stopping
with him, would meet her and pilot
iler safely to London. Martha found
herself wondering what Andre Le-
queux would be like, and thinking
that she would rejoice in knowing
anyone from the now famous coun-
try of Belgium. She pondered on
the question as to how he would be
able to find her among the passenger
list, but Marttat had not reckoned
on David having provided Lequeux
with a photograph.
It was not difficult, then, upon
reaching the wharf at Liverpool to
Ind herself facing a most wonderfully
solden- haired young man, who intro
lrced himself as Andre Leoueux.
Martha smiled and enjoyed the firm
grip Of the Belgian's hand. She
smiled again inwardIy when she OBJ
served that his eyes were the deep
blue Of the night sky II she sighed
Andre did not know that she was
comparing him favorably with her
dream man Of past days.
Lequeux seemed the most capable
person and had seen to her luggage,
and a customs inspector had put her
and her small bags on the train be-
fore Martha quite realized it. She
found his slightly foreign accent de-
lightful, and realized that she was
going to like David's friend very much
indeed.
The trip up to London passed with
out event, save a swift sense of un-
Outstanding between Lequeux and the
girl to whom David was engaged.
The Belgian did not leave her until he
had seen her comfortably ensconced
in the little private hotel in Holland
Park -
After that it seemed as if all life
conferred In that which concerned
Andre LequeuS. Perhaps it was the
absolute calmness with which he &C
cepted the fact that he was a refu-
gee, deprived of his home and
robbed Of the business he had built
up In Antwerp that first attracted
Martha to him. He had been in the
civic guard at the time of the bonn
bardment of Antwerp. and after
seeing his home and his business
premises blown up by the eneny's
shrieking shells heshad come to Eng
Iahd---that haven for all refugees.
David Mcviclxer had taken Lequeux
into his home and friendship.
The state of affairs began to look
ominous. Martha, knew that she
could never marry David. She had
fought desperately against the
charm of the Belgian, but her strug-
gle had been uselese. 1t was as If
mighty torrent, had rushed down
from the mountain side and swept
her completely into her keeping.
Apart from his being the ideal of her
youthful dreams in physical beauty
he possessed a gentleness of man
ner, keen sense OF humor and per-
sonals charm that Martha loved in
spite Of herself.
AS for Iequeux, the situation was
tragic. He had never before loved q
girl and now fate had elected to rob
him of home, business and the right
to tell that girl that he loved her.
Life seemed queer rnedly of untold
sorrow to him, but his smile was as
ready and his manner as gentle as it
the world Of Joy lay before him
It was beginning to be most diff
cult 10 follow David's instructions in
the matter Of entertaining Martha.
Lequeux was forced into the girls
presence through David's desire that
she be not lonesome while in London
and until he himself returned to take
her about. More and more the Bel
gian was falling in love with pavid's
girl, but he was constantly on guard
lest he betray his secret and thus
pfecipitate . crisis that meant hnal
separation from David and David's
sweetheart.
In the rieantipae, David, over in
Belfast, had lost his heart to little
Irish girl and felt himself "a cad. The
long time that had passed since see
ing Martha had worn down the en-
tkusiastic desire he has felt for her
and now only a deep regard, such as
he would have felt for his brothers
wife, remained. David cursed himself
and his fickle nature, but. Knew not
how to stem the current OF events
that seemed likely to hurl him and
Martha oyer the matrimonial borders.
He felt vaguely that Martha was not
desperately in love with him and that
ii would not, break her heart We're he
to be quite frank with her, but David
recoiled from the hurt he might in
fiict, The little Irish girl smiled upon
him and David's business held him
another fortnight in Belfast.
Martha had intended to wait until
hts Yat,YT.n m Iondop hefore ternli-