The Spectator., 1914-11-20

l can see-and so, of course, you can't recognize them as real in others. You 1 may be an artist on canvas, but you are not an artist of life, and that Is far more important! l suppose you will go on leading your ordered exist ence forever. shall stifie if 1 have to share it! And l thought you were a romantic figure. Why, you work as regularly as any business man, and as hard!"
 "A curious complaint" said he, the half-smile dying upon his lips. You know little, dear, of life. or you would not talk like this. Control is the pass word to success. It is a bitter fact. perhaps, but one we all have to learn. 5
 That is a theory which l do not intend to live by she said rather breathlessly.
 How am I to take that? said the man.
 | "As you see fit," she replied. "I mean to live by expression. I used to think that you did so. You have changed"
 For your sake!" he expostulated. suddenly angry If have whipped myself into some fsemblance of a hu- man being it has been-I was going to say, for you; but it is more than l that. It has been for the works own sake. And now you are ready to repu- diate me because of that very accom- plishment You are unfair, unreason- able"
 "Oh, don't be so logical, or l shall go mad!" she cried. "I hate your req sonableness!"
 Very we'll, then" said he. trying to smile, I'll be unreasonable"
 And don't be facetious! Oh, go away, can't endure you!"
 Look here, Iris" he said hoarsely, I'm not joking. God forbid. This is getting too serious. Am l really to go?"
 "Or let your spirit out of its cage" she said.
 For the third time Hill committed his greatest mistake.
 You are a foolish child!" he said angrily Very we'll, then, I'll go. But warn you, if you send me off, I'll not come back"
 | For moment he waited, hoping that she would speak, but she said nothing, merely standing there and trembling a little, though white and and silent Suddenly Hill turned on his heel.
 | "Confound all women!" he nut tered, and without single backward glance flung himself out of the room in a fury
 For a moment or two longer she stood motionless, and then throwing her arms out wildly, she cried his name aloud.
 "Oh. Sam!" she called, "come back please come back!' Running out into the upper hall, she arrived at the stair-head just in time to hear the front door close after him, and was instantly obliged to flee the mildly inquiring gaze of a footman. who came in to remove the tea tray. When he was gone, however she cast | herself face downward among the gray | cushions of the sofa and cried bitterly, cold horror clutching at her heart as she slowly came to see the reality of what she had done. For Hill had spoken the truth when he implied that she was merely a child bored with luxurious surroundings and striving after she knew not what. Her father adored her. and gave her ab- solute liberty. The people whom she knew by inheritance meant little to her; she found them introspective, self-absorbed. and amateurs at the arts they affected, many of them simply hangers-on of her beauty-loving father. who with the years had become less the man of affairs and more the man | of letters and patron of the arts. As she grew up her discontent increased, until finally, within the last two years, she had stumbled upon group of people with whom brains meant aris- tocracy. Here she had met Hill, and after about a year he had persuaded her to become engaged to him. She had consented on condition that 1t remain secret for the time being. There had been no reason for conceal ment but the girls innate love of TO- nance and mystification. And so no one had been told of the engagement. although it was a well-known and widely discussed subject among their friends.
 And it was all over! We'll, possibly 1t W for the best.
 She buried her face deeper in the esthe:ic gray cushions. Her soul must have expression! It must!
 Desperately unhappy, but not with out certain enjoyment of her own misery, she arose with the determina- tion to find her father. and extract what comfort she could from him, without telling him her trouble. Per haps he was in his library now. She would go and see. Slowly she de-