El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-13

! RI LOuises ringless hand on which
4 A had glittered Bob's engagement
ring.
I've returned it," briefly.
You thought that would goad him
into action? persisted Helen merci-
IessIy.
Louise who had been crumbIing tea
cake by he plate did not look up or
answer.
"Oh. I could have told you it
wouldn't" despairingly. 'Bob'a like
Warren-he just freezes up! He'll
think you VIII wish it final"
Apparently that is what he wishes"
returned Louise cOldly.
'Oh, no-nO! lie looks absolutely
haggardi 1 can't tell you how he's
changed in these last few weeks
And yet" LOuise's dark eyes looked
straight at Helen now, he's never
said a word-except that Once?"
That's all he's ever said. But that's
the Curtis naturet-the more deeply
they feel the less they say"
The orchestra In the palm fringed
balcony was now laying The Glow
worm" and LOuise's lips quivered as
she listened to the plaintive melody.
She had refused to go to Helen's
apartment for fear Bob would think
she was coming there on the chance
Of seeing him, but she had consented
to meet Helen at the AstOritz for tea.
Helen, who had not seen her for over
a week, was startled at the change.
She was much thinner, all her bright
color had gone, and yet her very pal
Tor had loneliness of its own.
Did I tell you father and I are go
ing to Florida the 10th?' Louise asked |
suddenly.
ITO FIorida?"
yes, lots of people I know are at !
Palm Beach now. I'll go out like mad /
and forget" her laugh had harsh /
note.
Does Bob know? Did you write him
when you sent back the ring?"
Louise shook her head. Il don't
want him to know until I'm gone. He
might think it only ruse to influence
him
How long will you stay?"
Until April"
you'll be perfectly wretched,' de-
clared Helen with conviction. You'll
be thinking of Bob every moment"
Possibly" admitted Louise coldly. /
But I'll be thinking of him here, and
I'll at least feel that I've restored {
some of my self-respect if I 60
IF I thought you could forget. I'd
want you to gO-for I believe there's
many men who might make you hap
pier than Bob ever could. But I know
you can't, you can't forget him any
more than I can forget Warren"
Y. a
startled oh" Louise put her hand to
her throat. That mantle one that's
just sat down at the table back of
youi Doesn't he look like"
Helen turned. The pOise of the mans
head and shoulders was startlingly
like Bob's, but the full face view dis
PEELED the likeness.
Il loathe myself for it. and yet"
Louise, whenever 7 see any
one that looks like him, it makes me
sick and faint"
For the last half hour a daring
scheme had been formulating in
4elen's mind, and now with one of J
Ter sudden impulses she yielded to it.
"Oh, I've caught my heel in this
lem, it'll trip me on the street"
STOPPING over and examining fold of
Ter skirt I'll run to the dressing
Dom and pin it up before forget it,"
cushing back her chair.
Why can't you do that as we go
TT won't take a moment" hurry
ng off before Louise could protest.
Out in the lobby Helen made straight 7
OF the telephone booths.
'Give me Rector 1SO25." breathIessly {
o the girl at the switchboard.
Number three, snapped the girl
Helen entered the third booth and I
remblingly took down the receiver.
Rector 1925? Is Mr. Robert Cur,
m at the Astoritz having tea with E
.ouise-she's going to Florida next . I
-cek. Take a taxi and get here as
uick as you cam No she I
asn't said word" loyally...... But
you want to see her cOme-and come 7
uick"
When she came back to the table
CuiSe was gazing out of the window
DO deep in her brOOding thoughts to
-Onder at Helen's long absence v
Let's have an ice" suggested I n
-elen to prOlOng the tea. -
nv" 1istlesSIv :,
For the next half hour HeIen's ii
loughts were most disquieting. Had | n
le done right? Should she have
led to bring these two together? ] NJ
light it not be better for Louise if she n
lOuld never see Bob again2 And Fl
ct Helen's love of love" was so ! G
that she had been power al
IS to resist this impulse to tele- IL
hone to Bob. al
Suddenly she saw him. tall. broad Il
iouldered, coming toward them. Helen
-usht her breath. How much he 9
We'll, this is luck. Already had tea?" I
Yes, but Wen order you some" D.
elen's laugh was a little hystericaL ! .
I'd she dared not glance at Louise
Are you sure" he turned to Louise l
hat 1 won't keep your" Z
oh, quite sure" LOuise's voice was /
W. but icy cold. /
DO you often have time for after [
'On tea" asked Helen, to give him =
/ opportunity for the explanation
e hoped he had prepared. II
Unfortunately, no. but I had to !
eet a man from the west here at |
30. Just left him when I saw you.
s curious how many westerners
op, at this hotel. They used to go !
the Aldorf"
Louise kept her eyes on her plate.
Il Helen could see her hand tremble
she toyed with her ice.
Now came silence, awkward (
aimed, which Helen broke with a 1
rvous, excited: T
oh, there's Irene Moore and her Ill
lther! I must see heri" r.
The next moment she was out In 81
e corridor flushed and tremulous IT.
ID her excuse been too bald? But II
e had to get away! The strained III
nation had been fntolerabIe. Tin
Helen unconscious of her tightly I'LL
sped hands. her flushed cheeks and
r shining eyes, did not realize that TIT.
e was being watched with interest IN.
by.
Helen Makes Way.
BUT in a few minutes she instinc- ( /
ely turned to the shelter of the la
IS dressing room and sank unto a
ded chair, her heart beating tn NJ
ltuously. Az
low long must she stay away?
lat would be LOuise's attitude? T
Sht not she too freeze UD" if she
3pected this was a plOt2 Would
b be tactful? If only he would >
eep her off her feet bv his tender