The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-24


gould. refuse that pretty sweet thing
nd al that she brings with her?
oa1 Especially Porter, who was
porn ambitious, and all of his life has
eon craxy for just the things that
hee Girl can give him."
Doris put out her hands and gently
Preased Fay's hand that hung Imply
py her side.
I'm sorry. dear" she said, so very
berry"
Thank you, kid" Fay whispered. ~
Know. / know how you feel, but It's
Pver. And isn't II q pity. dear, when
bvrf"
Hall an hour later when old Mr..
Hooker came into the room he found
hem still at the window and Doris In
- favorite chair, bending over Fay,
Who was sitting at her feet with her
ace buried in the younger girls lap.
Blanche Wilmerding returned to
Per home thoroughly discouraged q
Per futile efforts TO establish any kind
q friendly relations between herself
Ind Fay Clayton. But although she
lAd failed SO signally. she could not
BRING herself to feel that the fault was
going out Of her way to do favor
where It was not appreciated, and
here the motive OF the kindly act
vas. entirely misunderstood. Annoyed
md distressed at her lack Of success
Inc dressed and went down to the
lreWlnE.r0Om to wait for Fielding.
rho was C ming to dinner.
The gaities OF the winter season
yere not yet under way. and Of late
Fielding usually dined alone with Miss
Ntimerding and her father several
ines during the week. Occasionally
hey all went to the play together. but
n0re often Mr.. Wilmerding retired to
lis den. and Blanche and Fielding
nc library upstairs which had all the
comforts and none of the stiffness OF
he big formal drawing-rooms on the
ower floor. In every way the VIII.
|ucrdings had made Fielding feel that
heir homo was to be q home to him.
90, ana ne accepted their kindness
it'll proper gratitude and very nat
al ayidity.. On this particular even.
V Mrs. Wilmerding was going out to
dinner, and Blanche was greatly
leased at the prospect. The memory
pf her. nnhappy call on Fay still hung
heavy over her. and she wished TO tell
Fielding all about II and at once.
He came In smiling and took her
brOftered land In both Of his own.
We'll" he asked, tell me all about
It." ~
Porter" she said. sit was AWFUL"
"Awfnl." he repeated. what was
Inc matter? Was the fiat 30 bad or
|s&s Il that terrible old man?'
Blanche shook her head at Field
|ngf lack or understanding and gym
ba.Ay. and an apparently decided in
klination to take the matter lightly.
II tell you 1t was awful. She refus-
I'd TO come to see me or have anything
10 do with me. and tried so hard
10 be nice and friendly to her. Indeed.
did, Porter. She said 1t was her
poverty, but that's not the real rea-
bon. There's something else"
I'm 30 sorry let you 60 at all,
Blanche" he said, ''but how was to
know that Fay would act like thatr
SORRY for me- Blanche repeated.
Don't be sorry for mel toll you
hat girl il a tragedy. Oh, Porter, II
k6u could only have seen the place. 1t
was 20 cheap and vulgar and the
plush furniture and the awful wall.
paper fairly screamed at you, and she
looked 30 poor and 30 tired and--and
hungry. Yes, Porter. ~she did, tell
you. she looked hungry
Fielding smiled and shook his head.
"Oh, Il 10 not 80 bad a. that" he
- a suv~,,,~c = A<<1o oovs,sSa1 aUov
hy your sympathy. I'll 60 up there to-
and have Q good talk with
Fay and find out just what the trouble
is. n l wasn't such = selfish brute
Id have done. II long ago."
Any further conversation on the
subject was impossible for the mo.
inent as the servant announced din.
ner. and 1t was not until they were
nnce more comfortably settled In the
library that Blanche had again spoken
OF her fruitless visit of the afternoon.
She was sitting before the fire on the
edge Of o low armchair. her elbows on
her knees and her chin resting be-
tween her palms. Fielding Sat tailor
Fashion on great white beAr-skin at
her feet and watched the bsmes In
the broad hearth throw shadows
across the delicate pink and white
face, the sensitive appealing eyes. and
the masses of gOlden-yellOw hair.
About them there was nothing that
was not beautiful--every detail Of the
room spoke Of good breeding, and
eeod taste, ann unlimited wealth. And
then, too, both Of them had youth and
health. and spirits, and un.
usual good looks, and Fielding, at
least, had not always known the ex-
IRENE comfort of such luxury as this.
It was, In all ways, a moment when
the thoughts of two such happy con-
tented young people would naturally
turn to those less fortunate than them
selves. They had tried and tried
hard to account for Fay's attitude
from many different angles. Blanche
had spoken Of the girls present un-
Happy position at great length and
with the most friendly and sincere
concern, and Fielding had talked free
~ Of the days when Fay and he had
been % constantly together.
Porter" Blanche said, Its not an
easy question to ask. and don't answer
It II you'd rather not. But in way
II might account for Fay's position.
Didn't you tise TOTO care great deal
about her at one timer"
why, yes" Fielding answered quite
frankly. II do still. although lately
tive seen 20 very little of her. II you
mean was I ever IN love with Fay.
to be honest, / don't think that ever
really Was
Blanche shaded her eyes with her
head, and for some moments stared
10 silence at the points Of flamc shoot.