The Washington herald., 1914-12-06

4 Persis toppled out Of Forbes relaxed
J embrace, and spoke from a daze: No
forgot-I must be out OF my mind"
TAFT was filed with contempt. What
II It had been any Of the quests tha, had
found you two maniacs as did whas
II IL had been Enslee"'
Persis was as amazed as he was She
muttered, Il know-I know-but I can't
stand everything
TAFT tried to patch UP ms broken plan.
Harvey. you've disappointed me bitter
ly. But 1 give you one more chance to
retrieve yourself. Promise me never to
see Mrs. Enslee again"
Il Forbes shook his head.
TAFT could hardly believe his senses
4 My God, Must the deep friendship Of
two men always be at the mercy Of the
| first woman that comes along? Harvey,
Harvey 1 beg you to give this womaf
II can't"
! Taits voice gIittered with anger.
/ You've got to. I command you to, You,
can't commit this infamy and remaIn
| with met
Forbes set his jaw hard Il resign"
| TAFT snapped: II accept"
Persis was frantic at this outcome Of
I her passion. mo, no. Oh. don'tl IA
| rather die than be the cause Of a breach
| between you two" She cIutched TaIt's
arm. Don't listen to him.
Forbes seized her other hand. I'll not
give you up again. You belong to me-.
You are wrecking my trust in hu-
manity." TAFT groaned: then his wrath
blazed again. But I'll break up this in
trisue at any cost, even If have to tell
Enslee."
Persis stared at him in a panic You
couldn't do that
TAFT had made one step to the door He
hung irresolute before the loathsome Of
I fee Of the tattle-taIe. What in the name
Of God is a man to do? II tell your
husband am a contemplate cad. II I
don't tell him I am your accompIice" He
pondered deeply. and chose between the
evils. We'll. I'd rather have you two
think me a cad than to be criminal and
a coward" He took another step to the
door
Persis clung to his sleeve. "oh. i'm
plOre you'' .
He shook her loose. Il am going to tell
your husband what saw
And then the man most deeply concern
ed appeared in the doorway. Willie Ems
lee stumbled at the sill and spoke with a
blur: "Pershish, itsh time we were
dresshing for d-dinner."
TAFT looked at him in disgust then at
Persis and Forbes. who stood covering
with suspense. The old man shfvered in
an agony of decision. Mr.. Enslee,
must tell you-''
He clapped his hand to his heart, and
struggle at the words: 7 must tell you
i must tell you-good night
He could not force his tongue to the
task The fierce effort broke him. He
wavered. A sudden Ianguor invaded him.
His muscles turned to sand. He crum-
bled In a heap
Forbes ran TO him. and with all dif1-
Guilty heaved the limp huge frame into a
chair that Persis pushed forward. He
Strengthened the arms that Topped like
a scarecrow's and steadied the great
leonine head that rolled drunkenly on
the immense shoulders. And he spoke
to Enslee as II he were a servant.
RUN for a doctor-c.uick-you fooI-'
Willie staggered away. almost sobered
with fright Persis stood wringing her
hands. Through her brain ran the music
Of the tango they were playing:
At the DEVILS han, At II. DEVILS hall,
Dancing with the deril-oh. the little devil.
Dancing at the devils hall.
She ran to the door like a fury and
shrieked: Stop that music, For Gods
sake. stop that music!'
The music ended in shreds ~ discord.
The dancers paused in puppet attitudes,
then turned like a huddIe OF curious cat
tie and drifted toward the door. Persis
returned to Forbes's side. and. bending
close. heard the old man speaking thick
ly as his hands huttered feebIy about
Forbes arm.
Harvey-Tm so-sor-ry for you-and
for her. Take care of-my poor-ch-chiId,
won't you?'
Yes, yes" Forbes whispered.
The soft hands glided along Forbes
arm in a fumbling ocaress.
''Th-thass-a goo boy. You've been q
-a-a-a son to me. Har-har-vey.
Goo'-b-b- Good-by," I
Forbes bent down and pressed his lips
to the old mans forehead
Liveried servants with wan faces Gid
ed through the crowd and, lifting the
chair. struggled from the room with its
great burden. the old head wagging. the
lips laboring at the messages they could
not accomplish.
Forbes followed the chair as il it wera
already the coffin OF his ideal among
men. Persis waited in a trance, shaken
now and then with sudden onsets OF
ague. but otherwise motionless. her
whole sole pensive. Willie hung about
her. whining:
Il say old girl. let's he getting home
feel all creepy. AwfuIIy unfortunate,
wasn't it2 Let's be getting home. Rot
ten luck for the Ambassador. Nice old
boy. too. Let's be getting home
Perss did not answer. BY and by Will
lie went in search Of his coat and her
furs. The other guests dispersed. Out
ide there was mUfFisd hubhub Of Chas-
seurS calling carriages and cars, Of hornst
squa viking of doors slammed
PerSis stood fixed. still staring where
Forbes had gone. Suddenly her face
lighted M. Forbes wandered back ALI
,ewildered. She forced her hand on him.
Ind he took it idly. 1t was some tirnei
,efore nc could speak that ultimate wortf
Dead !
Persis wrung his hand and sighed:
Poor old fellow I'm sorry he hatedN
ne so bitterly. He said he'd fight against,
ny happiness till he died. and now!
Forbes did not hear her. He wasi
only Of the foster-father he hadi
ost. He mumbled, with dark dejection:I
I'm alone now-slone!''
But Persis' face was oyerswept with 4
haft Of light. Glancing over her shoul-
Ter. and seeing that no one was near
heir door. she moved closer to Forbes.
aid her other hand on his, and spoke
With all meekness and with a question:
ng appeal.
Not alone. Harvey? rm here"
He opened his ClenChed eyes a little
nd met her upward gaze. He closed his
yes again against her. She waited.
)nly a moment, and then with a suddeni .
renZy he gripped her in a mad embraced
nd smote her lips with his. She closed
er eyes in ecstacy. i
Immediately he started back from heri
a horror. groaning: Whit am 1 tSInS-
ng? And he's just dead"