The evening world., 1914-03-04
CHAPTER VIII.
ssThe Chance OF q Lifetime.
(Continusd.

Isnnop?"
Van Lennop recognised
~ the thick, cultural voice
bf old Edouard Dubois.
II Like him? OF course like him.
And"-there was asperity In Essis's
Rome now-"he isn't . ioafer."
VI "Hold-up. them" substituted Du-
cbois.
81 "Nor a hold-up"
what you think he is?"
a "Sometbing you would never reeog-
|nise." she answered simply: "a gen.
4 ueman."
n Van Lennop smiled. for In his
n minds eye he could see the tense
aggressiveness of her slim figure.
"Chentleman!" was the contemptu.
4 Gus snort. "Chentleman-and never
buy de drinks for nobody all de time
4 he Is In Crowheart. Fine chentlcman
Z dat!".
when do you buy any7' was the
pointed inquiry.
II hat to work for MY money: his
/ comes easy" he replied significantly.
"You said that before" The voice
was growing shriller. How do you
known"
"Robb,n,s essv." n VIZ
II must believe 1t II you say co."
why you get mad? Why you
stick up for him % hard?" persisted
the Frenchman stubbornly.
why wouldn't I stick up for mimi
He's Q friend Of mine."
Fine fren-dat lazy cheap-skate!'
0here was real venom In the voice.
van Lennop heard the stamp OF Es-
ole Tsdale's small foot upon the hard.
trodden dooryard.
I"You needn't think yourl advance
your own interests by calling him
such names a. that! Let mo tell You
q mIilion.miliion tifnes!"
Van Lsnnop started. So he was
asking Essis Tisdale to marry him.
this old Edouard Dubois with the bull.
isH.shapsd head and the brutal face
that Van Lennop had found 30 90.
X ia been his Wis Avis in the din.
in9 room7 ~.
sutur:i voice was ugly now. IT offer
YOU rood homo. good clothes. re
chance to travel when you lax ana
hear ~ good music Eat you love: ana
you would't marry me II asked you
million times? Maybe some time:
m: :S xSss a.; ai, Kso t Gs': angry
voice hung back. "but that time
hasn't come vet, Mr.. Dubois!"
"Hnd God forbid that It ever
,bouid," breathed Van Lennop to
himself at the window above. HIS
eyes had grown q little moist at TINS
exhibition Of her loyalty ana some
how the senuinensIs OF y TN maze Ss M nam
never without q lurking suspicion OF
the disinterestedness OF womens
friendship, for tho reasons which Dr.
Harpe, for instance. knew.
what Van Lennop had learned
through his unintentional caves
Cropping was something OF reve'a-
tion. In his mild conjectures az 10
Crowheart's opinion OF nun ~ neves
occurred to him that 1t considered
Nam anything more interesting than
an impecunious semi invalid or pos
sihlv \ bousckeeper taking his own
time 10 locate. But a hold mp! a
ioafer! a lazy cheap-skate! Van
Lennon shook with silent Iaugnter,
A skinfiint too mean to buy drink.
He had no notion OF enlighiehlns
crovheart in regard to himself be-
cswse Of the Illuminating conversa-
fjon ne had overheard. The situation
Afforded him too much amusement
ana aimee Essie Tisdale liked MIN
S~r himself and trusted him in the
face Of what was evidently Crow
hearts opinion. nothing else mat
tered. The only result was 70 give
him q more minute interest In MS
surroundings.
Van Lsnnop had overheard her quar-
Ri with the Frenchman, but her quick
perceptions recognized an added
friendliness in his manner-a kind OF
unbending gentleness which was new
and she needed II. for she daily felt
the growing lack OF It in people whom
she had called her friends.
In the days which followed. van
ANYTHING had gone wrong with Essie
Tisdale. Her shapely head had q
oroud uplift which was new and In
unCuarded moments her red. sensitive
Mr. had q droop that he had not
noticed bsfore.
She was digesting the new knowl-
edge that there were people VINO
could hurt others deliberately, cruelty.
and 90 far an she knew withous prov
0G0vIOn, tuat tuOtO WIZ PsDP'S "''S',s
skS had counted her friends that were
capable OF hurting her-who could
wound her like enemies. Essie felt
no resentment yet. only surprise and
IT, pain Of the blow. together with q
great and growing wonder a. to what
she had done.
The ordeal Of the dinner had been
greater even than she had anticipated.
For the first time In her life she had
been treated like an infsrior--a sltua-
tion which Fcssie Tisdale did not know
how 10 meet but II had remained for
Andy p. Symes, who but few
months previous had pressed her
hand and called her the prettiest girl
In Crowheart. TO inflict the blow that
hurt most.
The guests were leaving when she
had found a chance to whisper, You
look 50 well tonight. Gussie." and An
dy y. Symes had interrupted coldly.
"lIrs. Symes, " you please Essie.'
Her cheeks grew scarlet when she
GAought OF It She had meant to tell