The Washington herald., 1914-04-03

APRlL 3, 1914.
dull. even middie-aged. The great anne
thyst brooch below her throat was the
one trace Of sparkle about her. Elizabeth
was as vivid Throughout as the knot OF
geranfums glowing blood red at her belt.
Halfway the last waffle she was called
imperatively to the phone. Patience
looked after her, smiling significantly and
murmuring In her velvetiest voice. Long
distance Is the real first aid to matrt-
mony. 1 wonder how many love quarreis
II patches UP every day."
Lets say a million, Vader answered
promptly, smiling also. but his heart
pounding. What II that pestilent ass
Seaton-he stopped there-Elizabeth surely
had enough OF the cad True, they had
been reported betrothed-true, also, the
ssd had prestige through his father, the
Senator. Notwithstanding. Vader had
therefore quite discounted his pretensions
to Elizabeth, in virtue Of himself. He
could offer a woman something more than
a mere name, a mere maintenance Too
rich to need success. Il had come to him
at his first venture. His novel was not
only a best seller. but hailed by the
competent as an achievement. He hated
the fact now-it explained so patiently
the lurings and languishings OF Patience
May come to confessionT Elizabeth
asked saucily, re-appearing, her face
wreathed In smiles.
Patience also smiled. You are alb
solved unheard," he said silenly." 1
think though ! can guess the sin-it Is
not sin but a good deed"
TRY it!' Elizabeth said still saucily.
Patience answered with a sprightly
glance. "You have asked Seaton here
in my home-which was quite the thing
to do"
"Arent's you the witch for guessing?'
Elizabeth exclaimed.
7 Patience smiled even more silkenly.
but shook her head. murmuring, "oh, I
have not quite forgotten what it means
to be a girl" Vader flung up his hands.
Does anybody anywhere know that?' he
asked tragically. Il thought I think 1t
STILL the mystery Of mysteries"
Suppose you g. fshing-and puzzle
II OUT" Elizabeth suggested in the
guardian angel tone. He would have
resented II. but that he caught along
with II a belying twinkle-something was
up-something that made Elizabeth eager
to have him efface kimself-he would play
her game biindly whatever it was. So.
with a deep silent bow he drifted ont
aid on Gown through the side gate
Inc ENtT
half a mile away.
Fair sport rewarded him-the morning
slid by almost harpily, until veering
shadows no less than appetite warned
him of the luncheon hour. But as he
wound up his line Elizabeth almost
flung herself Upon him, painting out.
stay ner! Unless you want to spoil
everything"
when everything is anything. I'm a
sport-dead game. Butt got to be
shown" Vader began sternly.
Elizabeth made a face at him, but
said. with a happy laugh, You shall
be shown-If you'll wait about three hours
it takes that long for even quick leaven
to work"
81 won't wait unless you tell me what
I'm to see." Va6er rctorted. with q great
prstense of doRGedness.
Elizabeth ratted his cheek soothingly.
saving. "It would be the upshot of a
conspiracy-only you can't copspire all
TO your lonesome.
Explain" from Vader. honestly puz-
zled.
Elizabeth sat down on a big mossy
root, motioned him to sit beside her.
and said, half under breath: ''You see,
it's this Yay-I got so sorry for Patience.
She needs so desperately somebody to
EptHu IHlllOHS-gOu "OA1uH I
do at aIl-that was her mistake. And
there was the Senator-much better look
ing than his son, withal distinguished
and in desperate need OF money, plus a
wife-now. do you begin to understand
You never dared-' Vader cried, slip
ping an arm about her waist. She let
IL STAY there, answering contentedly:
But I did-he@ gave me the loveliest
chance-opened his heart to me about
Bob-what a help it would be to the
country. my helping him through his
son, and when I had TO turn that down.
why. | suggested Patience"
He rose TO the fly and the occasion. -
Vader murmured.
Elizabeth nodded. And so did she
but II took fine casting" she said.
That's why I sent you on. had to tell
her ! was going to marry you. and
wanted to save you the shock
Joy Is rarely fatal"' yader cried
making to catch her in his arms.
She put him sternIy away. got up, and
said pIaintively: "why didn't think to
fetch some sandwiches? Wen never
dare show ourselves till teatime."
They did not suffer very greatly. al
belt late for tea. They found Patience
all in bridal white. beaming effulgently
on the Senator. He wrung Vaders hand
as though IT were that OF his entire con-
stituency. but made no motion 10 kiss
notwithstanding to first impulse. He
had seen, Just in time, Patience watch
ing him. So instead of the chaste salute
he gave a fatherly smile, saying between
mods: 1T is-all quite beyond words My
wish is-you may be as happy as We are
and mean always to be"
Amen" said VadeT. This out loud.
In Elizabeth's ear he murmured: THE
Ieayen must haVa heen very Stronc-it
has raised such froth."