The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-12

I bcI Nuo4t UOuy Netuet 10 relax anu
crumple up. and she sank into the
depths OF the l.g armchair.
Fielding rose from his knees, ana
when he spoke il was much as he
would have done 10 "a spoiled child.
! Fay, you're tired out. and you're hys
terical, and you're wet to the skin.
What you need is a big glass OF wnis-
ky Then you can go into the bedroom
and put on some OF my clothes and
dry your own in front of the gas
stove"
TOO exhausted 10 argue. Fay nodded
her assent, and with some little EFFORT
sat mp IN the chair, and pulling out
her hatpins, laid her bedraggled straw
hat on the table. In few moments
Fielding returned with a glass OF whis-
ky. and taking Fay by the hands, slow
! ~ pulled her TO her feet.
1--WE lighted the stove he said,
land here's your drink Now take IT
with you, and don't drink II all at
once. There's cot OF it even for a
girl as played out az you are"
| Fay took the glass OF whisky, and
putting 1t to her lips. smiled over the
rim at Fieldins She took but sip
and then started for the bedroom. but
when she had reached the door she
raised the glass again 10 her host and
took another sip.
I'm an awful nuisance. Porter
aren't H." she laughed. But had
TO talk TO somebody--Ive had a rotten
( day OF It,"
That's all right" Fielding said,
hurry up and get out OF those wet
things You'll nnd plenty OF my clothes
| lying around, OF in the wardrobe
With a cheerful smile of farewell.
| Fay disappeared through the door and
closed II behind her.
Fielding walked up and down the
room several times. stopped TO light
cigarette. inhaled a few long pufis.
and then tossed il into the empty fire
place The spirit of adventure had
never been very strongly developed IN
him, and Fay's unexpected visit ala
not appeal 10 nina at all. He could not
understand why she should deliberate.
ly break an engagement TO dine with
him and then, We'll toward midnight
suddenly turn up at his rooms. drench-
ed 10 the skin, aud bordering on a con-
dition OF nervous collapse. Always In
the best of healtN himself, he had
secret loathing l1r sickness In the
case OF any one else Wholly Ignorant
OF the trials that Fay had borne dur
ing the last few hours. he had little
sympathy for her present complete
state OF exhaustion.
To Fieldings carefully regulated,
unconditional mind nothing could ex-
cuse a girl voluntarily walking through
the streets OF New York alone on
rainy night ard especially on Broad
way where she would naturally be
subject TO the insults OF any casual
passer-by. He could not comprehend
at all why she had not gone TO her
own room at the lorke fiat instead OF
coming 10 a bachelors apartment al
so very late all tour in the evening.
And besides AL this. her use OF the
word rotten" annoyed him extremely.
Already he had spoken about 1t on
several different occasions since she
had come 10 New York 10 live. and he
could not understand why she should
not respect his wishes in a matter Of
this sort He was convinced that II
was one OF the results OF her compan-
lonship with the girls at the theater,
and decided that he must speak TO her
at once, and beg her that there might
be no further laxity in her former
standards OF speech or actions.
Suddenly the door leading into the
bedroom opened and Fay came slowly
into the sitting-I DOM. She was clad IN
long gray overcoat below which
showed the ENDS OF pair of turned
up flannel trousers, small bare ankles,
and feet partially concealed by very
large bath slippers. The coat collar
was turned up and buttoned across
her throat and she had done her hair
loosely in q great roll on the top OF
her head.
Her face was flushed her eyes
sparkled and her lips were smiling
with pleasurable delight at her own !
quaint appearance The huge bath |
slippers greatly impeded her pro-
gresse5 and she shufned with slow |
Skating motion halfway across the !
room and fell into the depths OF low |
armchair. She looked up at Yielding |
with sly sort OF twinkle in her eyes |
and chuckled audibly.
Don't you think make a pretty !
boy. Porter she asked Cause |
think I make an awful pretty boy
awful pretty Most fascinating and in.
sidious.''
Fielding stood before the hearth,
and with his hands clasped behind his |
back. looked down at the lovely 1.-THE
figure In the comic ill-fltting clothes !
and the face which never before had |
appeared TO him so brilliantly beau |
tiful as II did now. But in no way |
did he show his admiration for the |
girls loneliness. With some little |
difficulty Fay succeeded In pushing !
one OF her hands out or the long |
sleeve OF the overcoat, beckoned to |
him and motioned him TO place at |
the side OF her chair.
THANK you, no. Fielding said |
shortly. Il prefer 10 stand where ] /
am" And then suddenly added the
wholly unnecessary question, Are
you feeling any better2' 4
Fay pouted her scarlet lips and I
looked up at him with frown.
Course I'm feeling better. Any !
body could see that ! said 70 myself !
Just now in the other room when
was looking into the mirror. ! said, /
Fay, you do look funny in that rig
but YOU look awful pretty and even
Porter--and Porter certainly's a cold
proposltion-will surely love you when I
you look like that.
After this speech Fay looked at
Fielding with sprightly inquisitive-
ness. but finding that he was still
gazing down at her with grave curious
eyes. she sighed and slowly shook her
head.
Its funny to me-" she said dream.
lily. hoy all the men | meet seem
TO love me-alD except you, Porter.