The Washington herald., 1914-11-29

4 so IT is." said Mrs. Nef. strugv,tn, ,
toward him through a sort OF panic 81
J, completely moving groups. How Is tha
aear boy? Paris has swept him on his
Hes the melancholiest man here-ths
ghost Of the boulevards.'
IT'S too bad" said Mrs. Men. ~
2 tne man FOR Persis." She reached
MS side. took his hand, and laughed nm
INTO mis- face He came out Of a dre3m
ana ana stared at her foggiIy, then answered.
4 S Sne warm clench OF her little fingers.
3 -N1 Hnq what what are you staring at so hard1
He. he started at the name-"Mrs Ems
Yes Persis. You haven't fOrgottea,
hereg' -"
husband"
Really" he said. trying to sound CAS-
aL' ulough the warning OF her nearnesS
frightened him and put his heart to its
I'm never forgive you for not marry.
dreadfully.''
Did I?'' he laughed. wretchedIv "A,Js
you say she's in Paris?'
She's right behind you"
Forbes felt as 4 man feels when soua
one says, There's a. rattlesnake Irssl
back Of you" He became an antoms-
ton OF wax and turned slowly as on a
Icreaking pivot. Yes. there she was. Per-
SIS had Just come in with her husband
The news, and the presence OF the man
al her side. sent a shudder through
Forbes The Enslees had happened upon
AMBASSADOR TAFT, and Forbes could SEE
| that the old man was struggling hard to-
be decently polite to them.
Persis caught sight of Forbes, and her
beautiful brows went up as she smiled.
He had an intuition that her look was
an appeal for mercy. Then she moved
on with Willie, to lay on her cloak
TAFT. Ciancing about, saw Forbes and
! came to him at once. 3trs. Nefr sesinss1
/ him. forgot the study she was making
Of Forbes emotions. She demanded of
lalt; Have you seen Alice? / hoped
she was with you
No. haven't seen her tonight" he
answered guilelessly, forgetting his role
in his excitement.
Then I must look for her. Come
along Winifred. I can't run about
alone"
Winifred did not want to come along.
but Mrs. Neff did not intend to leave
the Senator in her clutches She ran
DRAGGED
her away.
Then TAFT took Forbes by the arm and
spoke with a curious sick thickness:
Let's get out into the air a minute"
Forbes was alarmed by his tone and
by the prominence Of the veins about
his forehead and throat They walked
into the garden filled with soft lantern
lights like luminous flowers the moon
over all and the strangely zestfuI air of
Paris like an intoxicant. The orchestra
in the garden was Just finishing I tune,
and the orchestra in the house was lust
beginning an American tango piayed ,
with marked French accent They
where it was yet too early for flirts to-
be found.
We'll. Harvey. she's here-that damned
woman-and her toy husband"
Don't" Forbes pleaded. but the OLD
man ragged on =
She sold herself to man she didn't.
love. She's to blame for"
The older 1 grow" Forbes interpose,I,
the less l feel that people deserve,
either blame or praise for being what
they are or doing what they do
Don't waste your pity on her: she,
had none for you
It's not pity-its-"
TAFT clapped his hand to his left side
and choked back a cry OF distress
Forbes turned to him with an exclama-
tiOn Of alarm. You ought to see YOUR
doctor"
TAFT shook his head: NO. he'd onIv
swear at me for disobeyinS him I'm all
right-f l can only avoid lny excite
ment- Been going a little too hard. It's
that damned diIated heart of mine. The
doctor said l ought 10 be in bed to-
night
Why did you come here them
Alce's mother would dra- her home il
she knew I was not about Fut I'm A
TOOL This life iS killing me. I ought To :
run down to Vichy or Evian for a rc4y
days
Yes you muStn'; delay any further"
I'll 20 if youH come with me. Har-
vey- For on" thing. it will get You away
from that woman"
''o2. there's no danger from her. Sad
forbeS She's married now
TAFT shrugged his shoulders ..1-,st.s =
when woman is most danCernus. YorIr.-
girls tied 10 their mothers apron-strin4s
ar" risky enough. the Lord knows. hut
when woman unhappily married meets
IN Old lover who is still unmarried
lumph. the weather doesn't last long -
topic Of conversation. You come JIoqg
With me"
Forbes felt doub!y rulniiiatcd by his
q
ling away from n woman"
harvey, / never believed in playing
With fire. l haven't asked you many fa-
'ors. Will you grant me this oae?-'
Forbes was almost ffial in his obedi-
nee: Why. Of course ] promise not to
meet her If l can avoid it
GOOD! TAFT rose to his feet with
ONE diticulty. He was weak and shak-
n with premOnitions. When a mans
cart races and misses fire he is filled
nth dismay. He paused TO Law his
andS on Forbes shoulders and plead as
for forgiveness for his soIicituSe.
Harvey. you may think I'm an old fOSI,,
Ut 4 you didn't run away from thist
anger. I'm after years you might have
cen sorry that you didn't"
Il understand" said Forbes God
less you. l appreciate It. I shall ALWAYS
grateful for all you've done for me"
I've done nothing but make a crutcn
you. used you to fill the place OF nv
Sn boy. II only you couId-but we
ont talk OF her. But If anything hap
ms to me-
Nothing is going to happen to yaa."
Il know that, but r anything should. I
want you to promise 10 take care ~
ildred. She'll have money enOughA
Id so will you I've fixed that-but-
ell need somebody towel, we'll talk
over at Evian. Let's go home"
he moved on. leaning heavily on
orbes but Winifred, seeing him about
escape, pounced on him and led him