Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-23

liable desire for a bath, and within twenty
minutes my goddess was again surround
ed by adoring servitors who. to my sor-
row. We're better swimmers than l. But
Anne. with the changeableness natural
to her sex, soon tired of this particular
sport. She lay contentedly on the warm,
white sand with her hands clasped be-
hind her head and her brown eyes closed.
1, of course, sat beside her. while Jack
and Waters were a little distance away
conversing in lowered tones.
AS 1 gazed at the perfect unconscious
face lump came into my throat She
looked so utterly small and helpless. I
imagine that 1 felt toward her then as
mother does toward her first-born baby:
Anne I asked. very gently will
you marry me- dear?"
1 fancied she shivered a little, but she
merely replied, No, thank you, Wayne.
as calmly as though I had passed her
box of bonbons which she did not desire.
Presently she moved somewhat restless
ly, taking one hand from beneath her
head and fiinging it out along the ground.
Jimmy goes abroad next week. she
announced at last.
Does he?" said I. nliserably, does he,
AIMEE"
For an Indefinite period" went on
Anne colorlessly, and l could fancy jim
my breaking the news to her in the dis
tant, half-sullen manner he had assumed
toward her of late.
After this the silence endured until
Jack and Waters. with an air of fine
concern, sauntered by toward the bath
house. They were deep in the discussion
of foot ball match and just as they
reached us Jack was lauding Jimmy as
the hero of this special occasion:
TOO bad said Waters, distinctly,
hes such hopeless cripple
Now l, with my knowledge of Anne's
nature wouldn't have ventured to make
that remark in her hearing about a
horned toad. Her odd. choked cry made
the two men turn about. Flaming eyes
flew open and she sprang abruptly to
her feet.
.Jimmy's not cripple!" she cried de-
family, hinging her savage little challenge
straight into Waters uncomprehending
face. The poor fellow was so honestly
taken back that l almost felt sorry for
him. He managed to stammer out some
incoherent form of apology and turned
away looking very crestfallen indeed. But
Jack looked thoughtful.
It was the last day before Jimmy's de-
parture for New York, and with final
gallant attempt at friendliness on his part
he had asked US all up to his rooms for
an informal smoker before bedtime. OF
course we went full force, Jack, Waters
and 1. -
He lay full length on the couch as
we entered. and he seemed more
cheerful than we had seen him FOR
many day. Anne had fastened a
red rose in his coat that evening and
he now held it. half caressingly, in
his white. nervous fingers. Like the
walrus in AliceE Wonderland. we
talked of many things. and smoked
and laughed and drank while the
moon rose higher and higher In the
heavens. and Jimmy's enforced gayety
died down until only the old bitter
ness was left.
cit must be getting late" said I.
finally. and crossed over to the open
window as ] spoke. dIawlng away the
heavy velvet hansings which shielded
it, A narrow balcony extended the
length of Jimmy's suite, and hud-
died against the balcony rail was a
slender white figure which l would
have known among thousands. My
fingers closed convulsively upon the
soft velvet and 1t was with difficulty
that / stided sob in my throat.
Good God! What was Anne doing
here on Jimmy's balcony at mid
night!
As though my misery were tan
gible presence to make itself felt.
Anne slowly turned her head. looking
me full in the eyes. and at the sight
of her face my heart crumpled with
in me. 1 knew then that there never
would be any hope for Jack or
I Waters or me- Like some savage
lioness defending her young. Anne
would fight her way to Jimmy over
rules and regulations and cast-iron
conventions until she reached the ten
derness his defiant silence concealed.
dropped the curtain heavily into
place and turned to take the others