The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1914-02-20

He was instinctively a courteous
man and his thoughts refused to form
q word to suit his wild emotions.
She turned to him. Wont you join
us, Mr.. Wallace?" Her voice was hon
eyed, though he saw that she was sure
of his antagonism and reciprocated it.
NO he snapped. It was as an aft
erthought he added: "Thanks!"
you went away early last night"
she ventured, still with the honeyed
smile.
yes"
you didn't wait for the announce
ment."
mo"
Were you surprised when you heard
it,"
staggered"
The smile deepened. She was most
offensive in her victory. "I thought
you would be. What do you think Of
it alp"
AS he thus apologized. disguised.
worried, even frightened by the mud
die in which his friend had SO involved
himself, entirely ignorant of the sorry
cause which had led Broadway to the
fatal step, that young man entered
from the hall, having effaced as many
traces as he could of the wild night,
and rightly clothed himself for morn
ing callers. AS he advanced he
hummed stanza from some cabaret
favorite which ran. monotonously: Il
love you; oh, love you!"
She looked at him with natural in
dignation.
You'll pardon me, Mrs. Gerard" he
said alphabetically, "but I was think.
ing of something funny"
Something that just happened?"
she said suspiciously.
NO" he replied earnestly, some
thing that happened years ago"
For a moment I thought you were
laughing at me-" she admitted
"Oh, Mrs. Gerard-how could you?"
She was pacified. Taking herself
with perfect seriousness she did not
fail to credit others with the same in
tention. Il know I'm horribly touchy
in some respects" She would gaily,
almost babyishly. Mother always
calls me a silly child"
His establishment was genuine.
your mother! Is your mother still
living?"
why. yes; of course. And what a
mother!" she cried enthusiastically.
What a wonderful mother! Sixty
five!"
AS she had herself at least reached
that age, he felt himself pardonable
for interpreting her meaning as he did
"Sixty-five children? REALITY"
mo, MOI"
mo. of course not" he admitted.
What am I thinking Off"
Ten children" said the ancient
sweetheart of his friend. Five boys,
five girls. The baby they always call
me-"
He was literally withered by the
bold effrontery of this. 1t seemed in
credible even to the bald complacency
of this extraordinary dame. But he
was young and rapid Of recovery. 81
suppose" he suggested with mild eye
and an inquiring air, that most of
the boys are still going to school?"
"Why, of course not!" She seemed
to be taking him quite seriously, to be
pleased. in fact. "They all married?"
Foolish youngsters"
ooh, l don't know. married my
tirst husband when was eighteen. Her
eyes grew reminiscent. When she
spoke it was as if she made conces-
sion of unwelcome truth to him be-
cause he was a friend-a confidential
friend. That's twenty years ago!"
He was losing patience with the
woman. do you mean to tell me that
you're"
SSH" she cautioned playfully. 81
don't tell my age to everyone!"
81 can readily understand that"
How old are you. Mr.. Wallace" she
asked sweetly, evidently pleased at
the establishment of confidential rela-
tons with this, Broadway's most init
mate friend.
'I'll be twelve in October" he re-
piled with a calm smile.
Twelve!" She paused and then
burst into her small cackle of artificial
laughter. "Oh, see; you want me to
add about twenty to that"
YES" he exclaimed ungallantly, dis
gustediy, land add about thirty more
to your own"
What" She was instantly indig-
nant, not unnaturally.
"Oh, come, now. Mrs. Gerard" he
urged You don't expect me to be-
lieve that you"
She was thoroughly indignant. How
dare you. sir! Do you know what
you're saying"
II know what I'd like to say" he
confessed, looking steadfastly at her.
About what?"
About your engagement to young
-