Evening star., 1915-01-03
By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

"But l do " Lucille interrupted "Jermyn and l are
going to be married very indeed.
There something in Jcrmyns eyes for a moment
that would have startled either of his two fellow callers
if they had been looking his way. Lucille it and
cold. After all, had she made mistake?
"My dear-my dear Lucie!' Lady Florence cr1ed
holding out her hands "You have taken my breath
away. I'm sure congratulate you both most heartily
l am delighted"
"And l, dear Duchess Mrs Starr Hamilton echoed
sweey. Il cannot pretend unfortunately, that know
either of you so we'll as Lady Florence does; but you
must let wish you every possible happiness. Such
a suitable match too! Really, | cannot imagine why
thought of it before; except of course, that
ever does the people you expect them to-
Lady Florence had turned to Jermyn. 3My heartest
truly, my heartest congratulations, dear Jermyn!"
she exclaimed emphatically. "You know what think
of Lucille, don't you? There is quite like her.
You indeed fortunate
Jermyn had risen to his feet. There nothing left
of that glitter in his eyes, but his voice sounded hard
there real feeling in his words
"Thank you very much Lady Florence" he said
"Thank you too, Mrs Starr Hamilton"
Not word more reference whatever to his
good fortune There certain grimness also about
his appearance which had repressing effect upon the
storm of questions that the two prepared
to launch. For few moments he was left outside the
circle Lucille, apparently quite at her ease, and with
just shade of most becoming color in her cheeks
chatted with her callers almost in undertone Pres
entity they took their leave Jermyn escorted them to
the door, and, under of second edition of
gratuatory speeches, they at last departed.
7 UC1LLE awaiting Jermyns return, standing
- the hearthrug, her eboI the mantelpiece her
head resting her hand. She turned eagerly toward
him he entered. Her eyes soft and bright and
full of fire. her pose exceedingly graceful her little
gesture of appeal rendered entirely natural by that
slight access of real fear from which she was indeed
suffering.
@Jermyn, you are not angry with me? Tell me that
you not angry with me' she pleaded. at had
to be done soon, you know and have waited. I had
hoped that it might have from you"
He closed the door deliberately behind him. Then
he over to her. Her heart began to sink She
at her BEST and she had failed to move him. There
not single spark of admiration feeling of any
sort suffering, in his hard, thin face.
"You mean to take your pound of flesh, them" he
asked wondering little at the sound of his own voice.
which seemed to come from great distance.
AYou not polite, she murrnured.
He fared up. The sudden impulse of passion was
good for him. Even she not sorry to see it. The
icy tension of the moment broken.
"What in Gods has poteness to do with it?"
he demanded Truth is the only thing worth counting
between you and me. l do not want you Lucille I'm
not woman's man. and your good looks and YOUR
subtle poses nothing to I of the people
of this generation in whom you don't seem to believe
love woman, and can love no other"
"a murderess!' she whispered
@Call her what you like ;" he went on fiercely @You
call yourself of the world you pretend to
know things, you talk always though life had yielded
you the keys of her secret chambers Don't YOU
know much this,-that when mans in earnest
the he loves may be posoner sinner a very
Borgia if you will, but she of these things for
him-not for him? She is just the woman he loves:
that's all that counts. There isn't anything else"
little breath came through her teeth. Her face
very white, her eyes shone "I should like to be
loved ike thatIn she cried coft1x