Evening star., 1915-01-31

and persistence. the gossiping wiseacres
had agreed that it was Jim she wanted,
and Rob who would do in a pinch
They also prophesied, while admitting
that Jim didn't appear to be the mar
rying kind, that he would eventually
succumb to Mirian's wiles. Petra alone
had maintained, in her own heart, that
he never would. AT first her opinion
that she believed Jim had too good
sense not to realize how shallow and
selfish Miriam really was under 49,
mask of beauty and pretense. Lately
there had been another reason.
She caught herself up sharply. What
fool she had been to place any inn
portance upon those calls, those walks
home from church and prayer meeting,
those stray meetings at unexpected
places! They seemed 50 trivial now
these things that she had used as
foundations to build her dreams upon.
What fool she had been anyhow, to
allow herself to dream of love and
marriage and a home OF her own with
Jim Burton-with any one at all. She
was Petra Boyce, the homeliest girl in
kempton.
Petra walked the length of the hall
pleaded a sick headache to her hostess
and, gathering her wraps together, fled,
telling herself furiously that she must
not cry until she was outside in the
dark.
The cars passed within block of the
closer about her in the cool night wind
and set out on foot, although the dis
tance was not short and she wore the
thinnest of satin slippers. She was
vaguely thankful that the night was
cold, and that she was half afraid OF
the dimly lighted streets-thankful for
any discomfort that would serve to
turn her thoughts even for a moment
from the cause of her misery and
heartache. She must not think Of Jim
Burton. she told herself fiercely-she
must not! And then she would see his
face there, just ahead of Her in the
darkness, smiling the dear smile that
she knew so well. the smile that she
had supposed held meaning for her
alone, and sob would choke her
breath as she hurried on.
She fell asleep just before dawn, after
tossing about in her bed for hours,
to find herself burning with fever and
with sharp, cutting pains In her head
and chest. That walk home in the
cold" she admitted to herself. but she
did not tell her mother of the long
walk in the frosty air. and to the doc
tor who came and pronounced the at
tack pneumonia she replied. In answer
to his query as to what she had been
doing to herself. that she did not
know.
As the days went on Petra grew
steadily worse, and for weeks lay al
the point Of death, babbling wildly in
Miriam Lane. begging him to give her
up, warning him that he would regret
II when IL was too late. At other times
she cried out that she was the home
rible to be so tall-taller than any man
in the wedding procession but Jim
and then she would resume her plead.
ing with him to give up Miriam. But
the trained nurse never told.
1t was when she was able to sit up In
bed that her mother reported to her a
piece of town news. Mrs. Lane gave
a party for Miriam last night and an
nounced her engagement to Rob Bur
ton- Had you heard anything about
it before you were taken sick?'
Petra's white face went shade
whittier. Not to Rob Burton. mother
she corrected. family. ito JIM"
NO. dear. to Rob Burton: it was in
the paper this morning." persisted Mrs.
Boyce. She brought the paper and
gave 1t to Petra
1T says Rob- admitted Petra wear
lily, "but it's a mistake mother Miriam
is engaged to jim" She leaned back
against the pillows with a sigh.
1t was several days more before any
visitors were admitted to the sick
room. Petra was out of danger now.
but she steadfastly refused to see any
one. and the nurse thought it just as
well. One day. however. her mother
decked her out in her prettiest dress
ing Jacket and lace cap. and, taking
a rose from the vase on the table,
pinned it at Petra's throat.
II don't want to see any visitors
mother" protested Petra.
But this visitor won't wait any
longer" laughed Mrs. Boyce. "and
really, Petra. considering that he's
sent you flowers every single day since
you've been i'll and has fairly haunted
the house for the latest report of your
condition. 1 think you owe him that
much"
sHe flowers who?" gasped Petra.
hut her mother had left the room to
usher in the caller. Petra lay back
in her pillows with closed eyes. Had