The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-09-11

IN the throat. He swore. and wake,
of down the street
Elsa set pace which Martha wit.
her wabbling knees. found difficult I,
maintain
You might have killed him" al,
cried brea;hlessly
| You can't kill that kind OF snak,
with hatpin: you have TO stamp @,
its head But ] rather believe il vii
be some time before MT Craig vii
! again make the mistake OF INSULTING
a woman because she appears to b,
defenseless" Elsa's chin was IN the
air The choking sensation in he,
throat began TO subside You know
and the purser knows what happened
on the boat TO Mandalay. He was
! plausible and affable and good iooa
ing. and the mistake was mine.
seldom make them. kept quiet be-
, cause the boat was full UP, and as a
rule J hate scenes. Men like that
know II. II had complained be would
have denied his actions, inferred tina,
| was evil-minded Heavens, know
the breed. Now not a single word OF
this TO anyone. MIR. Craig. fancy,
will be the last person to speak Of II. "
You had better put the pin back
into your hat" suggested Martha
"Pah! had forgotten it." Elsa
flung the weapon far into the street.
Once they turned into Merchant
street, both felt the tension relax Mar
tina would have liked to sit down. even
on the curb.
Il desplse men," she volunteered
u am beginning to believe that few
OF them are worth thought Those
who aren't fools are knaves"
Are you sure Of your judgment in
regard to this man Warrington? How
can you tell that he is any different
from that man Craig?"
He is different, that is all This
afternoon he will come to tea | shall
want you 10 be with us. Remember,
not word Of this disgraceful affair"
"Ah. Elsa, ! am afraid; ] am more
afraid OF Warrington than of man
Of Craig's type"
I'VE are always quarreling, Martha:
and it doesn't do either OF us any
good. When you oppose me find that
that is the very thing | want to 90.
You haven't any diplomacy"
Warrington's appearance that after
noon astonished Elsa She had natu-
rally expected some change. but
scarcely such elegance. He was. with
out question. one of the handsomest
men she had ever met. He was hand
scmer than Arthur because he was
more manly in type. What mystery
he was! She greeted him cordially,
without restraint; but for all that. a
little shiver stirred the tendrils Of hair
at the nape of her neck.
THE most famous man in Rangoon
today" she said. smiling.
$50 you have read that tommy rot
in the newspaper"
They sat on her private balcony. in.
der an awning Rain was threatening
Martha laid aside her knitting and did
her utmost to give her smile of well
come an air Of graciousness.
y shouldn't cali it tommy rot" Elsa
declared. 1T was not chance. II was
pluck and foresight. Men who pos
sess those two attributes get about
worth having"
There are exceptions" studying the
ferrule OF his cane
rs there really anything you want
now and can't have?"
Martha looked at her charge in
dread and wonder.
There is the moon," he answered.
I have always wanted that But there
It hangs. just as far out of reach as
ever"
Elsa's curiosity today was keenly
alive. She wanted to ask a thousand
questions. but the ease with which the |
nan wore his new clothes, used his |
'oice and eyes and hands, convinced |
Ter more than ever that the subtIest |
questions she might devise would not |
'tir him into any confession. That he |
lad once been a gentleman OF her own
lass and more, something OF an ex-
luisite. there remained no doubt in
Ter mind. What had he done? What
n the world had he done?
On his part he regretted the pres
nee of Martha; for, so strongly had
his girl worked upon his imagination
hat he had called with the deliberate
Intention Of telling her everything. But
Ie could not open the gates Of his
Ieart before third person. one he IN.
knew was antagonistic. /
Conversation went afield; pictures
nd music and the polished capitals of
he world; the latest books and plays.
he information in regard TO these
lisa supplied him. They discussed
80 81 !