The Ordway new era., 1915-03-12

| of here to Mr. Damerell who will make
some excellent Improvements on 1t
this spring and summer.
again.
When she got home she put on tho
new suit and looked at herself crit
| ically in the glass Whether It was
the new suit or whether 1t was the
| legacy, undoubtedly she was begin
ming to look quite pretty. Her face
was flushed. and the excitement had
added luster to her eyes and an ex-
pressiveness to her mouth. Miss Ray
mond was beginning to feel quite
proud of her appearance.
And then the thought Of Philip came
1 to her. An old maid Of thirty! A
young man Of twenty-eight! What
would not life mean to him II he
could have that three thousand!
She thought of the drab years BE-
hind her. the colorless years that must
stretch before her. away and away.
| Little Miss Raymond put her head
+, down upon her hands and cried.
| "It isn't for him." she told herself
'defiantly, as she sealed up the type
written letter "It is for-the sake OF
the girl who isis to take my place.
And little Miss Raymond cried
again. Then. lest the thought OF
selfish pleasure should make her re-
pent, she went out quickly and
dropped the letter into the post once
box.
Quixoticr Little Miss Raymond was
made that way. That was why she
had never succeeded in tho stern
struggle Of life.
She listened from her room next
evening. which was Saturday. to hear
Philips step ON the stairs. She was
dressed-in the new suit. an unwar'
ranted extravasance now-and wait
ing for him to take her to dinner.
Each. paid for his own dinner. That
had been the drst test of their com
rsdeship and he had always respect
I'd her Independence.
But when he came leaping up sho
felt her heart beating SO .umuitnousiy
that she could hardly speak for fsaf
Of betraying herself.
Wonderful news. Claire!" ne cried.
shaking her hands in rapture. "Soa
can't even guess It III tell you aftsr
dinner. Not before or during dinner
!, after! And youli be 20 happy for
| my sake when you know"
| They went out to the little Italian
place where they had dined 20 often,
and. during the repast Of many
courses little Miss Raymond watched
| hts happy face in mute sorrow. She
| felt that this was the beginning Of the
end Of their friendship.
After dinner he drew the typewrit'
tan letter from his pocket and read II
| 70 her. An anonymous person. who
had the gravest reasons for doing 70.
wished 10 hestow the sum Of $S.oOo
upon him. That sum had been depos-
tied in . certain hank TO his account.
and he was asked to make NO effort 70
discover the identity Of the sender.
He had been to the bank. and the
money was there. The manager had
told him that the mysterious deposttos
was q woman; she had explained 70
him that she wished 70 remain un'
known to him. The manager knew
nothing Of her, but he had accepted
the money subject to IN investigation
Of Philips record. So the money was
~ good a. his.
sAnd after this I am going to pay
the bill every Saturday night" said
Philip gleefully.
And he began telling her all about
his plans; how he could get part
ner to 70 in with him to . similar
amount, and Of the tiny factory that
| he was planning. with success assured
and q prosperous life. They fingered
in the restaurant until everyone else
was gone. and the sleepy waiters~e eyed
them resentfully, and then they
walked home together. and Philip was
still talking
'And Of course I shall move from
here" he said, ~ they stood before
the roomins house together. Il have
got . little nat already planned. and
Claire. want to tell You something.
There 10 the sweetest. dearest giri
in the world whom am going to ask
TO share It with me. have never told
you OF her"
mo-" answered Claire Raymond
| quietly. He was too eager to see the
clutch she gave at her heart and she
was glad Of that.
.And then" she said. with . tremu-
lous little laugh, 'I suppose our long
friendship will be ended"
well, Of course things win be dif-
ferent," he admitted. "but hope We
shall see . good deal Of each other.
Claire"
II hope co." she answered mechan-
ically, feeling that his eyes were
turned auizzicslly on hors. And all
the while she was repeating fiercely:
''I'm glad did it I'm gladi I'm
giad!"
And suddenly she felt hfs arms
about her. and his lips on hers. You