Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER XVI.
AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE

l
The next afternoon, at half-past four,
Tavernake was having tea with Beatrice
In the tiny fiat which she was sharing
with another girl, or KIngsway. She
| opened the door to him herself, and
though she chartered ceaselessly. II
seemed to him that she was by no means
at her ease. She installed him in the
only available chair, an absurd little
wicker thing many sizes too small for
him, and seated herself upon the hearth
| rug a few feet away.
You have soon managed to find me out,
| Leonard" she remarked.
"Yes," he answered. "I had to 20 to
the stage-doorkeeper for your address"
He hadn't the slightest right to give It
| to you," she declared.
Tavernake shrugged his shoulders.
II had to have It," he said simply.
THE power of the purse again!" she
, laughed. Now that you are here, don't
believe that you are a bit glad to see me.
Are your"
He did not answer for a moment. He
was thinking of that vigil upon the EN-
bankment, of the long walk home, of the
battle with himself, the continual striv-
Ing to tear from his heart this new thing,
culine inconsistency, he persisted In hold
ing her responsible. .,"
you know, Leonard" she continued,
getting up abruptly and beginning to
make the tea, II believe that you are
angry with me. II you are, all can say
Is that you are a very foolish person.
had to come away. Can't you see that?"
II cannot" he answered stolidly
She sighed
a1,a
declared. II suppose 1t is because you
have led such a queer life, and had no
womenfolk to look after you. You don't
understand. 1t was absurd, in a way that
1 should ever have called myself your
sister, that we should ever have attempted
such a ridiculous experiment. But after
after the other night"
Cant we forget that2" he interrupted.
She raised her eyes and looked at him.
"Can you?" she asked.
There was a curious, almost a pleading
earnestness in her tone. Her eyes had
something new to say, something which,
though 1t failed to stir his blood, made
him vaguely uncomfortable Neverthe-
less he answered her without hesitation.
Yes" he replied, "I could forget 1t.
I will promise to forget it,
1t was dnaccountable, but he almost
fancled that he saw this new thing pass
HeT ldCe, leaving HeT pdle anu
tremulous. She looked away again and
busled herself with the tea-caddy, but
the fingers which held the spoon were
shaking a little
"Oh, suppose I could forget" she said,
"but 1t would be very difficult for either
of us to behave as though 1t had never
happened. Beside, 1t really was an inn
possible situation, you know" she went
on, looking down into the tea-caddy. 1T
is much better for me to be here with
Annie. You can come and see me now
and then and we can still be very good
friends
Tavernake was annoyed. He said moth
ing, and Beatrice, glancing up, laughed
at his gloomy expression.
"You certainly are" she declared, "the
most impossible, the most primitive per-
son 1 ever met. London isn't Arcadia,
you know. and you are not my brother.
Beside, you were such an autocrat. You
didn't even like my going out to supper
with Mr.. Grler"
II hate the fellowi" -Tavernake admit
ted. "Are you seeing much of him2"
He took us all out to supper last night"
she replied. 81 thought 1t was very kind
of him to ask me-"
Kind indeed Does he want to marry
you?" Tavernake demanded.
HE can't" she declared. HE is mar
ried already"
"Well. then. do" he said firmly "Will
you marry me. Beatriee?"
She threw her head back and laughed.
laughed long and softly, and Tavernake.
simple and IMMERSED in the ways of