The midland journal., 1915-08-27


thought only Of the scy OF meeting
John Ward and perhaps But Mar
tina did not let her thoughts go fur
ther than the meeting.
It was week before the half ex-
pected happened. The great matinee
idol did receive the locket, and he
did make his way to Martha Helders
studio.
I The c0nceit with which many actors
make their way in the world was
not lacking in John Ward. An all
consuming curiosity as to the per-
sonality of the girl whose name and
address he had found in the locl1et
which had been sent anonymously to
him led the actor to make his way
had donned his most becoming habil-
iments and his most entrancing man
}ner. Surely girl who had so lost
her heart to him was worthy at least
a call of inspection. She would be
quite overcome upon seeing him. OF
that Ward was certain. He thought,
deep In his heart, that perhaps the
girl herself, wishing to know him,
had sent the locket In the hope that
he would present himself 4at her
studio door.
Martha, being guiltless either or
the ffattery or the indiseretion of
seeking an Introduction to her idol,
controlled the wild beating of her
heart when his card was presented
to her, and went in to meet him.
When he had introduced himself
which was quite unnecessary, and had
held Marthas hand an unnecessary
length of time-the while he smiled
softly into her eyes-John Ward drew
forth the locket.
Il am battered that one of our great
est miniature painters should have
chosen so unworthy a subject for
the expression OF her art" he said,
and smiled that peculiarly fascinat-
ing smile. This locket containing
my likeness was sent to me anony-
mously. and, finding an address en-
graved within, l took the liberty"
Address! What address?" ex-
claimed Martha, while spot OF red
famed in either cheek Acsssa "a
The actor drew unpardonably near
to her and showed her the line en-
craving within the locket Marthas
name and address had been deliber-
ately carved therein.
She drew swift breath and her.
steady eyes held off the fiowery
speech that was on John Wards lips
Il have no idea how my address
came to be engraved there. / have.
painted miniatures of all our we'll
known actors for friend Of mine
who is an inveterate collector" Mar
tina lied glibly. She knew that the
situation required drastic measures
II she were to extricate herself
gracefully. Il will have to take that
ivory out Of the locket now" She
looked quickly at John Ward and
laughed softly as if at good joke
How very funny she added. "It
almost looks as II some person was
trying to make trouble between my
fiance and myself as well as putting
you to great deal of trouble to re-
turn the locket"
John Ward bowed himself not I'M
gracefully out of Martha's studio. He
felt, and not without reason, that he
had made great mistake in think
ing the girl capable of a hopeless pas
sion for himself. Martha had played
her part well.
When the elevator had descended
with her caller Martha dropped into
the nearest chair and pondered with
all her might. Who had taken her
locket from her studio with the de-
liberate intention of bringing John
Ward and her together? Someone
who desired to see her engagement to
Alan Dobie broken OF that Martha
was certain She never quite knew
what prompted her to go Immediately
to the telephone and call up Alan
do you happen to know anything
about my miniature of John Ward?"
she asked with the frankness that
had first endeared her to Alan.
I am like George Washington,
Alan's voice laughed back at her.
Did he turn up? I was anxious to
to hear how my little scheme worked
out. / have known all along. Martha.
that you wanted to meet him. You
are not angry, are you?" Alan had
controlled his voice so that Martha
felt only that he was desirous of
her happiness and not that he was
lighting for his own.
DO you want toto get--to break
our engagement-so so badly?" In spite
Of herself Martha shrank from what
Alan's loved voice might say. She
gripped the receiver with hands grown
suddenly weak. After all there was
no one like Alan in the whole world.
and all the actors on Broadway were
not worth one hair of Alan's head.
II Alan, big. generous Alan. who had
flung his happiness to the wind and
striven for her own. did not love her
enough to come straight up and tell
her so. then-MarthaN ceased to think