The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-08
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generally faii-up. win you have .
peg!"
mo. thanks. But wish to say that
1t is very decent OF YOU" Warning
ton rose.
Il have travelled too long not to
recognize q man when see him.
Drop in any night after ten, If you
care to-"
Il shall be glad to accept your hos
pitality."
Outside. Warrington sought Elsa,
and as they promenaded. lightly re-
counted the episode OF the morning.
Elsa expressed her delight in laugh
ter that was less hearty than mali.
cious. How clearly she could see the
picture! And then, the everrecurring
comparisons: Arthur would have gone
by. Arthur would not have bothered
himself, for he detested scenes and
fisticuffs. How few real men she hao
met. men who walked through life
naturally. unfettered by those self-ap-
piled manacles called What will peo-
pie ssy?"
Let us go up to the bow" she in
vited. Il myself have little story to
tell"
A school of porpoise were frolick-
ing under the cutwater. Plop! plop!
they went. Finally all save one sank
gracefully out of sight. The laggard
crisscrossed the cutwater q dozen
times, just to show the watchers how
extremely clever he was: and then,
with plop. that was louder than any
previous one, he vanished into the
deeps.
Il love these oriental seas" said
Elsa, with he: arms on the rail and
her chin resting upon them. She
wore no hat, and her hair shimmered
in the sun and shivered in the wind.
"And yet they are the most treacher-
GUS of all seas. There's not cloud in
sight; in two hours from now we may
be in the heart of a winter storm"
Il am grateful for that Mercy!
Think of being shipwrecked on a des-
ert island with the colonel and his
three spinsters! Proprieties, from
morning until night, And the chatter.
ing tourists! Heaven forbid"
You had a story to tell me-" he sug-
gested. His heart was hot within him.
He wanted to sweep her up in his
arms and hold her there forever. But
the barrier Of wasted opportunities
stood between.
"Oh. yes; | had almost forgotten"
She stood up and felt for wandering
strands of hair. Il find the world
more amusing day by day. / ought to
feel hurt. but am only amused. I
spoke to the colonel this morning,
merely to say howdy-do. He stared
me in the eye and deliberately turned
his back to me-"
"The doddering old"
There. there! 1t isn't worth getting
angry about"
But don't you understand? It's
all because Of me. Simply because you
have been kind to poor devil, they
start in to snub you. you! I'll go back
TO my old seat at the table. You
mustn't walk with me any more"
Don't be silly. II you return to
your chair. If you no longer walk with
me, they'll find a thousand things to
talk about Since I do not care, why
should you?"
Cant l make 1t clear to your" des-
perately.
Il see with reasonable eyes, IL that
is what you mean. The people know,
mine own people, understand Elsa
Chetwood."
So her name was Elsa! He re-
peated it over and over in his mind.
She continued her exposition.
There are but few, gently born.
They are generous and broadminded.
They could not be mine own people
otherwise. They are all l care about.
shun mediocrity as l would the
plague. refuse to permit II to touch
me, either with words or with deeds.
The good opinion Of those l love Is
dear to me; as for the rest of the
world" She snapped her fingers to
illustrate how little she cared.
Il am a man under a cloud, to be
avoided"
Perhaps that cloud has a silver
lining" with a gentle smile. Il do not
believe you did anything wrong, pre-
meditatedly. All of US, one time or
another, surrender to wild impulse.
Perhaps in the future there awaits for
me such moment. cannot recoilect
the name Of Warrington in q cause
celebre," thoughtfully.
He could only gaze at her dumbly.
my name is not WarringtonF finding
his voice. God in heaven, what would
happen when she found out what his
name was? But my first name Is
Paul"
Paul. have had my suspicious
that your name was not Warrington.
But tell me nothing more. What good
would 1t do? did not read that mans
letter. merely noted your name and
his. You doubtless knew him some
where In the past"
Might there not be danger in your
kindness to met"
"In what way!"