The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-03-12

been alone so much that haven't got
over the trick of speaking my thoughts
aloud"
mo harm has been done The fault
lay with me-"
Il used to learn whole pages from
stories and recite them to the trees or
to the parrot. 1t kept me from going
mad, l believe. In camp ! handled
coolies; none Of whom could speak a
word of English. I didn't have James
with me at that time. So I'd declaim,
merely to hear the sound OF my voice
Afterward / learned that the coolies
looked upon me as a holy man. They
believed I was nightly offering pray
ers to one of my gods. Perhaps was;
the god of reason. All that seems like
a bad dream now"
Are you going to take Rajah with
your"
Wherever go. Looks silly,
doesn't it, for a man Of my size to tote
around a parrot cage? But ! don't
care what people think. Life is too
short. It's what you think of yourself
that really counts"
THAT is one of the rules l have
laid down for myself. If only we all
might go through life with that idea!
There wouldn't be any gossip or scan
dial, then"
Some day | am going to tell you
why l have lived over here all these
years"
Il shouldn't, not If 1t hurts you"
"On the contrary, there's kind of
happiness in unburdening ones con-
science. called that day in Rangoon
for the express purpose of telling you
everything, but l couldn't In the pres
ence Of third person"
But always remember that
haven't asked you"
"Are you afraid to hear it,"
mo. What am trying to convince
you with is that trust you. and that
give you my friendship without reser-
vations."
He laid his hand on hers. strongly.
God bless you for that!"
She liked him because there was
lacking in his words and tones that
element of flattery so distasteful to
her.
Would you like to sit next to me at
the table?"
4 MAY II" eagerly.
I'll have Martha change her chair
for yours. Do you speak Italian?"
Enough for ordinary conversation.
1t is long time since l have spoken
that tongue"
Then, let us talk it as much as
possible at the table. II only to annoy
those around us"
Craig had been cycling the two. evil
ly. Set the wind in that direction?
An idea found soil in his mind, and
grew. He would put a kink, as he
vulgarly expressed 1t, into that affair.
He himself wasn't good enough for
her. The little cat should see. War
rington's ultimatum Of the night be-
fore burned and ranked, and man of
Craigs caliber never accepted the in
evitable without meditating revenge,
revenge of roundabout character.
such as would insure his physical safe
ty. There was nothing loyal or gen.
erous or worthy in the man. There
is something admirable in a great ras-
cal; but sordid one is a pitiful thing.
Craig entered the smokeroom and or
dered peg. At luncheon he saw
them sitting together, and he smoth.
cred a grin. Couldn't play cards, or
engineer pool, Ell? All right. There
were other amusements.
That afternoon Martha CHANGED to
sit down in vacant chair, just out Of
the range of the cricketers. She lolled
back and idly watched the batsmen.
And then she heard voices.
"She is Elsa Chetwood. I remember
seeing her pictures. She is a society
girl, very wealthy. but something of a
snob."
Marthas ears tingled. A snob, in
deed, because she minded principally
her own affairs!
"They think because they belong to
the exclusive sets they can break as
many laws of convention as they
please Well, they can't. There's al
ways some scandal in the papers about
them. There was some rumor of her
being engaged to the duke of What's
his-name, but it fell through because
she wouldn't settle fortune on him.
Only sensible thing she ever did, prob
ably"
And did you notice who sat next
to her at luncheon
"A gentleman with a past, Mr.. Craig
tells me-
Il dare say Miss Chetwood has a
past, too, IL one but knew. To travel
alone like this!"
Busybodies! Martha rose indignant
ly and returned to the other side Of
: the deck. She had lived too long with
Elsa not to have learned self-repres-
: sion, and that the victory is always
with those who stoop not to answer.
Nevertheless, she was alarmed. Elsa
must be warned
All Elsa said was: my dear Martha,
| In a fau DAVIS fhey and their tittle-taf.