Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-09
BOOK II.
CHAPTER V-(Continued)

She was singing at n mlSeTdple cast
end musc-hall so that her father might
find some sort of employment Taver-
make said. The people only forbore to
hiss her fathers turn for her sake. She
goes about the country with him. Heaven
knows what they earn, but it must De
little enough! Beatrice Is shabby and
thin and pale. She is devoting the best
years of her life to what she imagines TO
be her duty
And how does this AFFECT me- bll2a-
beth asked, coldly.
"Only in this way" TaVernake an
swered. You asked me how it was that
/ could find you as beautiful as ever ana
adore you no longer. The reason Is be-
cause l know you TO be wretchedly
selfish l believed in you before. Every
thing that YOU did Seemed right. That
was because I was a fool, because you
had filled my brain with impossible
fancies, because | saw you and every
thing that you did through distorted
mirror"
Have you come here to be rude?" she
asked him.
Not in the least" he replied. Il came
here to see whether 1 was cured"
She began to laugh, very softly at first,
but soon she threw herself back among
the cushions and laid her hand caressing-
ly upon his shoulder
"Oh you are just the same! she cried.
Just the same dear, truthful bundle of
honesty and awkwardness and ignorance.
So you are going to be victim of Bea-
trice's bow and spear, after all.
1 have asked your sister to marry me-
Tavernack admitted. she will not
she was very wise" Elizabeth de-
clared, wiping the tears from her eyes.
.'As an experience you are delightful. As
n husband you would be terribly impos-
sible. Are you going 10 stay and take
me out to dinner this evening? I'm sure
YOU have dress suit now"
Tavernake shook his head.
II am sorry" he said, ''I have already
an engagement"
She looked at him curiously. Was It
really true that he had become indlffer-
ent? She was not used to men who
escaped.
"Tell me-" she added, abruptly. why
did YOU come? | don't understand. You
are here, and you pass your time being
rude to me. ! ask you to take me to
dinner and you refuse. DO you know that
scarcely a man In London would not
have jumped at such a chances"
VERY likely" Tavernake answered. Il
have no experience in such matters. l
only know that l am going to do some
thing else"
Something you want to do very much?"
she whispered.
II am going down to little music-hall
I'm Whitechapel," Tavernake said, "and
| am going TO meet your sister and am
going to put her in a cab and take her
TO have some supper, and l am going to
worry her until she promises to be my
wife"
''You are certainly a devoted admirer OF
A.. l,a Laughed ''PnFhHnH YOU
were in love with her all the time
perhaps | was" he admitted.
She shook her head
'I don't believe it," she said Il think
YOU were quite fond of me once You
have such absurdly old-fasioned ideas
or think that you would be fond OF me
now"
Tavernake rose to his feet
II am going" he declared. This VIII
be goodby. Tomorrow l am going to
British Columbia"
The laughter faded for moment from
his face. She was suddenly serious.
"Don't CO." she begged. Listen. l
know l am not good like Beatrice, but
do like you'll always did. l suppose II Is
that wonderful truthfulness or yours
You are a different type from the men
one meets / am rather reckless per-
son. II Is such a comfort sometimes TO
meet any one like you You seem suen
an anchorage. Stay and talk to me FOR
a little time. Take me out tonight YOU
asked me TO go with you once, you KNOW
and would not. Tonight II is who ask
YOU" an
.,srhjs is eoodby!" he said, firmly. Il
s,,nnose after all, you were not unklnd
10 me I'm those days, but you taught me
a very bitter lesson. l came 10 you
today in fear and trembling was
afraid. perhaps. that the worst was not
over mat there was more yet TO come.
Now know that l am tree'
She stamped her foot.
you shall not so away ike tha' she
declared.
He smiled.
.Do you think l do not understand
bA continued. ut Is only because l am
able 10 10. because the touch Of your
angers, that look IN your eyes, DO not
drive me half mad now. that you want
me TO stay. You would like 10 try your
powers once more. j think not. am
satisfied that / am cured indeed, but per-
haps II is safer to risk nothing"
She pointed 20 the door.
Very well. them" she ordered you
can 90"
He bowed. and already his hngers were
on the handle. Suddenly she called 70
him.
Leonard Leonard
He turned round, She was coming to-
ward him With her arms qutstretched, her
eyes wereefull q tears. there were sohs
Ia her volce.
= am 80 iouelg che hegsed 2 haFe
.eepght 81 you sp aineh. p0nf 90 away