The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-03
CONTINUED


They sat on her private balcony, un-
der an awning. Rain was threatening
Martha laid aside her knitting and did
her utmost to give her smile Of well
come an air of graciousness.
II shouldn't call 1t tommy-rot," Elsa
declared. 1T was not chance. 1t was
pluck and foresight. Men who pos
sess those two attributes get about
everything worth having"
There are exceptions" studying the
ferrule of his cane.
rs there really anything you want
now and can't have?"
Martha looked at her charge In
dread and wonder.
There is the noon," he answered.
II have always wanted that But there
it hangs, just as far out of reach as
ever"
Elsa's curiosity today was keenly
alive, She wanted to ask thousand
questions, but the ease with which the
man wore his new clothes, used his
voice and eyes and hands, convinced
her more than ever that the subtlest
questions she might devise would not
stir him into any confession. That he
had once been gentleman OF her own
class, and more, something of an ex-
quisite, there remained NO doubt in
her mind. What had he done? What
in the world had he done?
On his part he regretted the pres
ence of Martha; for, SO strongly had
this girl worked upon his Imagination
that he had called with the deliberate
intention of telling her everything. But
he could not open the gates of his
heart before a third person, one he in.
tuitively knew was antagonistic.
Conversation went afield pictures
and music and the polished capitals of
the world; the latest books and plays.
The information in regard to these
Elsa supplied him. They discussed
also the problems of the day as frank.
ly as if they had been in an occidental
drawing-room. Martha's tea was bit.
ter. She liked Arthur, who was al.
ways charming, who never surprised
or astonished anybody, or shocked
them with unexpected phases of char
acter; and each time she looked at
Warrington. Arthur seemed to recede.
And when the time came for the guest
to take his leave. Martha regretted to
find that the major part of her antag-
ouism was gone.
Il wish to thank you, Miss Chet-
wood. for your kindness to very lone
ly man. 1t isn't probable that shall
see you again. l sail next Thursday
for Singapore" He reached into a
pocket. Il wonder if you would con-
slider it an impertinence If | offered
you this old trinket?" He held out
the mandarin's ring.
What a beauty!" she exclaimed.
"Of course I'll accept it. 1t is very
kind of you. am inordinately fond of
such things. Thank you. How easily
1t slips over my finger!"
"Chinamen have very slender fin
gers" he explained. "Good-by Those
characters say Good luck and pros
perity'"
No expressed desire OF wishing to
meet again; just an ordinary everyday
farewell; and she liked him all the
better for his apparent lack of senti.
ment.
"Good-by," she said. She WINGED, for
his hand was rough-palmed and strong
A little later she saw him pass
down the street. He never turned and
looked back.
"And why" asked Martha, did you
not tell the man that we sail on the
same ship"
You're a simpleton, Martha" Elsa
turned the ring round and round on
her finger. ''If had told him, he
would have Cancelled his sailing and
taken another boat