Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-13

want. Besides. the toe OF my boot 4,
worn through and nnd it painful Yes
terday tramped ten miles trying 10 find
man who was getting up concert
party for the provinces"
And did you find him7" he asked hail.
ing cab.
Yes, found him" she answered, In.
/ differently. we went through the usual
| programme. He heard me sing, tried 10
| kiss me and promised to let me know.
Nobody ever refuses anything in my pro-
fesslon. YOU see, They promise TO let
you know"
Are you q singer, then, or an actress?'
~ am neither" she told him. IL said
my profession because II Is the only
one TO watch I have ever tried 20 be-
| long. l have never succeeded in obtain
ing an ENGAGEMENT In this country. I
do not suppose that even n had per-
severed should ever have had one"
| You have given up the idea, them
he remarked
II have given Il up" she admitted. n
little curtly. Please DO not think, be-
cause ! am allowing you to be my COM
| panion for n short time, that you may
ask me questions How fast these takes
| go"
They drew UP at their deStination-a
| well-known restaurant In Regent Street
| lie paid the cabman and they descended
flight of stairs into the grill-room,
| II hope that this place will suit YOU"
| he said. 81 have not much experience
Of restaurants"
She looked around and nodded
Yes she replied, II think that 1t
| will do
She was very shabblly dressed, and he
although his appearance was by no
means ordinary, was certainly not OF the
type which inspires immediate respect
| In even the Erill-room OF n fashionable
| restaurant. Nevertheless, they received
| prompt and almost officious service. Tnv-
| ernnke, as he watched his companions
air, her manner of seating herself and
| accepting the attentions of the head
| waiter. felt that nameless impulse which
was responsible for his having followed
| her from Blenheim House and which he
could only call curiosity. becoming
stronger. An exceedingly matter-of-fact
person, he was also by instinct and habit
observant. He never doubted but that
she belonged to class of society from
which the guests at the boarding house
where they had both lived were seldom
recruited and OF which he himself knew
little. He was not in the least a snob,
this young man, but he found the fact
| interesting. Life with him was already
very much the same as n ledger account
matter OF debts and credits, and he
had never failed to include among the
latter that curious gift OF breeding for
which he himself, denied it by heritage,
had somehow substituted a complete and
exceedingly rare naturalness.
II should like" she announced. laying
down the carte, "a fried sole, some cut
let's an ice, and black coffee"
The waiter bowed.
And for Monsieur?'
Tavernake glanced at his watch; it was
already ten o'clock.
II will take the same" he declared.
NNH n aR-fV,
She seemed Indifferent.
ANY white wine," she answered, care
lessly, white or red"
Tavernnke took up the wine list and
ordered sauterne. They were left alone
In their corner for few minutes. almost
the only occupants OF the place.
you are sure that you can afford
this?" she asked looking at MIN critical
ly. at may cost you a sovereign or
thirty shilllngs."
He studied the prices on the menu.
II can afford 1t quite we'll and have
plenty of money with me-" he assured
her. but I do not think that II will
cost more than eighteen shillngs. While
we are waiting for the sole, shall we
talk? l can tell you, If you choose to
near, why followed you from the board
ing-house."
II don't mind listening to you" she
told him, cor ! will talk with you about
subject which cannot discuss; that sub
Ject is myself and my own doings."
TaVernake was silent for a moment.
THAT makes conversation a bit diff
fcult' he remarked
She leaned back in her chair.
AFTER this evening" she said, ~ go
out of your life as completely and finally
as though I had never existed. nave
fancy TO take my poor secrets with me.
III you wish to talk, tell me about your
self You have gone out or your way
20 be kind to me. I wonder why. 1t
doesn't seem to be your role"
He smiled slowly His face was fash
ioned upon broad lines and the relaxing
o. his lips lightened 1t wonderfully. He
had good teeth. clear gray eyes, and
coarse black hair which he wore a trfe
long; his forehead was too massive for
good looks.
mo" ne admitted ST do not think that
benevolence is one of my characteristics"
Her dark eyes were turned full upon
him: her red lips. redder than ever they
seemed against the pallor of her cheeks
and her deep brown hair. curled slightly.
There was something almost insolent In
her tone.
You understand, hope" she con-
tinued," that you have nothing Whatever
to look for from me In return for this |
sum which you propose to expend for my
entertainment"
Il understand that he replied,
Not even gratitude" she persisted. II |
really do not feel grateful to you. You |
are probably doing this TO crafty some !
selfish interest or curiosity. | warn you |
that ! am quite incapable of any OF the |
proper sentiments OF life."
"Your gratitude would be OF no value |
to me whatever" he assured her.
She was stlll not wholly satisfied His |
complete stolldity frustrated every effort |
she made to penetrate beneath the sur
face.
"If believed" she went on. "that YOU
were one of those men-the world is full |
of them, you know-who will help a
woman with reasonable appearance 80 !
long as II does not seriously interfere !
with their own comfort"
our sex has nothing whatever to do |
with it," he interrupted las to your
appearance, ! have not even considered |
H. / could not tell YOU whether you are |
beautiful or ugly-I am no judge OF these |
matters. What / have done. have done |
because 1t pleased me 10 do H."
"Do you always do what pleases yon?'
she asked
Nearly always"
She looked him over again attentiyely, |
with an interest obviously impersonal, a |
trihe supercilious.
II suppose" she remarked, you con-
slider yourself one OF the strong people |
OF the world?n
Il do not know about that" he an
swered. II do not often think about |