The Washington herald., 1915-01-08

! life. Gerta, ever since We played to-
! gether as kids-but when you came
home from that trip around the world
with Littleton dangling in your train,
l felt it in my bones that there
wouldn't be any show for me. | hope
! yOu'l be happy. dear. and that-thaI-
4 hans. il all. Gcrta. you know what
! want to say" He squeezed her hand
50 hard that sh" almost cried aloud
with the pain. but she esSayed a tear
ful smile and so Billy disappeared for
aw hilc.
When She was alone. Gerta sat there
with a strange smile curling her lips.
Sh" had much to consider. Billy was
right.
Jeffrey LitlIeton had danEIed after
her ever since her debut four years
ago: other men had been rclegated to
the background. for Jeffrey was always
in attendance, her devoted cavalier. her
favored swain. He claimed most of the
dances on her programs. she wore his
flowers, sang his favorite songs, and
read tho books that lie recOmme nded-
and they shared a secret in common.
And this WAS the secret: While all the
world supposed them to be engaged the
fact was that Jeffrey had never asked
Gerta to marry him, He was always
leading up to the momentous question,
- 'AoAlAlS 'll lllt lHiu Ice OIL actual
confession OF lOve-and always break
ing off in the very nick of time
Because she loved him Gerta Roswell
had suffered this in silence. Her love
was greater than her pride; hut of late
there had come an anxious expression
in her eyes and uncOnfessed fear that
Jeffrey considered himself free to love
and marry any other girl and yet, she
had been so certain of him and trusted
90 fv11 in H. l. =
love, that she did not even resent it.
When Jeffrey had spoken of their plans
for the future. just a if he had actu-
ally proposed to her and been accepted,
or, and the thought whipped her pride,
as though il were a matter which he
had settled in his own mind and be-
cause Of that it was unnecessary to
ask her consent. He was her master
In his demeanOr was an air Of tri-
umphant possession that stunE her while
II thrilled her-for he was So dear to
hcr, he had woocd her 50 tcndcrly that
she had unConsciousIy lost her heart to
him and she had waitCd-was waiting
now for Jeffrey Littleton to speak
Even Billy Hinton had supposed she
Was engaged to Jeffrey. She would have
given a precious year Of her life to
have answered his question proudly:
Yes, l am engaged to Jeffrey LittIctOn"
But she could not.
Her cycs fcl to the card sho waa-twlsr-
ing in her fingers. Jenrey's card-with
its command. How she had always
m""kly "beycd his comma nds His note
among the roses: BE ready at to ac-
company me to the Gounod concert" was
a command.
As she sat there. miserable and self
abascd. sudden temptation came to her |
She drew sheet Of paper toward her
and wrote a note sending it out by a |
special messenger.
Jeffrey LittlctOn came first. He was
standing before the fire in the drawing |
room when Gerta trailed her pale violet |
iraperi,s into the room. She paused. one |
hand trembling a little. pressing the |
aces at her bosom.
LittlCtOn leaned gracefully forward |
and pressed his lips to her extended hand. |
Sho noted the long. pale outline of his !
acc and the rich sweep OF his chestnut |
lair.
"Gerta," he murmUred.
The way he said her name was a
declaration OF love in itself, but Gerta
lid not flush this time. She smiled ador-
Ihly and drew her hand away.