The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

uaI world Alan would have considered
himself capable of guiding her, but
she, having won success entirely I'M
aided, he felt it unnecessary to ad-
wise her, much as he thought she
needed il.
Alan realized. with sinking of
the heart, that Martha's interest in
John Ward was developing rather
than waning. a crisis was surely at
hand Alan was not the man to marry
girl who only half loved him. He
her entire self.
II was during one of Martha's pop
ular Sunday afternoon teas that she
first discovered the loss of her priced
locket with the miniature of John
Ward in il. Her heart pounded
against her side when she discovered
that il was gone, and in Imagination
she was herself tainted by her secret
admiration for an actor. All OF her
friends would learn of her infatua-
ton for no one could fail to know
that the miniature was her own Her
famous touch was not to be denied.
For once in her life Martha shrank
from the fame that was hers and the
disclosures following in the wake of
the finding of her locket
Instinctively she realized that Alan
Dobie would not want to take up his
life path with girl who wore an
other mans picture. She shrank, too.
from his scorn and for a second
blamed John Ward for the entirely
unconscious part he was playing in
her life maneuvers.
Martha refrained from making in
uuiry about her locket, but after her
guests had departed made minute
onfa nj
studio. The locket. however. was lost
and with it had gone Martha's peace
of mind The fear gripped her that it
might fall into the hands of John Ward
and Martha's shame would know no
end. Naturally. one finding II and recoS-
nizing the well-known actor, the hrst
impulse would be to dispatch IT TO him.
II was with no little misgivinEs that
Martha waited the turn OF events. VI
course. she could. II John Ward re-
ceiyed the locket and in turn brought
it to her having recognized her touch'
disclaim any knowledge of it,
AT the thought of her idol making
himself known to her. Martha quite
reconciled herself to the loss of the
miniature, and her heart lost a beat
as she anticipated the prospect OF
being in the same room with MIN ana
perhaps shaking his hand. For the
time being Alan was forgotten. She
thought only of the joy OF meeting
John Ward and perhaps But Mar
tina did not let her thoughts go fur
Their than the meeting.
1t was a week before the half ex-
pected happened The great matinee
idol did receive the locket. and he did
make his way to Martha Helder's studio
The conceit with which many act
ors make their way in the world was
not lacking in John Ward. An all
consuming curiosity as to the person.
aNty of the girl whose name and ad-
dress he had found in the locket
which had been sent anonymously to
him led the actor to make his way
Ieisurely toward that address. He
had donned his most becoming habil-
iments and his most enhancing man
ner Surely girl who had so lost
her heart to him was worthy at least
a call of inspection. She would be
quite overcome upon seeing him. OF
that Ward was certain. He thought.
deep in his heart. that perhaps the
girl herself, wishing to know him,
had sent the locket in the hope that
he would present himself at her
studio door.
Martha, being guiltless either of
the fiattery or the indiscretion OF
seeking an INTRODUCTION ~ hei iuot'
the wild beating of her
heart when his card was presented to
her and went in to meet him.
When he had introduced himself,
which was quite unnecessary. and had
held Martha's hand an unnecessary
length of time-the while he smiled
softly into her eyes-John Ward drew
forth the locket.
81 am fiattered that one of our
greatest miniature painters should
have chosen SO unworthy n subject
for the expression of her art" he
said, and smiled that peculiarly fas-
chatting smile. This locket contain
ing my likeness was sent to me anony-
and. finding an address engraved
within took the liberty
address! What address," exclaimed
Martha. while a spot Of red famed in
either check.