The Washington herald., 1916-06-25

OF the foolish mess you've got yourself
into by this political Job with Halloran."
You talk as II l weren't able to shape
my own life" she snapped, vexed by his
manner, "as IL l were some irresponsible
child"
You are" he answered. You're a
child playing with toys you don't under
stand and whose danger must be shown
! to you by someone who has your welfare
at heart. Margaret, I've seldom asked a
favor of you. But-dear, give up this
silly ambition. Don't accept Halloran's
offer. You can't realize what IT.
II still schooner ask a favor of you."
she broke in ironically. Give up this
silly expedition to Brazil. Don't accept
the Explorers club offer"
What" he demanded. taken aback.
You'd have me give up my Brazil trip?
Surely, you're not in earnest? Why, it
means my whole career"
so does this secretaryship mean my
whole career" said Margaret. You ask
me to give it up. Yet when I ask the
same kind of sacrifice from you
LAS you wish" he decided, compressIng
his lips. "I agree. Give up this job and
will resign my leadership of the Brazil
expedition. 1t is a bargain"
''YOu're-you're joking" she exclaimed.
utterly taken aback.
II am in earnest" he corrected. 1T
Isn't a thing to Joke about-the spelling
of a mans career and"
Then why do it?''
1T seems the only way to save you
from this crazy plan OF yours
1T is not" she famed. And there is
no way to turn me from this wonderful
chance that has come to me. I'm not
going to make any such absurd bargain
as you suggest. l won't"
Margaret" he begged, "be sensible.
ask only"
You have no right to ask anything.
You are not my master"
Il am the man you have promised to
marry"
Il didn't know I was making that
promise to a petty tyrant who would try
to make a household drudge and a slave
of me and strangle all my aspirations"
Margaret"
But since you aren't content with me
as I am" she ragged on. land since you
can't appreciate my aims and hopes
why-why-here!"
She stripped the enga cement ring from
her left hand and held it out to him.
What do you mean" he asked bewil-
dered.
'T mean that you seem to regard an
engagement ring as a fetter. to make me
your slave. I refuse to wear fctters.
Take it,
He stood staring at her in amaze His
lack Of comprehension served to increase
her anger. With childish. petulant ges-
ture she flung the ring to the floor at
his feet
That Is my answer to the man who
tries to cramp my life" she said hotly.
That should be anv self-respectlng
woman's answer to a man who would
clip the wings of her spirit and tie her
down to home"
10
that glittered on the rug at his feet. But
the bewilderment faded from his face TO
be succeeded by a look of almost physi-
cal pain. Long ard earnestly he gazed
at the willful girl, who returned his
glance SO fercely. Then he said. very
slowly:
II am going now. You will not hear
from me in any way for more than six
months. But some day I shall come
back to you. And by that time sharp
experience will have brought you to your
senses. I would have saved you from
that experience II I could. I love you"
He left the room and the house with
out so much as a backward glance
Margaret stared after him-at first in
anger; then incredulously. Presently a
smile wreathed her lips-the smile OF n
naighty child who wants to be forgiven.
She took an impulsive step toward the
Pausing. she picked up the discarded
ring and gazed wistfully at It.
Come back" she called softly.
But John Leonard had passed out of
hearing. And, realizing this. Margaret
sank into chair, burying her face in her
hands.
Little by little her remorse merged into
resentment at the memory OF Leonard's
behavior. Then, by sheer will power she
thrust Leonard himself from her men,
ory. The district attorney-elect was to
dine with her father and herself Later
Halloran and she were planning to look
on at the New Years Eve revels in one
Of the big restaurants.
It was TO be jolly evening, and Mar
garet was resolved to look her very pret-
tiest. for the benefit Of her new employer
Red eyes and an aching heart do not
add to a girls attractiveness. So Mar
Saret decided to do away with both these
defects by putting Leonard out OF her
mind-for the present at least
And. forcing herself to forget the scene
that had just ended, she prepared with
what gay spirits she could summon up)
for the New Years Eve frolic.
Edwin Martel." Leonard had once
said,'"is living proof that luck is the
very worst thing in the world-for the
fellow who hasn't got it,
And he was right Born and brought
up to the idea that he was to inherit 4
goodly fortune, Martel found himself cast
on the world at twenty-five without a
dollar, without a trade or profession or
the habit OF working for a livelihood,
and with a set of expensive habits that
he could no longer crafty
The man was strong, willing. eager to
learn, But for lack of the right equip
ment he was barely able to pick up the
most precarious sort of living
The chance to go with Leonard to Bra
I'll came to him as a godsend He was
not only out of work and at the very end
Of his resources, but he was also engaged
to be married.
Elsie Drayton, whom he had met at n
dance, was probably the worst bit of
lll-luck of all that had befallen MarteI.
She was a high-strung, ili-disciplined girl
who had come to New York to study art,
and in whom the artistic temperament
crowded out any natural common sense
she may have had.
She had fallen in love with the good
looking Martel at sight. and had de-
liberately set out to make him propose
to her. As she was pretty and as he was
young and lonely and susceptible, she
had easily succeeded in this effort
Martel was in love with her-or thought
he was, which amounts to almost the
same thing. But nine-tenths of their mu-