Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER xl-continued.

"Why do you offer me SO much?"
she asked, curiously.
Because I like you Oh, I mean
like not lover Because l think
you're good and will need money to
remain good. You're not an ordinary
woman, Miss Knight; you can't live as
ordinary women live, now that you're
famous New York won't let you"
You're very kind and generous
after all that has occurred and after
knowing my reason for being here"
'My dear child, you didn't choose
your family, and as for the other, the
women of my set marry for money,
Just as you plan to do. So do women
everywhere, for that matter, and many
of them make excellent wives-yes,
far better than if they had married
poor men. Few girls as beautiful as
you In any walk of life are allowed to
marry for love. Trust me, woman
like you, if she lives up to the obli-
cations of wifehood, deserves better
than one who takes a man for love
and then perhaps gees back on her bar
gain. Will you accept my offer?"
''No. But thank you"
'sThink it, over; there is no hurry,
and remember / want to help" With
one of his infrequent, wan smiles, he
extended his hand, and Lorelei grasped
1t warmly, though her face was set
and strained.
She was far too well balanced for
hasty resolutions, but her mind, once
made up, was seldom changed. 1t dis
tressed her grievously to leave her
people, but at the thought of remain
ing longer with them every instinct
rebelled. Her own kin, urged by
greed, had not hesitated to cheaper
and degrade her; their last offense.
coupled with all that had gone before,
was more than could be borne. Yet
she was less resentful than sad, for it
seemed to her that this was the be-
ginning of the end. First the father
had been crippled, then the moral fiber
of the whole family had disintegrated
until the mother had become harpy,
the brother a scamp, and she, Lorelei,
a shameless hunter of men. Now the
home tie, that last bond of respect
ability, was to be broken.
Her first impulse was to take up her
abode with Adoree Demorest, but a
little thought showed the inadvisability
of that. In her doubt she appealed to
Lilas, broaching the subject as the two
girls were dressing after the perform
ance.
When Lorelei had made known her
decision, the other girl nodded her ap-
proval.
Il don't blame you bit; girl needs
liberty. I have five rooms, and a JAP
to take care of them; they're lovely
II can't afford an expensive place.
"Well. there are some three-room
fats in the rear, and-I have it! Ger
tie Moore kept one, but she's gone or
the road. It's all furnished, too II
it hasn't been sublet you can get it al
your own terms. The building is re
spectacle. too; it's as proper as the
Ritz. I'm dining alone tonight. Come
to dinner with me and Wen find out
all about it,"
Lorelei would have preferred diff
ferent location, not particularly desir
ing to be near Lilas; but there was NJ
time in which to look about, and thu
necessity that faced her made any
assistance welcome. Without more
discussions she agreed, and the two
girls rode uptown together.
The Elegancia, where Lilas lived
was a painfully new, overelaborat,
building, with a Gothic front and {
Gotham rear-half its windows pasted
with rental signs. Six potted palms
a Turkish rug and jaundiced Jamai
can elevator boy gave an air of vel
come to the ornate marble entranc
hall.
Lilss fttsd key to the first door o.