Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-25

woman cares for Is to fool some man
any man will do, I suppose, so long
as her vanity is satisfied, and she can
have his scalp to wear at her belt!
Isn't 1t shameful what a m will
do, Just for the moments cruel pleas
ure? You have no sympathy, no ten.
derness, no ~heart-you're nothing but
a mass of insane female %conceit, that's
what you are, Thank God found 1t
out in time, l say! oh, | did think ]
loved you, Rena, I admit; but was a
fool to believe in you. Now, it's all
over!"
He stood before her, shaking his fin.
ger savagely. Its all rel and I'm
glad of it! I'm we'll rid of you, Rena
Royalton, and it will teach me a les.
son! I'd just like to tell you what !
think of you, but you're my guest In
my house, and unfortunately I'm a
gentleman, and SO l can't do 1t. But
there's one thing I can say, and that's
Good EVENING" Mrs. Royalton, and
you'll have to excuse me, for l have
my guests to attend to!"
Almost winded with this extrava-
CANT fury, he turned to make his exit
as speedily as possible, but she was
too quick for him. Selling his arm.
she looked him straight in the face,
her yes filled with tears.
why, Hall Bonistelle!" she ex.
claimed. You're crazyi Why, I'm 60
ing to accept you'll"
He dropped like a log upon a chair,
In amazement. She had demolished
his whole towering pose at a word.
For a moment he was unable to speak.
Then she looked at him very archly.
Hail." she said, don't you think I'm
prettier than usual tonight? Or do !
imagine it because Pm SO awfully
happy?"
The question pricked him into life.
He looked at her coldly. and in des-
peration made another attempt to goad
her into anger.
"By jove, / didn't think a woman
could-well, a, woman will do any.
thing to get what she wants, then.
won't she? She'll pay any price, and
suffer any indignity! Good Lord.
haven't you any pride, Rena. for
heavens sake? Haven't you any sense
of shame? Tell me; is there anything
you wouldn't do for money, Rena Roy.
alton? Let's have it,"
"Why, Hall, dear!" she replied, with
big innocent eyes, 81 don't know what
in the world you're talking about; but
I'll tell you one thing that I wouldn't
dol wouldn't give you up for all the
money in the world"
We'll, can you beat it," he gasped,
addressing a Spanish chair.
"Ah, Hail." she continued. when l
once consent, l go fast. Really, I'd
like to be married to you this very
night, If you only had a marriage IL
cense."
"A what?" he cried, thunderstruck.
"A marriage license, you know. OF
course that's always necessary be-
fore"
"By Jimmy Christmasi" he thun-
dered, staring in front of him. Rena
was forgotten, everything was forgot
ten except that, through his stupidity
all, now, was lost. A marriage IL
censei Not once had it occurred to
him-the whole sublime comedy had
been played out in vain. The four
millions-Jones Hassingbury had won.
after ALI
He gave another look at the clock.
It was four minutes to twelve. With
out another word he stalked impetu-
ously out of the room.
Mrs. Royalton, smiling. self-satisfied.
stood for a moment in triumph. Her
eyes were suddenly attracted by a
shining object upon the rug, and cross
ing toward it, she saw a ruby ring.
Puzzled at Its presence there, b
stopped and picked it up, examined
1t carefully, frowning, and then SLOW
ly placed it upon her finger. AS she
did so, Carolyn Dallys burst into the
room. Mrs. Royalton hastily turned
the ruby inside and dropped her hand
carelessly.
Carolyn came up to her, very eager.
"Well. did you see Hall?" Mrs. Royal
ton nodded, smiling.
why! Didn't l say l would?"
For a moment Carolyn gazed at her,
as if trying to penetrate her mind. She
seemed as yet ~unconvinced. you re-
fused him, Rena?"
Certainly" Mrs. Royalton tossed
her head.
Still Carolyn seemed incredulous.
well, how did he take it,"
ooh, / said l liked him, Of course,
but / couldn't think of marrying him,
and all that-he took on awfully, real
ly, Carolyn; he begged me to have
him, and said his life would be ruined
and all that rubbish-you know. the
way they always do"
"Said his life would be ruined, Ell?
What nonsense! You didn't say any
thing about-about me. or Rosamund