Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-20
Copyright. 1915. by Mcclure Publications.
CHAPTER L.

Mary's voice called Come in" and see
ing Daniels she smiled radiantly, her
dainty negligco making her look almost
efin in her young beauty.
Il don't like those roses on the blue
dress said the manager in his abrupt
! fashion. ITS a bad note. think pale
orchids would be better"
oh. so do l." assented Mary They
would be heavenly against the blue, but
it's to late to get any now, isn't it?''
| No" said Daniels, shops don't close
| for half hour yet. You can send Janet
! for some" He gPve curt gesture to-
wards the maid as he spoke, and Janet.
whose own French name of jeanette had
been anglicized in America to the oddly
/ incongruous Scotch congnomen. broke
! IN eagerly:
MATS oui! There in the little shop OF
the mllliner at the corner. can get les
orchids there tout de suite"
| "Oh, of course. 1 forgot the little mil
! liners" nodded Mary. Better hurry,
though for l can finish dressing alone.
And Janet, get some dinner while you
are out but be back in time to sew the
flowers on. won't your
Celia va sans dire" said Janet re-
proachfully. and tipped away followed
more slowly by Daniels who sought an
odd seclusion behind the wings in the
dark.
"HumminE a little tune Mary went on
with her dressing pulling on her smart
street boots and signing over their many
buttons, and pausing as she Strengthened
| up to give those elusive little feminine
touches to her hair. Just as she was
reaching for her blouse. however, another
! rap sounded.
Who is there?" she called and in
response the knob was turned and re-
Elected in the mirror she saw Pollock's
face
ITS David" he said, and she shook
her head smillingly at his reflection.
| You can come In only for minute"
she said i've got to get home and
dine-even IL am too excited to eat!'
Il suppose you-wouldn't dine with
me?" he said, his rising infection maxi
| ing statement. and again she shook
her head.
Mother is waiting" she said simply.
| md you see any of the rehearsal
/ David?"
Yes" ne answered. coming nearer to
her. You're wonderful in 1t, little girl
Tonight is going to witness the greatest
triumph that New York has seen in many
day
"Oh. Davidr she cried happily, that's
the incest thing you've said to me in
ages"
You don't give me many opportunities
to say nice things" he answered quickly
"You-you avoid me as il l had the
plague nowadays"
bn silI he inta Tod
tie nervously i've avoided every one
lately. live been so busy with the
play. Nora hasn't been an easy part to
learn"
David laughed.
THE play!" hes coffed. his voice
hoarse with sudden jealousy. ITS not
the play that's come between us. Mary
its Langdon. Langdon with his SNUG
airs and his blatant virtue. Don't you
think 1 have eyes to see? Don't you
suppose I know that your reason fer
going home to dinner is because Lang
lon is waiting to take you there?'
| you know we'll enough, David. that
it's not Longdon that has come between
us-but you, yourself You know only
| too well how l feel about-about drink
! ing-how it almost kills me to see you
| in this condition, And yet-time after
time you come TO me reeking with
dy-why-why-" her voice rose to
high, shril note, you've been drink
ing today!'
Nonsense" he retorted then, seeing
| her shrinking, he took a quick step for
ward and caught her slim shoulders IL
a tight grip.
"And If have" he breathed hoarsely,
who is it that drives me to it? You
Mary-you. with your internal GOODNESS.
You little snow girl-dont you know I'm
mad for you-crazy with the want OF
you? It's that that makes me drink
when you turn away from me. But
stop when you marry me. And you are
going to marry me. YOU know! l never
wanted anything that ] didn't get. and
you're not going to be an exception.
Though God knows never wanted any
thing as want you!-And I'm going to