Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-08-25
CHAPTER xI-continued.

"why do you offer me SO much?"
she asked. curiously.
Because 1 like you Oh, mean
like not lover Because I 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, a woman
Ike you. if she lives up to the obi
cations of wifehood, deserves better
than one who takes a man for love
and then perhaps gees back on her bar
gain. VIII you accept my offer?"
"No But thank you"
Think 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
It 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 a harpy,
the brother a scamp. and she, Lorelei,
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
LiIas, 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 aD-
prevail.
Il don't blame you a. bit; girl needs
liberty, I have five rooms, and Jap
TO take care Of them; they're lovely"
Il can't afford an expensive place"
Well. there are some three-room
nats in the rear. and-I have it. Ger
he Moore kept one, but she's gone on
The road. It's ali furnished, too. II
1t hasn't been sublet you can get it at
your own terms. The building is re-
spectacle. too; it's as proper as the
Ritz. I'm dining alone tonight Come
10 dinner with me and Wen find out
80 dOVuL II.
Lorelei would have preferred diff
terent location, not particularly desir-
ing to be near Lilas; but there was no
uine in which 10 look about and the
necessity that faced her made any
assistance welcome. Without more
discussions she agreed, and the two
Elrls rode uptown together
1ne Elegancia, where Lilas lived.
was painfully new. overelaborate
building, with a Gothic front and a
GOTHAM rear-half its windows pasted
with rental signs. Six potted palms.
turkish rug and a jaundiced Jamai-
can elevator boy gave an air of vel
soale to the ornate marble entrance
A1ias cited KEY to the first door or