The midland journal., 1917-07-13
CHAPTER Xl-Continued.

''Why do you offer me so much"
she asked, curiously.
Because 1 like you oh, I mean
slike,' not Iovey 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 man for love
and then perhaps goes back on her bar
gain. Will you accept my offer?"
"No. But thank you"
think it over; there is no hurry,
and remember l 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
/ rebelied. 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 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
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
81 don't blame you a bit; a girl needs
liberty l have five rooms, and Jap
to take care ofSthem; they're lovely"
II can't afford an expensive place"
"Well, there are some three-room
fiats in the rear, and-I have it! Ger
tie Moore kept one, but she's gone on
the road. It's all furnished, too. If
it 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
to dinner with me and we'll find out
all about it."
Lorelei would have preferred a diff
ferent location, not particularly desir-
ing to be near Lilas; but there was no
thine in which to look about and the
necessity that faced her made any
sassistance welcome. Without more
discussions she agreed, and the two
girls rode uptown together
The Elegancia, where Lilas lived.
was a painfully new, Overelaborate
building, with Gothic front and a
Gotham rear-half its windows pasted
with rental signs. Sik potted palms,
a Turkish rug and a jaundiced Jamai-
can elevator boy gave an air of well
!. come to the ornate marble entrance
hall.
Lilas fitted key to the first door on