Fair play., 1917-07-28

| thinking about II ever since-for some
time. The first thing, of course. Is
whether we are going to hang together
or not"
Talbot had rather a weird sense of
humor. He suggested that the word
chang" he changed to "remain."
We've been doing well. Wen dc
all right again, too, as soon as this
! thing blows over. It was unlucky, but
we've been pretty fortunate. Now we
! can do one Of two things. For Ellnor's
sake, I suggest the first"
"And that is" Elinor's voice was
unsteady.
"Send Boroday to Paris TO dispose of
your jewels. Then get a conservative
lawyer to invest the money"
"And after thatr'
Forget you ever knew any of u.s."
Hun, across the table from her, went
white, but said nothing.
"You said there was an alternativeT
| Elinor was white, too. The room was
profoundly stiIl.
ITO keep on as we are at present.
with you, Elinor, acting in your fa-
| ther's stead, receiving and transmitting
messages, and-keeping the vault in
charge"
Boroday was on his feet in a mo-
ment, protesting. He would take the
jewels and send them abroad. 1t was
risky, but 1t could be done. But this
outrageous arrangement that had been
suggested
"What we are, we are by choice" he
| finished. You have never had choice,
and now 1t is given to you. For Gods
sake, child, go away now, while you
may"
Elinor's reply, when it came, was
unanswerable.
"Where could / go? I know in all
the world only you four, and old Hen
rlette, and n gOverness of mine who
has gone into a convent in France. 1
shall stay here with you ALL"
SO 1t was settled.
That was an eyentful evening, with
! Ellnor misty-eyed, moving into her ia
| TIERS chair at the table, and the band
swearing the simple oath of allegiance
which held them together. And when
| they had moved from the dining room,
! w NlIpr HUH, IOllONlnS ElluOT Oul OlllO
the terrace, told her he loved her.
The starlight above, and those near
er stars that outlined the streets be-
! low, threw a soft radiance over her.
! She was dressed in white; old Hilary
had disliked mourning garments. Eli
nor was looking down into the village.
The great spire of Saint Jude's tow
cred above the town. Huff, young and
ardent, thrilled to the girls presence
close beside him.
"You are very aloof tonight" he said.
She smiled up at him.
"Not that surely. 1 was only think
ing"
"Of whatY
ooh, of different things-of the peo-
pie down there in their houses-their
lives, the things they believe; we think
they are narrow, but 1 wonder, after
all, If you and 1, who believe none of
those things, are not the narrow ones"
Huff was not subtle. Possibly he
would not have understood, had not
the Saint Jude's chimes rung just then.
Symbols like that seem to mean so
much to them" said EliLJr, and fell
silent.
In the warm silence, Huff felt for
and found her hand.
"All this time, when / couldn't see
you" he said unsteadily, I've been
thinking of you here alone, and in
trouble. Sometimes l thought couldn't
stand it, that I'd have to come out and
see you, if only for five minutes"
81 have always been more or less
lonely. Sometimes l think If had been
sent away to school, had known other
girls, it would have been better.
have never had any friends-except
you, and the others"
Huff released her hand and faced
her.
81 don't want to be your friend, Eli
nor. | want to be much more"
She was rather shocked at first. She
stood, looking up at him, her lips
slightly parted.
81? You-you-want-"
81 love you. l want you to marry
me- dear"
There was no doubt of the boys sin
cerity. 1t rang true. He stood with
his arms out, and after a moment she
went into them. Except for the father
who was gone, this was the first love
that had come into her life. She took
1t hungrlly In the starlight she held
$50, b,r Iyns liIyn N obfII his EiSS