The Arvada enterprise., 1917-04-12
@RoAJCUON BLOCK
Author Of
"7He Iron 7TuiI''
"We Spoilers"
"We Si/ver Horde" Etc.

was blue and reeking with the odoi
OF stale tobacco smoke, and the ash
receiver ut his elbow was piled high
with burnt offerings
Pope rose at Adorees entrance, eying
her an1lously. as everything all rightT'
he cried.
as what all rightT'
| "The-er-Lorelie."
"Oh, yes! What are you doing here ~
81 suppose I must apologize. You
help"
you decided to-help?" Adoree
eyed the dishevelcd musician queerly.
you've helped to break my lease
III be thrown ont Of this house sure"
Pope stammered. guilty, Il was
playing for Bob and Lorelei"
With one glove half Off. Adoree slow
ly seated herself, showing in her face
an amazemcnt that increased the
mans embarrassment. Pope took n
deeper breath, then burst out:
"Oh, I have a siXty-horse power
imagination. and it seems to me that
music is sort of-prayer; anyhow, it's
the only way know Of praying. Good
music is divine language. In my own
way | was sort of praying for those
two children. Foolish. isn't 1t? I'm
sorry l told you. 1t sounds nutty to
me when | stop to consider it." Pope
stirred uneasily under Adoree's gravely
speculative eyes. "Loreiei's all right?"
Adoree nodded. ITS boy" There
was moment Of silence. Did you
ever see brand-new baby?"
Murder. nor
| Miss Demorest's gaze remained bent
upon Pope, but it was focused upon
great distances: her voice when she
spoke was hushed and awe-stricken.
Neither did l until this one. held it!
| | held 1t in my arms. OIL was fright
ened, and yet seemed to know Just
what to do and-and everything. 1t
was strange. 1t hurt me terribly. for.
you see, | didn't know what babies
meant until tonight Now know"
Pope saw the shining eyes suddenly
| fill and threaten to overflow: instead
or the grotesquely overdressed and ar
| tihcial stage favorite he beheld only
a yearning woman whose face was sof-
tened and gloritied as by vision.
Il didn't know you cared for chill
dren."
Adoree shrugged; the beads at her
throat clicked barbarously. Neither
| did /, but suppose every woman does
II she only knew 1t. Tonight l began
to understand what this ache inside Of
me means" Her gaze came back and
centered upon his face, but 1t was
frightened and panic stricken. "rve
sacrificed my right to children"
How can you say"
"Oh, you know it as we'll as dor
A flush wavered in the speakers
cheeks, then fed. leaving her white and
weary. you, OF all men. must under
stand. I'm notorious. I'm painted
woman. wicked woman-the wicked
est woman in the land-and that repu-
tat!on will live in spite OF anything |
can do" She began to cry now in
way strange to Pope's experience.
Pope's habitual restraint all at once
gave way. Nonsense he exploded.
The thing that counts is what you
are, not what you seem to be. know
the truth
Now there was nothing sufficiently
significant about these words to bring
light of wonderment and gladness to
the girls face. but her tears ceased as
abruptly rs they had commenced. and
noting the slowly growing radiance OF
her expression, Campbell was stricken
dumb with fright ut the possible conse-
Quenccs OF temerity. The knowledge
Of his shortcomings robbed him of con
hdencc and helped TO confuse him.
Adorcc rose. For moment she
stood looking at him with a peculiar.
tender smile. then took him by the
lapcls of his shapclcss coat and drew
his thin face down to hers.
I'm not going to let you back out"
she declared. firmly. You asked me.
didn't youg"
"Adorcc No. no. Think what you
are doing" he cried. sharply.
But she continued to smile up Into
his eyes with gladncss that lntoxl-
Gated him.
She Struggled closer 10 him. murmur-
Ing, coz!ly: Il don't want TO think
we'll have plenty OF time to think
when were too old to talk. Now, | Just
want 10 love you as hard as you have
been loving me for the last six
months"