New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-11-09

mo n cur help" he told her grim
ly. at Is all finished and done with
] would rather not talk any more abOu
1t. l didn't come here to talk abOu'
II. | came to see you. So this !!
where you live"
He looked around him. and for a mo
llent he almost forgot the pain which
was gnawing at his heart. 1t was sucl
a simple, plainly furnished little room
qnent Of poverty. She drew closer to
gether the curtains which concealed
the little undiscovered bed, and came
and sat down by his side.
She claSped her hands tighter
around his arm. Her eyes sought his
a%nxiOusly.
"But you mustn't climb down, John
she insisted. "YOu are SO much nicer
where you are, so much too good for the
silly, ugly things. You must fight this
in your own way, fight 1t according tc
your W standards. You are too good
to come down"
Am too good for you, Sophy?'
/ She looked at him. and her whole
face seemed to soften. The light In
her blue eyes was sweet and wistful,
A b%ewildering little smile curled her
lips.
Don't be stupid" she begged. "A
few minutes ago I was looking out of
my window and thinking what a poor
little morsel Of humanity l am, and
what a useless, drifting life I have led.
But that's foolish. Come now! What
| want to persuade you to do Is to
20 back to Cumberland for q time,
and try hard-very hard indeed-tO
realize what 1t means to be a woman
like Louise, with her temperament,
her intense intellectual curiosity, her
charm. Nothing could make Louise
different from what she is-a dear,
sweet woman and a great artist. And,
John, / believe she loves yOu!"
His face remained undisturbed wen
by the flicker of an eyelid.
"Soply," he said, II have decided
to go abroad. VIII you come with
me?"
She sat quite still. Again her face
was momentarily transformed. All its
pallOr and fatigue seemed to have van
She was looking through the ceiling
into heaven. Then the light died away
almost as quickly as it had come. Her
lips shook TREMENDOUSLY.
"You know you don't mean 1t, John
You wouldn't take me. And II you did,
you'd hate me afterward-you'd want
to send me back"
He suddenly drew her to him, his
arm went around her waist. She had
lost all power of resistance. For the
first time in his life of his own DELHI
crate accord, he kissed her-feverish-
ly, almost roughly.
"Sophy," he declared, II have been a
fool! ! have come an awful crOpper,
bat you might help me with what's
left. | am going to start afresh. I
am going to get rid of some of these
ideas of mine which have brought me
nothing but misery and disappOint-
ment. ! don't want 10 live up to them
any longer. ! want to just forget
them. ! want to live as other men
live-just the simple, ordinary life.
Come with me! I'll take o to the
places we've talked about together. l
am always happy and contented with
YOU. Let's try it,!
Her arms stole around his neck.
claim ~ chn urbtcnnrnl IiIIo- 10.
face for a moment. "What can l say?
What could any poor. weak little crea-
ture like me say? You know l am
fond of you'll haven't had the pride,
even. to conceal it,
He stood up, held her face for n
moment between his hands, and kissed
her forehead.
"Then that's all settled" he de-
81 am going back to my rooms
| want you to come and dine
with me there tonight, at eight
O'clock"
Her eyes sought his, pleaded with
them. searched them.
you nre sure, John?" she asked, her
a little broken. You want me
am to Gomez"
81 I'm sure" he answered steadfast-
~. 81 shall expect you at eight |
I"
John went back to his rooms fighting
all the time against q sense of unreal
.ty, a sense almost of lost identity.
lie bought an evening newspaper and
read it on the way. He talked to
he hall porter, he talked to a neigh
with whom he assembled in the
lift-he did everything except think.
In his rooms he telephoned to the
for a waiter. and with the
menu in his hand, a few. minutes later,
le ordered dinner. Then he glanced
1t his watch-it was barely seven
He went down to the barber
shop, was shaved and had his hair cut,
Encouraging the barber all the while
talk to him. He gave his hands
,ver to a manicure, and did his best
talk nonsense to her. Then he came
again, changed his clothes
with great care, and went into his
little sitting room.
1t was five minutes to eight, and
Inner had been laid at a little round
able in the center of the room. There
vas a bowl of pink roses-SOphy's ia
flower-sent in from the for
SITS; the table was lighted by a pink
haded lamp. John we~t around the
turning out the other lights. I'M
il the apartment was hung with shad-
Tvs save for the little spot of color
n the middle. An unopened bottle Of
stood in an ice-pail, and
wo specially prepared cocktails had