Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-16
HER MASTERPIECE
BY MARTHA NC. WILLIAMS.


wabbllng strides and a heavy flop into
the corner Of the settee. There, after
minute, he placed his head in his
hands, and swore-under his breath
because the duchess lolled In lone
chair a little way of.
She was not real duchess, of course
The nickname ran back to the days OF
plgtails, when he had been King Molly.
COB, she Duchess of Two Sticks, though
On unfeeling world had called them,
commonplacely, Dave Mason and Janet
Lee. Only children and close neigh
bors, they had been all but inseparable
until the era Of college. Janet went
first, being a year the older. Then
Dave went, and thus II happened that
they had not met for Ave years.
"swear out loud It's more reliev-
ing" Janet said after a minute. with a
soft, suppressed giggle. COR. better
still--tell me about II. Does true loves
course refuse to run smooth for lack
Of an obstacIef' 80 ys
Davy cried. sitting up with jerk: 4
"How did you-how could you
guess"
"Didn't-a certainty-knowing the
other party in interest as I do" Janet
flung back. Davy. shook his head at
her. ats bad enough to have you
reading law. though you don't mean to
practice" he said. 81 won't have you
talking II at mel want to forget there
is such thing" l.e
"Hey, for the brinyi The Spanish
Main We yearn to go a-piratingl We
do, oh, we dol" Janet tntoned, her eyes
twinkllng.
Davy looked properly foolish, but
blurted out: "If you knew what rea-
son l have to hate law and all its
works, you wouldn't make fun Of me.
Edna refuses me, because our joint in
heritance of the Wayland fortune
makes 1t all cut and dried-rd like
to give her my share-indeed I'd give
it to nybody-but-the will steps in
If either of us refuses the money it
works forfeiture to both"
Leaving you free to refuse each
other? What a PITY" Janet inter-
rupted: "If Ed had to take you. will
she-nil-she, she'd be just the loveliest
martyr. can see her right now, faint
ing at the altar-regardless of orange
blossoms and the Wayland old lace"
"Don'ti You hurt met" Davy pro-
tested. "You can't know how much
since you've never cared for--any-
body"
'Praise bel" Janet flung back at him
with yet a subtle hardening Of the
lips, "But live In hope, my child. Who
was 1t sang, old maids at forty-five
grow giddy'? When my time comes 1t
will be your turn to laugh"
81 never want to laugh at you
promise you won't laugh at me-now,"
Davy answered eagerly. "You see, I've
been thinking that maybe If Ed could
be persuaded there was something's
prior attachment-Oh, hang 1t, you I'M
derstand." She got up and walked to
the window, saying over her shoulder,
Leave 1t to me. Nothing easier"
AS she disappeared n the library be: |
You'd Davy saw her suddenly falter and
sprang toward her. She waved him
back gayly and shut the door In his
face. Half an hour later She came
through It holding fairly written
sheet. which She thrust into his hands.
When he he'd read II his eyes were
dim. Lord! But you do make up
things ~ he said not quite. steadily. ''If
If this were true" glancing at the
sheet-"why. shouldn't ever draw an
other happy breath"
'Oh, yes, you wouldi You're forget.
ting the stimulus to your vanity. Think
Of being the only man that ever
touched this adamantine bosom" Janet
cried merrily. ~ call that very per
feet appeal and confession--if ! did
lay It, on rather thick. Ed likes her
as the old lady did her grog-
she didn't mind 30 long as 1t was hot,
strong. sweet-and plenty Of It."
'Cease. mocking cynic and tell me
how you did 1t. II is simply wonder
Dul. I swear truth couldn't be as true"
Davy interrupted. Janet half turned
her head. saying In her gayest voice /:
You fiatter me. Still. agree with
you. Truth couldn't be as true; feel
ng, you know, never equals imagina-
ion. But now. be on with you. while
| copy this for the mall bag. OF course
I'm going to keep the original-of my
"I wonder will Edna dare-rll hate
her II, she shows 1t to me-" Davy said.
flushing. Then he got up, caught both
James hands In his, and said huskily:
you are the greatest woman
In'the world. Not another would have
so humbled her pride, even In make-be-
lleve, to humor another woman's whim
and save q mans love from tantalizing
delay. Do believe mel couldn't rev.
erence you more II what you have done
were real. marvel that, knowing you,
/ can love anybody else"
"Wlll you take yourself off2" Janet
o,.alxr hut Iafflnn har hQ NOa