The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1918-02-15
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A Series of\S Exciting Human Interest Stories
Produced by Wharton Inc. Studios for the
International Film SerOice. Inc.
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The girl knew that her parents had
rather set their hearts on her marry
ing Bob. That did his cause very little
good. Everything was too simple and
easy-tco obvious-she could not feel
that there was any real romance in a
matter-of-course love affair with Bob
Wells as the hero.
And so when Versale covered her
face. and throat with quick. tempestu-
GUS kisses and made breathless vows
of his uncomfortable love for her-his
burning desire to possess her for his
own-something of the primitive there
is in almost every girls nature leaped
into flame.
She had novel-fed inspiration that
this was real love and that her deep
and tender affection for Bob was just a
sisters fondness for much older
brother.s
You will marry me, cherie? can't
wait any longer-I can't bear all the
formal negotiations of asking your ia
ther for your hand. I want you, Mar
tha-want you so. Won't you come
with me now-soon? You will elope
with me from the ball tomorrow
night?"
Mono. mustn't. Mother and
father wouldn't" protested Martha
weakly.
But Versale caught her in arms
which frightened about her with a mas
terful strength that swayed her
strangely. The girl tried again to pro-
test. but found herself suddenly ac-
quiescent-suddenly ready to go-any-
where, so 1t was with him.
When she got to her own room doubt
assailed her. 1t wasn't quite fair to
Bob. 1t wasn't fair to her parents
either. Martha half determined to
telephone Versale and tell him that she
had changed her mind. Then Nita came
in to dress her for dinner, and the
maid began discussing Martha's suit
ors with that informal intimacy our
democratic land often permits between
mistress and servant.
"Mr. Versale he come from a Won
derful family-I think sometimes he
must be here on an important-what
you call diploma"
Martha laughed. diplomatic mis-
sion. Nita?"
Mia smiled. Eyes, mademoiselle.
think SO. His family is very brave
and think he would be fighting in the
war only perhaps he can serve France
better here"
Martha's heart expanded with the
feeling of being on the edge of won
derful things. Versale was always
very quiet and reticent when it came
to discussing his affairs. He had told
her once that II was a great grief to
him that he could not be serving his
country on the firing line. Suddenly
the girl remembered the laughing way
he had ended his condolences with an
attempt at quotation: "They also serve
who only stand and wait"
A few minutes later Bob Wells tele-
phoned and asked if he might have
two invitations for the ball the follow
ing night. Martha promptly acquiesced.
She felt that she ought to give him
almost anything he asked for-and so
when he suggested that he'd come over
that evening and get the invitations
and that they might run down to one
of the roofs and practice few steps
so as to cover themselves with glory
and honor at the masquerade, she
readily consented.
They say that almost every woman
steps to happiness over another wom-
ans broken heart And Mia, the maid.
when she so generously praised YER
sale to Martha, felt us If she were
drawing up and signing her own death
warrant. For the little black-eyed
maid who served Miss Martha Ainsley
had ventured to fall In love with Mr..
Louis versale. beau ideal of New
York's smart set.
When she ushered him to the door,
on the day before the Ainsley ball. he
gave her instructions with which she