The Washington times., 1918-08-11

%Fve got the car outside" he said.
'why?" said Lydia. "You had my letter
this morning. didn't your"
= "Yes. But l can't leave it like that
Don't you see that can't possibly do with
out you now? You must come with me
; You belong to me-"
He turned to porter to give direction
about the luggage, but Lydia forestalled
him.
"All those things in the London express
How long have to waltz"
Twenty minutes. m'lady Should have
been more, but the locals a little after her
usual time"
very good" said Lydia. Look after
all these things for me. l have carriage
reserved for me on the train. The names
the same as on the luggage. You'll find
It when the train comes in"
'In see to all that, mIady. There
shan't be any mistake"
He was not a man Of great intelligence
but he had fine fair Of potential gener.
osity. Ladies' who reserved irst-class car
riages for themselves could afford to be
generous, and the porter believed the au
Ilication of courtesy title to be soothing
and emollient. He had already addressed
the young man as captain.
Lydia now turned to the young man.
Il can give you twenty minutes" she
said
Il don't want twenty minutes. want
the whole of your life"
She shrugged her shoulders.
Then, IL you don't care to talk until
the train comes in. won't keep you. You
said your car was waiting outside, | think"
"Will you come in here?" he said suIkily,
opening the door of waiting-room. And
before the fire in the dingy waitingroom
they sat on uncomfortable chairs and
talked.
Il suppose" said the young man, i've
done something you don't like / don't
know what 1t is, and. you don't tell me in
your letter. Tell me now. I apologize in
advance. Surely it must be something
that l can put right again"
mo, it is not that" said Lydia.
Then you have ceased to care for me-"
81 shall never cease to care for you"
said Lydia simply and with conviction.
Then you must come with me now
Think no more about it, but come You
had quite made up your mind. you know"
"Yes, had. have changed 1t again.
and for the last time"
why? Tell me at least why"
y tried to tell you in my letter But
suppose I'm not so good at writing as
am at playing the fiddle. It's-it's almost
a matter Of business"
Business? What do you mean? What
has business got to do with it?"
"One may pay too much for anything.
shoul& have to pay for my happiness
with the misery Of other people. 1t is like
paying for IT with stolen money. and with
money stolen from those who are very
dear to me-"
your people would understand in time.
And when they understood they would
forgive"
you don't know my people at all 1t
is quite certain they would forgive. 1t is
equally certain that they would never un-
derstand. / do not wish them to have to
forgive"
What is 1t you mean to do, them"
81 am going back to London tonight.
I have an extremely good offer for an
American tour. 1t was forwarded to me
this morning. Tomorrow I shall see my
agent about it. I am going to accept that
offer. I shall be away for six months, and
l shall make a great deal Of money"
What do you want to make a great deal
of money for? You know that I hate the
idea Of your making money on the concert
platform. And. as it happens, there is not
the least necessity for it: II you come
with me-
She tapped the floor with her foot i'm
patiently.
Must keep on repeating it? l am not
going away with you. In the future you
have my friendship. if you will accept it.
But until you are free man you can have
nothing else. l am sorry if 1t hurt you, but
remember that I hurt myself too. 1t is
better than hurting so many other people.
| am not going to make this money en-
tirely for myself"
Her last words were drown2d by the
roar Of the express as it entered the sta
ton. She had to repeat them.
why, them" the young man asked.
MY father is growing old. He seems
to have grown much older in this last year,