The Washington herald., 1918-12-29


presume. Nice unselfish view for me
to take. isn't it?''
Sunshine flooded Rebecca's face
again.
''Only until Monday" she replied II
wish that there were something special
that we could do to enterta n them.
! don't suppose that they would care
for a nat-rock fry. or any of the
woodsey things that love"
I'VE love" corrected Martin.
They are both 30 dreadfully sophis-
ticated," she continued, $50 sort OF
grown up"
II know Just what you mean" Mar
tin threw back his head and laughed.
They have always been that way.
Strange, Becky. isn't IT, that We never
met before-before this happened to
me?" He swept his hand over his
brow. III we had" He stopped
abruptly. He had not meant to SPEAK
after that fashion, but the thoughts
that lie nearest the heart insist at
times upon a hearing, and besides, he
felt so very sure that Rebecca cared
not at all for him. He never dreamed
of hurting her.
Rebecca Is Confused.
NJ MS NOfuE n ENAAN NoAA NsASaA
swept over her She lost IN an instant
the sense of repose that had always
been hers when in his company II
was strange because when he had
kissed her in the woods, and she had
rested in his arms, II had not been
So But his whole manner was DIFF
ferent now. Something psychic and
insistent leaped from his brsin TO hers
questioning and demanding an answer.
In her nervousness she flecked the
horse lightly with the whip and he
broke into a run.
Martin noted her action and imag-
ined that she feared that he meant
to ask her to be his wife. and wished
to avert such a catastrophe
Bitterness oyercame him for the mo-
ment, and he was silent; but directly
gentle thoughts took its place
thoughts Of her goodness, her winning
lightheartedness. her-what he chose
to call-self-sacrifice.
You might give them a dinner" he
suggested, recurring to the letter,
"and invite the rector and Miss Blake
and the doctor and Miss Sibley-and
Tom Farnum and Ernestine Manfred.
That will make eleven-you need one
more. And II you desire IT, Philip
shall transform your dining room into
q Japanese tea-roon. He was with
me in Japan and is an artist at heart
I can send for my entire Japanese out
ft-bamboo poles with which TO net
the ceiling, lanterns made in the like
ness of Japanese junks and fishes,
wistaria vines to dTape between them,
silver boat to hold flowers for the
table, menus, souvenirs, and a Jap
anese cook TO carve vegetables into
birds and mold mashed potatoes into
red roses and make raisin rice and
chicken curry. What do you say?''
OH breathed Rebecca- But il
would be too much for you TO under
taker' Her eyes spsrkled.
NO no, Martins voice rang out
happily 1T would be the finest kind
Of a spree. / haven't had one for two
years at least. And there is a kimono
of pale yellow satin embroidered in
| gold thread and purple wistaria. You
must wear that, and allow Philip to
transform you into a maiden Of Japan,
You would not object, would you? He
| has exercised his powers as magician
upon some OF the most exclusive ladies
/ of my acquaintance. I gave a Jap
anese play one New Years eve at the
club"
But my hair Is not black
No" said Martin. but II will mattel
| the kimono all the better. You will be
more than ever a golden girl"
| Rebecca hesitated. 1t would be mHcf
more difficult to live up to her part
/ before Billy and Maud-Maud who
had forced her into It against her will
who had played master to her pUppet
I - l.
| friend had pulled the strings? MuCf
as she loved her there were time,
when in spite Of her forgiveness sht
felt resentful. Then suddenly. as or
the night when she first read Maud.
memorable letter, there came 10 he
the resolution to play the gam,
through
A Rivals Speculation.
Very WELL" she said. suppose W,
do. | will attend TO the invitations
and you may take charge Of all tn,
rest, that is. II mother approves. Blu
she will approve-she will simply ador,
II. She was very gay when she wal
a girl. and during her young married
life. I've been a dreadful disappoint,
ment to her. care so little for so
ciety"
making a full confession.
You have chosen the better part
said Martin, and his words turneC
her intention aside
The horse ambled gently on owe,
the dusty road. Already the tennii
court was in sight II looked odd SCI
in the midst Of such rural surround
ings. And upon a stone fence whicl
| commanded a view OF the road sat 8
/ masculine figure clad in immaCulat,
white duck trousers and a negHge,
shirt of pale blue. 1t was Tom anC
! he was smoking cigarette. n,
| threw II away when he saw the ap
| preaching carriage.
| Il wonder whether there is really
anything between them" he remarked
to himself. He's a cad IL he lets 8
girl like her marry him. What chanc,
would she have tied down TO a blind
man? She is homely-but-"
Here he smiled and his blue eyel
| grew bluer.
| He looked most boyish and attrac
| tive-almost handsome
| There's a kind of ugliness that /,
fascinating" he added. feeling, how
ever, as he did so that the wordi
had a vaguely familiar sound, "ant
when she laughs there's just about 8
quarter of an inch at the corners o.
her mouth that I love TO watch"
| Was there ever a lover who coulC
| find nothing to admire in the woman
| of his dreams?
| And. Jove! but she can run, sh,
foots it like some little kid when W.
play tennis. must get her to put VI
a game with Bige again. while l tall
to Lewis; she's worth watching. Ant
the way she leaps for the bali"
| He descended from the wall and ap
| proached the gnte