The Washington times., 1918-05-18

| " ueA AOOAS ~ OLlNA "
After moment Violet, disap-
pointed in her expectation. raised
her head; then, for the first time,
she realized the mans stolid, suIIen
expression.
George" she cried in sudden
alarm, you are not pleased: Don't
| you love me?"
1t was difficult for him. ready OF
tongue as he usually was, to find
words to say. He had not expected
this situation, and had not prepar red
for it Their recent meetings had
| been marked by Jealous reproaches
on the part OF the woman, a tighten
| ing OF her purse-strings-evid
she had done this with the intention
OF making him more dependent upon
her. And it had all been to lead up
to this! She had never doubted his
| love for her. never dreamed that he
/ would not sacrifice, IL she called
upon him to do so. his own manner
OF life for the sake OF her constant
companionship, never realized that
the scheme which she had been ma
turing in her own mind was one
which might not meet with his in
slant approval
Men are less constant than wom-
en-. more easily Satiated The Violet
of today was not the same woman
to whom George TweedIedum had
once vowed undying affection. He
had worked for her, schemed for
her, and in these days. to do him
justice, he had desired the woman
as much as her money. But grad
ually he had come to look upon the
woman as a necessity to be accepted
with her money He was changed
for him as he had never changed for
her. The years which had passed
had left him unaltered in her eyes,
and she could not grasp. the fact
that her own power OF charm had
waned
George Could Not Tell A Lie.
George" she repeated. and her
voice was like a low wall. 81
thought you would be pleased. !
have been looking forward so much
TO telling you this and hearing you
say that you arc glad. is IL not
what we have schemed and plotted
for-wickedly plotted for-aIl these
years. 1t was you who advised me
to marry PanEbourne. you who told
me how to secure the money to my
self You shall divorce him You
said, and then we will marry Later
on you wanted me without the di-
vorcc. Now you may have what you
desire-and you are not pleased.
What is it? Don't you love me: Is
there some one you love better"
The last words rang out with the
sting Of jealousy.
No. no. vi" he faltered. "Of
course. I'm pleased. and-and there's
nothing ] should like better But
ius a very radical step that you
propose, and ! hardly like to tear
myself away from New York asso-
citation altogether. For a man like
me"
Then It's true" she exclaimed.
true that there is some one else.
some one from whom you do not
like to part. Oh. George" And
upon the exclamation OF his name
she burst into hystericaI tears.
''CRn the NateruOrkE," He said.
Now II there was one thing that
irritated Tweedledum more than
anything else in woman il was
tears. Once more Violet had taken
absolutely the wrong course TO in
tiuence the man in the direction OF I
her desires.
"Oh. for heavens sake. don't turn
on the waterworl5s." he said. /
roughly. Il tell YOU, Violet. that
nothing is less likely to AFFECT me
than that. I'm no. that Kind Of a
man. He was a fool. who said that /
tears were woman's strongest /
weapon.
But Violet could not stay her
tears a'l do
sObbed
You won't understand" he said
He had re!inquished her hands now
and they had drawn apart from
each other. 1t seems TO me. Vio-
let. that after all these years YOU
ought 70 understand me better.
Were not just 4 silly boy and girl
10 play al sentiment. have my
own Interests 70 think or-aS well
as OF This love thar YOU make nara-
mount. Love Is all very well in itS
proper place. but I'm not fool
enough to throw up everything for
you. ! procured you your fortune
why You don't suppose that was
purely disinterested. do you? No:
expected 10 enjoy u later on. with
you. And now. after years OF walt
ing. YOU propose TO convert me into
sort Of lapdoE. whom you VIII
reward with meal n he has been
good. Do you think I'm the sort OF
man ~ put up with thar Not !.
I've always been ready either 10
marry you or 10 60 away with vou
as you suggest We should do but
Il IS on the condition that control
your finances. ~ YOU don't caro- for
thai-well. you've made me waste
an unconScIonable amount or lime.
and ] shall Just have 70 look around
for something eiEe-that's all"
"Win Ho0-r" He Asked Frankly.
He spoke with brutal rrankn.ss
He might have modified his speech
II her tears had not Irritst-d him.
She hardly appreciated all he said,
for she was leaning over the side
OF tho sofa. and Eobbing painfully.
She had taken a delicate piece OF
embroidery, which hung over
cushion. into her hands. and was
crushing II M between her hrgers:
ht last che dropped o.. creased and
shHpelesS. To tho floor Violet vas
paving now for all the pain Ers
had wi'tingly and UnwiitinEIy in
f!cied upon her husband
Il thought you loved me" she
but you don't YOU don't.
oh, man. am ! never 10 know vnst
Il Is 10 be Ioved?"