The Washington times., 1919-01-13
The Heart Breaker
AREAL AMERICAN ROMANCE
HonOra with Delighted Expectation
. Gets Off Early to Keep Her
Appointment with Arthur.

morning, MiIly!" and went on down
the street.
Mildred stood gazing after her,
open-mouthed. Honora was grow
ing disconcertingly independ ant,
She unused. Heretofore she had al
ways tried to soothe her little sister
when things went wrong. Now she
acted as If she meant Mildred to
look out for herself. The younger
girl was baffled by this change of
tactics Her jealousy made her re-
sent Honora's attitude. She feared
that she could make no impression
upon one who, until now, had been
over-anxious to minister to her
comfort of mind and body.
Could she have read Honora's
thoughts as she went on her way
the younger girl would not have
felt so much perturbed. For Honora
was uncomfortable about Mildred's
evident veXation. 1t proved that
the child was jealous because
Arthur Bruce had written to her
sister instead of her. II this vas
so, was 1t fair for her, Honora, to
meet Arthur-to have two hours
alone with him-hours to which she
now knew she was looking forward
eagerly?
Then she called herself a fool.
Was she actually fancying that
Arthur had anything to say to her
that would bring him any closer ID
her than he now was? or course
not!
Yet, at the noon-hour. when she
re-read his letter, her heart beat
quickly again. 1t certainly sounded
as IL he liked her very much-in
spite OF her reception of a few
nights ago-and that he depended
upon her more than ever.
If so. what about Milly? But
Milly had said last night that ahe
intended to encourage him Just to
spite Tom Chandler. II she cared
for Arthur she could not have said
this.
Yet one never knew what Milly
was capable of feeling about any
thing. She changed her moods as
easily and quickly as does an April
day.
Such being the case. Honora, an
doubtedly was perfectly right in
complying with the urgent wishes
OF such a good and tried friend as
Arthur Bruce. And, any way, he
probably had nothing particularly
intimate to say to her. She vas
making a mountain out OF a mere
mole hill.
Then she tried to put the ap-
preaching interview out of her mind
and to concentrate all her thoughts
upon matters entirely foreign to
Arthur or Mildred.
When she returned to the office
from luncheon, she timidly asked
Mr.. Pearson il she might leave soon
after four o'clock. He smiled at
her hesitation.
Her Request Granted.
You look as If you were afraid
that 1 would not let you CO." he re-
marked loosely. "Of course you
may leave at four. My only stipu-
lation is that you stay out-of-doors
instead of inside some stuffy rooms
like the Red Cross place or some
thing OF that kind"
She smiled brightly. "Oh, thank
you!" she said. I'm going to do
the very thing that you stipula.e-
1 mean I was planning to take a
walk OUT into the country this af-
terpoon."
Good" he nodded his approval
BE sure that you leave the office
in time to get the benefit of this
sunshine We are having today"
When she had returned to her
desk in the room adjoining her
employers office, the smile with
which he had spoken to her ling
cred on the mans lips.
shes a lovely girl" he unused.
81 wish 1 had daughter just like
her"
His kindness sent Honora to ner
appointment with a lighter heart
than she had had all day. She was
young, and it took little 20 set her
spirits to soaring.
Mr.. Pearson is so kind, the day
is perfect, and" with a quick
thrill, II am going to have a long
walk and talk with Arthur"
Then she assured herself that 1t
was Dir. Pearson's kindness and the
beauty OF the weather that made
her feel suddenly SO happy.
To he Continued.