The Dolores star., 1919-01-10

nATHSOs fAISSE knS STCCItHQ0s
yet I've heard tongues wagging. I
hope there's nothing in it. warned
Mr.. Wagstaff against Paul"
Warned him? Why" Hazel neg
lected the question entirely. The blunt
ness of 1t took her by surprise. Frank
speech was not characteristic of
Vesta Lorimer's set.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
HE is my brother, but that doesn't
veil my eyes," she said coolly. paul
is too crooked to lie straight In bed.
I'm glad Mr.. WagstaH brought the lot
of them up with round turn-which
he seems to have done. II he had used
club Instead of his fists it would have
been CAY their deserts. I suppose the
fuss quite upset you?"
ut did," Hazel admitted grudgingly.
1T did more than upset me-"
II thought as much,- Vesta said
slowly. "It made you inflict an indie
served hurt on man who should have
had better treatment at your hands;
not only because he loves you, but be-
cause he is one Of the few men who
deserve the best that you or any wom-
an can give.'
"You've said quite enough Hazel
cried. ''H you have any more insults,
please get rid of them elsewhere.
think you are"
"Oh, don't care what you think of
me-" the girl interrupted recklessly.
"If did wouldn't be here. I'd hide
behind the conventional rules of the
game and let you blunder along. But
I can't. I'm not gifted with your blind
egotism. Whatever you are, that Bill
of yours loves you, and if you care
anything for him, you should be with
him. I would, If were lucky enough
to stand in your shoes. I'd go with
him down into hell itself gladly II he
wanted me tor
"Oh" Hazel gasped. "Are you
clean madf"
Shocked to death, aren't you?"
Vestn fleered. "You can't understand,
can you? l love him-yes. I'm not
ashamed to own 1t. I'm no scntimen-
tai prude to throw up my hands In hor
ror at a perfectly natural emotion.
But he is not for me. I dare say l.
couldn't give him an added heartbeat
If I tried And have little too much
pride-strange as 1t may seem to you
Ito try, SO long as he Is chained hand
and foot to your chariot. But you're
making him suffer. And care enough
to want him to live all his days hap
PLY. He is q man, and there are SO
few of them. real men. II you can
make him happy, I'd compel You to do
SO, If I had the power. You couldn't
understand that kind Of love. oh,
I could choke you for your stupid dis
loyalty. could do almost anything
that would spur you to action. can't
rid myself of the hopeless, reckless
mood he is In. There are SO few Of his
kind, the patient, strong, loyal, square
dealing men, with woman's tender
ness and lions courage. Any woman
should be proud and glad to be his
mate, to. mother his children. And
YOU"
She threw out her hands with a sud-
den, despairing gesture. The blue
eyes grew misty, and she hid her face
in her palms. Before that passionate
outburst Hazel sat dumbly amazed,
staring. uncertain. In second Vesta
lifted her head deflantly.
II had no notion of breaking out like
this when came up she said quiet
ly. II was going to- be very adroit. 1
intended to give you a friendly boost
along the right road. II I could. But
II haq all hpnu huhhliur tustf1a mo for
a long time. You perhaps think 1t very
unwomanly-but / don't care much
what you think. My little heartache
Il incidental one Of the things Life