The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-12-16

nant had been the pang when he ~1nn-
ly told her he was too busy TO cali. On
the other hand, wasn't she little In-
trigued with this strange corresponds
ent, who so ably interpreted his-and
her--soul In terms Of art?
On the very day that Carlotta, with
mingled expectancy and mlsgivngs,
had decided to yield TO Gustave's plea
that She meet him in a little-used room
OF the art museum. Cnrlotta met a
friend who worked In the same build
ing where Mark had his office as claim
agent for the Interstate Trolley. And
across the white tiled table of the
dairy lunch. Cnrlotta learned that
Mark. investigating some upstate claim
for damages, had fallen on an icy side
walk and broken collar bone or some-
thing The friend was annoylngly In
exact as TO the extent of his injuries.
Consequently. Carlottn, seeking the
selected place of rendezvous, was
thinking rather more of Mark than OF
Gustave. Then a motlonless figure in
| the far corner OF the room caused her
heart TO skip skip or so. Slowly he
turned as she approached and she no.
tlced, first, that his arm was in sling
and second. that--that II wasn't Gus
tave-it was Mark
"Mark - she cried, and her voice was
glad. "Your arm-how Is itf And
hcss odd you should happen here!"
But Mark didn't smile. "I'm ashamed
OF myself dear" he began. ~ wanted
to show you that could develop the
artistic temperament, too. And also.
since you seemed to want 4 second
love, thought I'd beter be III But
now that it's over, wish had never
started ltw
Carlotta. at first bewildered, was be-
ginning to see a light Yet she couldn't
really believe yet. And II It was true,
why wasn't she furiously angryf
"Those letters" she said. shaking her
head. "You couldn't have written
those"
But did," he confessed. "Remem-
Der my telling you how busy was?
Well, I'd been sitting up nights at the
library till they shut the doors, crib
bing art stun from the encyclopedias.
Then I'd go home and write II up. And
apologize for any aspersions | cast
upon art. Gee, whlzl Anybody who
knows the least thing about II has my
profoundest respect--and then some.
There's volumes on II !"
Cnrlotta was trying to adjust her
self to having the two men she fancied
she loved melt into one. After all, per-
haps Il was the most satisfactory so.
luton. "You must have disguised your
handwriting" she said presently. won
derlng how soon she could properly ex-
tend forgiveness.
"Tll say so." and Mark shook his
head sadly, as one who recalls bitter
my arm II was all Off. and decided
I'd better call meeting and get 1t
over with. don't blame you for think
ing 1t low-down trick"
mark" said Carlotta gently, II did
you an injustice when gave you cred
II for no creative genius, and please
ignore what said about your lack of
temperament, As for whether You
really love me, why, when think Of
how you hate letter-writng and then
recall those letters-why. my dear. as
proof Of love. swimming the Helles-
pont isn't in II -
| "Carlottal" cried Mark. do you
can I-may II"
! Carlotta cast n quick glance around
for any stray attendants or art pa
irons. "M-hm," she murmured.
| And Mark. sweeping her into the
/ seml-circle of his good left arm, placed
kiss squarely where It belonged.