The Ordway new era., 1920-08-06

But l am growing old. How 90
knowi Didn't you ever read Leigh
HuntT
"Just a little" There was a trace
of warmth creeping into her voice.
Hilliard held his breath:
Say I'm weary. say I'm sad;
Say that health and wealth have missed
me,
Say I'm growing old. but add
Angela kissed me,
He had spoken the lines magnifi-
Gently. with the precise humor and
pathos which go to make them I'm
mortal. I'm glad she fits into the
meter" he said ,houghtfully, "becanse
can understand Just how Leigh Hunt
felt about Jennie"
"And-how do you think that was"
"Very sensitive" said Hilliard. "and
perhaps n little repressed and-de-
crepit." He smiled remlnisceutly. II
suppose there are very few things In
life that make a man feel more mind
full of his own crudlty and general
worthlessness than to have child's
spontaneous Affection" 1t was the
testing venture. She looked at him
sidewise.
more than if-If- 1t weren't a
chlld?"
"I think So" His tone was fault
less. "A woman can make man feel
like Romeo but it takes very young
girl to make him feel like Launcelot-
at my age"
L., .,I. h rey,,Ff TNAS Ia
heart jumped at her cordial accept
ance of his statement. "Only-she's
seventeen. Mr.. Hilliard."
81 know" he said gravely. "Ani
that's why I'm. so conscious of my
own senllity. Because all that beau
tiful innocence and ignorance is
doomed, Miss Durant-who knows
that I'm not the very lust person to
see 1t? Today, I'm only a much older
man, some one she likes; tomorrow.
1 may be a man without the only
and the more she liked me. the less
she'd show 1t. But there's been
mighty little of that sort of thing for
me in the last few years from any
body, and | do appreciate it, and I'm
not ashamed of it. either"
"No." she said, "you couldn't be.
You're too human" She smiled at
him, and he was transported at the
proof of her sympathy. "If l were in
your place. I'd want to feel the same
way about it,"
He thanked her In his heart. He
had saved both Angela and himself.
and held his pristine advantage.
But there was no disputing the fact
that he had made an active enemy of
Waring, and an alert rival out OF
Armstrong. He smiled grimly as he
looked at the man ahead.
"Mr. Armstrong seems to De very
nervous" he said. Not that | can
blame him for wanting to be in my
place. On the contrary. I'm sorry for
him."
''That shows n very good disposi-
tion." she said demureIy.
perhaps 1t does. and perhaps It
doesn't. / believe every man owes 1t
to himself to get what he wants. II
he does, he's a success IL he doesn't
it's his own fault"
As he said this, they came abreast
of the others, and Armstrong. who
had heard the final sentence, whirled
toward Hilliard.
.sRegardless of methodist" he de-
manded.
"Why-to some extent" laughed
Hilliard. "Why not?"
Armstrong delayed, so that the two
men were a few PAGES behind the rest
90 tI,a TS that lar =
creed. Mr.. Hilliard?"
my creed isn't composed of words,
Mr.. Armstrong, but of actions"
They had spoken so quietly that no
one percelving them would have re-
motely suspected that challenge had
been offered and accepted.
factions do speak louder, of course"
Mime" said Hilliard, Twill give you
no offense. Butt generally get what
want"
$50 do Shall we shake hands on
it?" Armstrong was very affable, but
tremendously In earnest.
"with pleasure. I can count On
your generosity. / see."
"And on your courtesy"
'Thank you" He went compliment
ly forward; but inwardly he was
stepped In perturbation. The man
was so deadly sure of himself. Could
it be that he was tacitly engaged to
Carol, in spite of what Angela had
surmised, or so nearly on the road to
an understanding with her that Hill
lard was only making a fool of him
self?
Armstrong laughed gently. It was
like dagger thrust in billiards
heart.
"0ne chance in a thoII-