The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-05

could never traverse TO overtake
her again. that would be there.
stretching between them. until the
end OF her ufe or hist
Presently they all went into an
other room. where = long green
covered table ran almost the entire
length.
Jus eyes spsTxied little. every.
thing was new 10 her. lately she
had enjoyed every moment Of her
life.
The firvs shock Of Henry sturgess'
tragic death had begun 10 pass
away: she had never cared for him:
and she was young: but she always
thought Of him with grateful affee.
ton, for II had been his hand that
had turned tho golden key In the
door Of life and let her out of her
prison.
she was given . seat opposite 20
Taiientyre's at the table. someone
told her the rules Of the game.
1--WE never played before" she
confided with . little excited laugh.
The knowisdss that Taiientyre
was watching her made her reckless.
IF you begin to win 20 soon. you'il
end BY losing" AIRS. Machsn said
wsrningiy.
jill glanced down At the money
beside her.
Am winning," she asked sur.
prised. she had hardly noticed.
When shs counted her money she
was amazed 10 find that Il was
nearly double the sum with which
she had startsd-
n born gambler" Mrs. Despard
Whispered 10 her neishbor. Its
fortunate that she's rich enough 10
be able 90 afford H."
She was very interested IN Jill.
she wondered n there would be any
chance with her for her own impe-
cpnious brother. she determined 10
invite jill to meet him IT an early
opportunity.
II was sariy morning before the
party broke up: Mrs. Machen had
lost heavily. and there was frown
on her fretfui face.
GtI1 WIFI 4HNf " Aa*tEttAft@
Gig. DO you mind " drive home
with the IAytonsf" she asked nsr.
vously; she did not look At him az
she spoke.
TaiIentyre said that ne ala not
mind At all: the Laytons were rather
vulgar people. nouvcau rfche. who
had been trying for . long time 10
wedge themselves into the magic
circle known ~ society. lie knew
quite well why Dora Machsn wished
70 drive home with them: knew that
she at last Intended 20 yield 70 their
persuasions and take them under
her wing for q consideration.
In spite Of a large income. she
was always hard IN; money slipped
through her fingers like sand. there
was . little cynical smile In fallen
tyres eyes ns he watched her 70 out
Of the room smiling down into Mrs.
L.ayton's vulgar face.
He knew that Dora really hated
the Laytons: he thought II extraor.
binary to what lengths a woman
would 70 for money.
II gave him n shock to remember
10 what lengths he himself had gone:
TO remember that he was engaged 10
Erica for the same reason.
Jill went away without saying
good might 10 him. and he walked
home alone thru the spring night.
The future stretched away long
and uninviting: there seemed moth
ing 10 look forward to. nothing TO
hope for. and the fault was his
ownl
He had had chances. many of
them, and thrown them away; he
had held the greatest gift OF all IN
his hand and allowed II to fall.
Re could SEQ JiIrs face there be-
fore him In the darkness: her eyes
sparkling. her cheeks flushed as she
had looked when sho took her win
nlngs from the green covered table;
he had hated to see her there gam
bling with the women OF his set:
hated the way the men looked mt
her and We'd with each other for her
favor. He let himself into his flat.
and shut and locked the door: ne
turned on the light and flung himself
into chair with feeling Of utter
WEAKNESS. Tonight he stood outside
the locked gates of what might have
been. looking across the wall OF
eternal separation at the happiness
which he had lost forever.