The evening world., 1921-04-05
would not make you

cradle away from you [ want you
more than anything ] have ever want
ed in life. / cant exist without you.
l have waited hopeless ages for some
sign from you that you care little :
bit for me Say you do, Neata, dear'
"Oh, l do, Emory. I am grateful for
your friendship and your interest.
could never forget how good you were
when when my engagement 10 Co
lin came TO an end. And almost love
you"--she smiled a. though asking
pardon for a fallt--"for your thought
lulness and consideration. But"--sbe
hesitated-"oneC cannot force ones self
to love another--I wish could"
1T only requires time. Nesta. I
will teach you to care for me-my love
for you will surely force some feeling
in return. l will wait forever. "Just
let me know that l have a chance tO
win you. Don't answer now. 1 was
foolish TO speak, but could restrain
myself no longer.
Tell me one thing Imustknow.
Do you still love Colin?"
She wanted to lie TO say that
she hated him-'or better still, was
entirely Indifferent to him. But does
one ever become indifferent? she
pondered. II the fire of love died
down and was heaped with the ashes
VI lltBltCl lHSullS anu lne
of the loved one, would ii not again
flare into life with the slightest at
tention? Was not Indifference at best
only assumed as a cloak to injured
pride?
I'm afraid do" she answered. Her
tone was so low that Emory was com
PEELED to lean far over the table to
hear. Neata was Inundated at the
admission. She tossed her head and
patted Emory on the hand.
Come" she said, dance and he
happy. There will be other times foFf
worry. Matters are bound ia
straighten themselves out'-she de u
clared somehow they a.
ways do"
AS they passed through the long
line of diners, carefully picking their
way between the crowded tables,
Neata heard a woman say:
There's Neata Kent-the blonde in
black-she threw over Colin Campbell
for the man with her. 1 don't
blame her-Campbeli is bear,
morose, and glum; he never smiles.
/ wouldn't cherish the idea of sailing
the matrimonial sea with him as a
pilot"
Neata fought AGAINST her bushes,
but she felt the wave of scarlet
mounting higher. To hide her con-
fusion she dropped her ostrich vanity
bag, which she carried suspended
from her wrist, and stopped to pick
it up. Emory, darting forward before
her hand had touched the floor, quick
ly retrieved tho exquisite novelty. He
gave Neata sharp glance and de-
cided She had not heard the buExinE
gossip.
She was silent as they danced. Gone
were her defenses. She could not toll
n q fhntNxpht
ing Colin. She remembered his love-
ableness and appeal-his magnetism
and charm. The woman had said that
he never smiled. Why, those tiny
wrinkles about his violet blue eyes
were left by passing smiles-by the
Joy he took in doing good for Others.
The scandalmonger was quite mad.
She had declared she would not choose
him as the sherman OF her life, She
knew not what she said. One would
never tire of watching the varying ex-
pressions on his long, lean, ruddy faceI
with its cleft chin. To run ones fiEA-
gers through his smoothly br1shtpd
hair and caress his perfectly sharsid
head would be ecstasy.
Neata forgot temporarily the feel
inss which had swayed her not long
slnce-the wish to steel herseIf
against the spell OF Colin.
Then, again, the memory Of that
morning when Campbell blandly.
with infuriatins courtesy, Informed
her that they had reached the fer
mination of their engagement came
uppermost in her mind.
She scourged herself. Had she no
fine feeling? Colin had manifested
no sorrow at their parting. He had
made no effort to mend mattersNbaJ
been happy, it had seemed, to bring
to close their all too short dream OF
love. VI
But, she argued to herself with time
feminine logic, though Colin had in
suited her and shamed her beyond
measure by his scornful dismissal
the world in general and the gossip-
ing diner In particular had no basis
Tor an adverse opinion OF him. She
regretted that through her he had
gained disagreeable criticism.
Il have headache, Emory." she
said as they finished their dance. "Do
you mind II we go?" ..,-G
Certainly not. I'm afraid the air
is too heavy in here. Shall we rid
around a while?"
mo, I'd rather go home. I'll be all
right, thank you. Don't bother.
hate to complain but just don't feel
like dancing any more tonight"
Emory teRderly placed her cana
about her shoulders and she clutched ,
1t with the queer Hamlet-like gesture
which the new style necessitated.
"Neata, we can't keep on like this
Emory said when they were once
more in the car and had crossed
} 53d Street 10 Fifth Avenue. . The
silken curtains OF the shop windows
had been pulled down for the night
and the triumphs of the modistes
were hidden from the eyes of way
tarers.
I'VE must come to some under
standing" he continued. ut is more
than human can bear At times +
/ believe ! am strong enough to drift
alon@-to worship you and wait.
Again there come moments when
/ think | must have your decision n
/ once-to have you for myself or 10
/ leave you forever. | don't know
which would be worse, never to see
! you again or TO keep on seeing You
| almost daily with no change in our.
/ relationship. A man can't be salts
fled with mere companionship, vow
know"
you have been splendid, Emory
don't know what to say. l eniov.
your good fellowship, but, as | have
! told you, l do not love you enough
to be your wife. You would not
] nj mo yu=t