The Washington herald., 1921-04-24
CONTINUED FROM PAGE FIVE

grateful to him for that she kept II up
also. .>-if
We'll. you wouldn't wish to make me
admit to-2s years without. something to
remove the curse. would your" * .-'
"Twenty-eight" c.
Was there something significant In the
way Lenmore repeated that? Perdits de-
cided her notion was foolish. What un-
derlying meaning could he have? 1t was
Just an idle remark. in keeping with the
idle, futile drift Of the whole talk-the
talk which, for some reason. she wished
TO keep idle and futile. Yet. feeling Len
rnore's quiet scrutiny. she felt that queer .
s1citation of last night beginning to stir
In her again, and to cover It up. she
rusk.d on with more inconseauences: .
Yes, ss, and next month I'll be 20.
That's why keep friends with DR.. Hal
ssy. You know, he has the best santa
rum In the country. and I want to be
insured a. good room and good treat
ment"
'Insured-E" The oficer puckered his
brows- .-s''.-..' -. ..,s
"A fortune teller told me 7 am going
to lose my mind when I'm 2s." She
IauEhed-too lightly. Lepmore frowned.
Every damned fortune teller in the
world ought to be hung! Going round
talking rot to credulous womenr'
Last night 1 was an intelligent wom-
an" reminded Perdita. And. besides.
you were telling me my character. Aren't
you a kind of fortune teller. yourself?'
Lenmore didn't reply. DR.. Halsey rose.
We'll. if you two are going motoring
I'd better be getting out Of the way" As
he made his farevelIs his round. spec
tacled gaze went keenly from the man to
the girl. and back again.
As Lenmcre helped Perdits into the
car she said:
DO you mind II l don't talk much?
don't feel like talking much today"
81 don't mind" said Lenmore.
1t was a day oflate October. day that
said mild weather was nearing an end;
windy. chilly. and. for all the vividly set
ting sun. with the look of winter in the
sky. The western glow was blurred on
the river beside which they sped. and 1t
seemed reflected. too. in flaming patches
OIL the trees. But clouds were banking
tp the north toward which they faced.
Gusts Of wind swept the trees and the
air was sadly necked by falling leaves
Perdita had said she didn't, want to
h. uhn SnOka ArAt.
Nature is kind" she said, dreamily
THE year is old. and the leaves are tired
they must be glad to die Like life
old age and rest and peace"
Lenmore didn't answer at once. When
he did speak it was in different vein.
Why did you never marry7" he asked.
'those times you were engsged?"
Perhaps was afraid" she answered
slowly. one looks at ones married
frfends-who once thought they'd be so
happy. Isn't 1t better. maybe. to keep
the chances for happiness in ones own
hands alone?''
Then you think negative happiness Is
better than the risk of positive unhappi-
ness? shouldn't have thought you
were like that"
Life is SO long" she said, and love
can be so short" -
Yet for one rounded moment. There
are flying creatures, you know-May flies,
aren't they caIIed?-that live out their
lives in one ecstatic hour of sunlight"
Perdita. feeling the chill ofthe wind
shipered q little.
And maybe" he went on. "if love
lasted too long it might become common
place. tiresonne. We often enjoy a brief
interjected advertisement better than the
whole long play"
Perdita stared at the dying sun-the
sun that must continually die; at the
falling Ieaves-the leaves that must In
sxissbly fall. She felt the chill Of th'
again,
yes. 1 think I am afraid, she sale
again.
Don't be afraid of life, else you ma,
lose half Of what 1t, can bring. =.
Perdita was silent . long minute: ther
tried to change the subject.
what did you do to my headache las
night" As she voiced ths phrase las
night" 1t struck her ears oddly-the tint
of their meeting seemed so much longe'
than that
'qps very simple" he said quietly. sc
made you think of something else"
Made me" Then she gave litti'
catch of Q laugh. VERY simpler
Lenmore. with his eyes on the roa'
ahead, said nothing. After another sileac'