, 1921-10-07

1A0 A'GNNa now AINA "a" A0tAAa uAtA
dissatisfied and psle. Generally whom
he met her he came toward her quickly
enough. and held her hand longer than
was necessary. but today he simply
turned and nodded aad smiled oddly at
her. as though he were rather more
curious to see her han glad. So she
walked over beside him. and they stood
looking out at tho carriages and han
SONS on P~iccadlfly-
1T Is very nice 70 see you again.
she said. 1t was just 4 chance-T Jaw
your mama IN large red letters a.
Waterloo Station as we came in He
was regarding her intently. as though
he were trying 10 recoIleet where he
whether you could come or not" she
went On. you are IN such demand
now. they ten me"
o purse you know very we'll" he
said. with that directness which was
one q his most satisfactory qualities.
that I would have come. whether !
had had engagements or not. But !
had meant not to some at first"
"oh. you had meant not TO at hrst.-
she repeated. She sat down behind the
tea things, and began moving them
about. He seemed TO her TO be labor
ing under a mood or some excitement.
and n thought It best to give him
time 10 develop It.
Yes he said. slowly and distinctly,
7 thought I would not come. because
I did not want to introduce you to the
kind of man you DO not care TO know"
How tragic." she said. May /
make YOU some tear
Il did not mean TO be tragic" he
went on. bnpassively. 1T Is quite true.
am not at all the man you used to
know No n can know that better
than ]. And : had so much liking for
you-and for the man you used TO
know-that I thought It would be
kinder TO US both II 7 let you 70 home
without seeing me again
But you did come
Yes, i came" he answered. after
some moments consideration. b
cause, / suppose. I stilI believe in
miracles. and because I had a forlorn
hope h a IL I could get n good strong
tonic and my conscience could have an
electric shock. It might begin to. work
again. II was Just n chance / hadn't
much reascn to believe II would
She occupied herself for some little
time with the cups in front of her.
and said: "of curse It is very manly
and brave In you to tell me this-to
say. Here ! am in a very bad way. and
IL you cannot help me no one can
That makes It SO pleasant for me. OF
course you have no responsibility in
the matter at all. It is something you
cannot possibly mend What a baby
it is"
NO" he said. doubtfuliy, as though
he had been Weighing her words and
had found them wanting. ut Is not the
beast use. 1t doesn't hurt me at all.
1t sounds like scmethingnI had learned
at school. / had hoped It would. !
have gone SO far now. or / have gone
so low. that / car quite recognize the
force OF all the arguments on the other
side. and go the wrong way without a
pang.' He looked up and smiled. -It
is too late. ] am quite. hopeless,
You are quite changed" she said.
dryiy.
Changed, Thank you" He laughed
unpleasantly. THAT is the mildest
word any one has used yet. But I've
really no right to complain: the strong
est things they say are quite true
What, Nil they say ?"
We'll. II tho particular stories they
have told you are not true. others
equally discreditable are. It's the
same thing
She rested her chin on the knuckles
OF her hand and studied him for some
time.
Il think" she said, he has been
sitting up very late at night. and has
not had sleep enough; he has beer
playing and working too hard. and he
has been taking himself too seriously.
OF course" she added. with the air u
one who wishes to DO quite fair. there
are some things a man must GO
through with which We women SO
around"
Thank you,- Thorold said. srimiy,
You are very good. but 1 have ex-
cuses snocss. / can supply them my
self"
The girl showed no sign Of annoy
ance at this. but still regarded him
thoughtfully. The only saving clause
l see" she said. lis your saying you
hoped something might step in to heir
you. OF course. II a man wants to be
saved from himself he has won hall
the fight. n he must win the other
hall. too. No young woman is goins
to do it,"
The pathetic part OF 1t is" he an
swered, that don't want to be helped
or TO be saved. I aid 1 did. but ]
don't. really. I like 1t better as it is
And 1t only makes It worse to pretend
TO be any better than 1 am, and &c
cheat myself n my friends into
thinking 1 arm. A man is no better
than what he wishes TO be at his wo-si
moment. You cannot judge him by
what he happens to want to be wher
he is worked up to do great things anc
inspired by other people. 1 like tc
waste my time n TO ha r. no respon-
ssbiiities, and I Ike dangling in bou-
doris better than working. and I Xix
the cheap admiration of a lot of fool.
better than the esteem of a few
friends; and I can't. for tho life of me
see why 1 should live n lie TO them ane
myself. and cover up the true badnes
that's in me. And I am not going &c
any longer. II I cared to be fine anc
strong. It would be natural enough anc
easy TO be so: and IL l don't care 70:
that. st is only hypocrisy and waste Of
time TO be anything that looks like 1t
l eame here today TO tell you this my
self. SO that there could be no Longer
any doubt in your mind. and / dom
want you to waste any more thought
or friendship on any one as unworthy