The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-15
CHATTER M

CHATTER III
Lillian Fane's answer came By re
turn Of post. when Roderick was
at dinner. The ponpous butter
handed II 10 him on . silver sAivcr.
and wondered why his young mas
tsr's hand shook 10 a. he picked
u up
II vas ipng. Imam took four
paGes TO 1y prctttiy what abe
might have said In four lnes-whai
Roderick knew before he had road
four words.
Without his money he was no
good to kex. That was ths whole
cruz Of the matter. She hinted del.
icatoly ut biighted hopes and
skimmed lightly. with the air Of .
verse Of Browning. o~rr tho surface
OF the love OF . lifetime: she said
she hoped they would always be
friends. she said she was thankful
their engagement had not been an
nounccd: shc asked II she might keep
the ring he had given hcr---the ring
she had never publicly vorn--the
ring which had cost something like
= couple OF hundred pounds. A.
much now a. his entire fortune.
Frederick crunhed the letter IN his
hand: fer . moment he saw the
world red The pompous butler was
frightened at tho grayners OF his
FACE. and hastily fetched . iiqueur
OF brandy. Roderick pushed II away
and called him fool He rose 90
his feet and strobe out OF the room.
leaving his dinner untouched.
He let himself out Of the front
door. sianming Il behind him. The
cool October breeze famed his white
face and drove the blood back 20 H.
He stood dixxiiy IN the darkness for
moment with closed eyes ana
It would hurt like this: ~ was M IL a
knife had been turned In his heart.
He knew now that he had always
guessed what she would say--that n
had been madness to imagine that
she would ever face poverty for hin
sake. There was nothing about him
to make up for tho money--hc
wasn't clever. he wasn't particularly
Eood.looktng. he had never been any.
1fibk ~ nFt bhh ~ TIN IVY WV
made love nicely.
lie STROBE on thru the ieafbiown
garden. hatiess ms he was. and out
into the road which led To the VII.
lagc.
Women were an me Same. he told
himself. fierceiy fine weather
friends. None of them wanted a
man who had been suddenly torn up
by the roots. as II were. and set
down In a wilderness.
How could he work for his ffvfnrf
Who wanted a man who could not
DO comfortable without n vaiet7
Ono or two villagers. passing.
stared curfousfy At him--he sup
posed the news OF his dlsinheritance
had filtered thru from the scrvants'
han already.
Well. what did n matterf Soon
he would not have n friend In the
world. He would be as utterly
wretched and alone as--as poor lit.
tie Mile. Rosalic.
Poor little girl II would affect
her. too. In a way. He would not be
able 10 help her now. ss he had in
tended. She would still have 10 go
on with the old. wrctched life. fore
ing herself 10 smile tho her heart
was fun OF tears.
He< wondered what she was doing
now-how far she and the gtiited
clown, and the shivenng black man.
and the patient elephants had
tridged from tho village BY this
time
A sudden idea came 10 him; he
would try and find out IL was only
five days ago--they could not have
gone no very farl
He retraced his steps and pushed |
open the door OF the one little inn |
the village boasted.
A big. CHEEKY fire roarcd up the |
chimney. The glow OF the flames |
flickered on the rows OF glasses and |
pewter pots. and was reflected again
In the shining, polished surface OF
an old oak table
Presently a smiling woman came |
from room behind the bar
Have you been waiting long. sir7
I'm shorthanded today. My girl.
she's gone traipscing Off after that
blessed circus. Fair crazed on II.
she is-can't talk OF nothing elsel
Beg pardon. sir7 oh. It's over at