The Washington herald., 1921-07-10

lanes tell you that when he wrote?-
John shook his head The Jolt was %
staggering that he could not utter q word
Dut It left his mental processes unimpaired-
Even before she had ceased speaking the
whole situation was clear In his mind-ciear
With IN abhorrent clearness- This Mary
Smith was not Kites Mary smfthfhsre-
fore, oh, black reflection, shs was not his
Mary SMITH In big hotel Ike ths Beres-
ford there might well be half dozsn Mary
Smiths and he had drawn the wrong sns.
though to him she was absolutely the right
one->
.nash in i. Il ntt3es ntrs eoness ctum
stttfng m her lonely hotel room waiting for
him to appear was regarded with caIlous IN
I6fnersnee and hnmsdiately Dismissed A
companion fash Of some unknown young
man. waiting IN the lobby for the Mary
Smith whose dark eyes were this instant re-
gardins him over her tea cup. was surveyed
with more leisure and pleasure But an ths
time John Smith was thinking faster than
he had ever thought before
His proper course was clear and he knew
It He should explain the situation to his
companion At once, apologize for his un-
conscious part in the miIup. and, now that
the tea hour was over. escort her back to
ter hotel and. II she 50 elected, bow himself
out Of her Life 1t would be for her to decide
whether she would or would not continue
their acquaintance He was not sure what
that decision would be. but he feared II
This Miss Mary Smith was not an uncon-
ventional person. On the contrary. she was
q thoroughly sophisticated and well bred one
With an obvious social background and tradi-
tions- Whatever she might decide As TO the
future, one thing at least was clear. Shs
would not dine with him tonight and 60 to
the theater Il she discovered that he was
. stranger. Yet It was absolutely necessary
to his nfe's happiness that she should do
both-that, since she was to leave New York
70 soon, he must make use Of every moment
abe was here to impress himself upon her.
Ats fair In love and war! The old motto
rwept comfortably into the foreground Of
his mind She should not be allowed TO
discover the mistake that had been made
he made this decision suddenly and trrevoca-
bly,. Therefore, she must not even be al
lowed to return to the Beresford The
chump who was to have met her might be
waiting In the lobby. Also. he John. might
run across his own little Mary Smith He
must not risk any such co.treteHps. Hs
leaned toward his companion and addressed
her with entire assurance-
II hope you win like the program hav'
arranged for this evening" he said, casually
.wsre going to have q spin out into tn
country for an hour or two. The apple bloe
SONS IN westchester are gorgeous and
want you to see them before II gets dars
Then wen dine on the terrace Of Bviarclii
Inn, to show you the wonderful view. an
wen get back In time to see Ethel Barr,
more in her new play.
The beautiful Mis- Smith looked slight
overwhelmed but also, he e1ultanty realize'
greatly tempted
ITS q wonderful program she sal
hesitatinsly, and Of course should 70,
II, but
IF you were to stay longer" he explaine
. I'VE wouldn't need to rush matters. b
you're leaving tomorrow. don't you sect
want you to have all the pleasant e1perienc
we can crowd into these few hour.- You G
rest on the ship. you know
Yes" She was plainly waverins-
Its extremely kind Of you But sure
fought to go back to the hotel and dress :
Mot for automobi1ing and . dinner at
country inn." he pointed out And as
the theater, half the audience won't be
evening dress at this season.
She met his eager eyes With the beauti,
smile that made his heart beats quickt
. Then, as irrepresxibfy, she laughed out
sudden surrender and to John the soft laut
ter was the most beautiful music he b
a ever heard
:, 1T Will be glorious" she said
From this moment John realized that
' position was that Of a skater on e1ceedin,
thin ice At any instant he might bre
= through, or skate into one Of the numerS
. strholes in this little social pond The m
serious Of his dangers was the mysteri'
). Uncle James," a gentleman on whom
Q companion showed a recurrent desire TO Q
t verse It became clear that she was
4 orphan. and that - Uncle James was
only her uncle but her guardian
Swimming along the bank Of the Hudi
in the soft spring twilight and in the al
J. glow of a perfect sunset, Mary Smith tan
II In her cool. calm way-and John nste
y with rapture, content with anything she 9
!" but wisely confinins his responses almost
70 ,nono~vilablex Detached A her manner Y