, 1921-10-07
- RAI1 AN(< @ ByRnHARD HARDING DAVIS
1AA ~m~~~~~~


Z. half rose from the chair, but the
woman touched him Familiarity on the
shoulder and pushed him down.
no; you listen 20 me-. she said. Her
eyes were brilliant. and she had ceased
smiling. 4 want TO talk 10 you; I've
uran;ed TO know you for n long time
why she said. laughing uneasiiy, I've
got 4 dozen pictures OF you In my
house now. 1 sent to the States for
them Yes I id. ard I'm no more
keen about you than a lot more Of
other women l know. I've thought ~
I could meet n man like you mean..
you know" she explained. the sort OF
man I thought you were-that things
would be better. or worse. for It. o
see she SAID. laughing unmirthfuiiy.
you never know just who is counting
on you in this world-do you2 A chap
like you has responsibilities; but you're
quite right TO how them over. You
have 4 nvelier time. I fancy-don't
'your-than Il you bothered with them"
She stopped and looked down, with her
lips pressed together. and breathing
heavily. Blu; It's hard on h others
some.imes-on ;hat-siek girl I was tell
Ing you about. for instance. ! guess ~
she knew. Il would about XII her. And
it's hard on me- Thorold's cigar was
out, and the candles on either side OF
the plano had sunk 10 their socket. and
were suffering in wavering, uncertain
flashes. That's what you did for me-
the woman went on. bitterly. Her
voice chilled Thoroid as 1t came from
above like the falling OF cold rain upon
his bare head. Il counted on you" she
said. Il used TO think that as long
as there was one man left who believed
in US we weren's so bad. hat there WIS
n chance Of our getting better or our
getting back. rye sung those songs OF
lyours. and they sort of oomforted me.
They made me feel there was some
thing good in me toe. and ! could have
loved the man who made me feel that.
the man who wrote those songs. 81 I
had met him.. l could have done any
thing for him-anything. I'd have
been-dinerent for him II he had
wanted me to. n now-now / can't"
Her voice had risen suddenly. but she
lowered II again into a sharp. fierce
whisper. Il can't. Now that I've met
you l can't. I wish Id never seen you.
I'd rather be a fool. believing there
was one'man who was dinfcrent-dine-
rent from all the rest of you. 1 hate
you'll" she whispered; Il hate you'll I'd
made so much OF YOU. / counted on
you SO. and you're no better Than Cath
cart thcre-not so good. for he doesn't
preach ono thing and live another. He
doesn't pretend to be any better than
he Island you. h ou-yo don't
want TO be as good as you are. You've
fooled them all-haven't your You've
been very clever. Aren't you pleased
with It? Aren't you proud! Z" Her voice
broke with n sob. and she turned swift
ly away and swept out OF the room into
the hall beyond.
Thorold sat quito motionIess. His
head was bent. ar his fingers STA
rested on the silent keys. All he had
ever said to himself. or all that others
had said TO him. had never come to him
as had the words OF this woman, whose
name was "as comiGoi es the Paris
rond.' and whom he had despised him
self for admlring, even while he pitied
hcv. He was sore, bruised. and sick. ss
though he had been pelted with stones
and pointed at on n pillory. Outside.
the birds In the Park across the strest
were chirDing violently. and the early
sun came stealing between the cracks
of the blinds into the smoke-laden
room.
Thorold rose stifny and uncertainty.
as though he had been sitting there a
very FVlB llAlEs auu lOllOWeu her.
A tall. white figure. mufHed and un-
recognizable. confronted him in the
gray hnlf-Ight OF the nall. .Wen?"
she said.
Thorold went to the door and threw
1t open. letting in the sunlight. and CIV
ing them a strangely foreign and un-
familiar abr. IT was as If The night Just
over were far back in the past.
Mrs. lnness," he said. you won't
understand me. I am afraid. But I
want you to know that, thought 1 have
disappointed you. you have helped me
a great deal I think 1 owe it to you
TO tell you this. We never know. as
you say how much We depend on
others, and we can never tell from
what source that help we most need
win come"
said.
Never mind" Thoroid answered.
gently. It is something that you have
helped another. is It not?-
Cathcart and the girl came into the
haH, n Cathcart stepped into the
street and beckoned to the line of han
SONS drawn UP by the ratings under
the o~verhanging branches of the Park.
I'm sorry I made such an ass Of N.Y.
self. Thorold.r the soldier said. .sbut
III
that song OF yours was a bit creepy.
now, wasn't it7'
Tie model stretched a slim white
hand out from the mass Of swami
down, and as Thorold took IT in his
own, she stopped and kissed his hand.
and then ran down the steps. laughing
TO where Cathcart stood waiting be-
side the hanson. Thorold helped Mrs.
lnness into the next. n gave her
NUMBER TO the driver. but she called 10
him to walt She pushed the doors
away and leaned forward.
You are angry with me- she said.
Her eyes We're wet and pleading. .Yoa
Will never forgive. me. II don't know
why spoke as I did. was a fooi-be-
cause L ont want you TO hate me. /
want you TO forgive .ae, and come to
see me in spite OF all / said"
There is nothing 10 forgive, Mrs.
inness,' Thorold answered. earnestly.
I tell you,y you have lone me a great
service. You have helped me very
much"
on. I now h interrupted. I'M