The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-05

did not want her company: he helped
her into her cloak. and followed her
silently downstairs 10 the taxi. They
drove away together.
what do you think Of Raiph's
sister .in-law. ctx7" Mrs. Mschen
asked him suddenly. you used to
be rather q friend OF hers at
one time. didn't your
Il knew her rather we'll"
rs that aii,--Raiph seemed 70
think there was something else -
something rather special. you know .
she looked at him interestsdly. but
his face conveyed nothing of his
thoughts or feelings.
Really he said indifferentiy.
"Yes she's very handsome.
ISN'T she-'
Il suppose she iss
She moved iInpasicntiy.
Don't be 20 guarded. I can't un.
derssand you: don't you ever admire
one woman more than anothsrr
Frequently"
She laid a hand on his arm: there
was an unwontcd kindiiness In her
worldly eyes.
Gig. something 10 the matter. only
you won't tell me"
MY dear girl"
She frowned a little.
II suppose It's this engagement
you're worried about. Don't BE- angry
with me when say that ! know you
don't care for her. We all know Il.
and I'm sorry: but !" she laughed
rnirthlessiy. i've bern thru II my
self. you know. ana after The first
little while you get used TO II: %
used to II. Gig. and you don't mind. :.
TAllentyrs sat very stiIl. A. n he
had not heard: he knew that she
meant to be kind. but her sympathy
got him on the raw: Il seemed 70
much like an open svowal Of pity.
and men hate to be pttied-
!. Presently he reused himseif. he
Fnoved his arm 20 that her hand fell
to the seat between them.
You're very kind" he said lightly.
"But this time you're wrong. quite
wrong. my dear. There's nothing the
matter. I'm quite happy--ss happy
as we can hope to be in this Codfor.
sai<en world"
The taxi stopped ana put an end
10 the conversation. ana Talisntyre
followed her into the house with .
feeling Of relief that Me tetsa.tete
drive was over.
His hostess. = weiipreserved
woman on the wrong aide Of forty.
greeted him warmly.
so kind Of you to come. people
are 20 tiresome a. rule about max.
Ing up TO obllge. And. after all. II
wouldn't have mattered II we had
been a man short as we're going TO
play faro after all. Yes. I know It's
perfectly shocking m Mrs.
Machcn gave q little exclamation Of
pretended horror. But really one
must do something. and IN ones own
house. don't you know
She led the way across the room
10 where = group Of people were
laughing and talking rather nolsiiy.
TslIentyre knew most OF them: he
sat down beside girl with pais hsir
and pale eyeiasher: she never ex.
pected him TO talk, which was why
he deliberately chose TO sit beside
her tonight.
He looked round the room for jill.
but she was not there.
lie almost hoped that she would
not come; he almost hoped--and then
he heard her voice. and saw her
coming into the room.
Once more the old sensation Of
unreslity came over him: he could
not believe that she was the same
little dowdily dressed girl who had
tainted that day in the stuffy office:
who had been so nervous when he
took her out TO tea.
He remembered her work-r6ugh.
ened hands. and the hole in her
glove. and the way she had tried 10
hide both from him.
The gulf between them had been
80 small then that he could have
bridged II with . word. but now II
had widened into an impossible
chasm.
He tasted the bitterness Of utter
defeat as he sat there and watched
her.
When at last she met his eyes, she
smiled and bowed In a little friendly
way ar II he were nothing more to
her than any other man: as IL he
never had been anything more.
She did not avoid him: when pres
emily they found themselves TO-
gether she began 10 talk In the most
natural way.
i've never played this Dreadful
faro" she said laughinsly. I'm just
longing TO learn; it's q dreadful
gamble. Isn't III"
TITS an absurd gamble" TslIen.
tyre answered. II hate II myself"
But you play7"
Eyes, play--for the same reason.
that ! DO great many other thinGs.s .
And that reason is?" she asked.
ITO kill time"
Poor man.
Tsllentyre set his teeth: he hated
70 hear her speak so flippsntly; II
brought home to him scutely what
many, many miles they had Travelled
apart since that day when she sent
him away from the little room In
Acacia Terrace. Miles which he