Evening star., 1922-06-25

customary footing with her. "of
course you'll come. My wife said
very particularly"
That latter. he felt, since 1t was ab-
solutsly necessary. was justified.
well. she'd think. Miss Conifee
didn't have a thing suitable to wear
the gray voile. That was Thursday.
and finally 1t was arranged that she
should go out with Lewis Beitleman
for an evening At his homo on
Monday.
isn't It ridiculous We never
thought Of this before" he said to
her on the train.
Neither his wife nor Eldreda were
visible when. with Miss conifee, he
reached the porch OF his homo.
'Nanine!" he called through ths
open door. "Here we are"
There was no answer. and he was
placing Miss Conifee tn q comfortable
chair when Eldreda appeared. Her
manner. he recognized. was that Of
the earl's daughter greeting the faith
full retainers from the castle terrace.
There was q quick smile. widening
Of the notable eyes. followed by q
congealing Of every human aspect.
Lewis Beitleman know this posture
well, and it specially irritated him.
Mamma" she said. has a touch Of
her neuralgia, and asks to be ex-
cused."
IT didn't know that" he admitted
incautiously. TIL go right up and
see her"
Whats the matter with your he
demanded sharply. standing before
Nanine.
1T hurts my face to talk" she az
planned hastily.
He gazed steadily At her. and then.
without further speech. turned and
left the room. It was too bad about
Mrs BeitIeman. Miss Conifee said.
They were at the table. and he was
eating in . savage silence. Eldreda's
hAnds dropped like spent lilies on her
wrista She couldn't think why they
had cottage cheese. a disgusting dish.
''Smearcase." Lewis Beicelman cor
rectsd her. taking a conspicuous Sec
ord helning.
His disappointment, his resentment
ard anger, had hardened within him.
He scarcely noticed Miss Conifee. 50
slight in the gray voile. with an ap-
propriate pale flower under the close
rim of her hat After supper the
three sat uneasily in a May evening.
palpably silver under the moon. a
warm spring breese barely stirring
the foliage Of the trees, a piano
played and stopped.
Lewis Beitleman's anger deserted
him, but he ached as though 1t had
left IN actual wound. Eldreda rose.
remaining smmobile. statuesQue. wait
ing for Q moment, and then, without
explanation, vanished into the hall
This created in his mind an image Of
her leaving for the west-for Cali
fornia. His wife. as we'll. had spoken
Of going. He could come out and see
them In the winters. Sharply vobcs
within him whispered, cried. that he
didn't have to-they couldn't drag
him to California;!
LIE could Just sec Miss conifse's
IL profile, thin and worn, but fine.
Her narrow. precise hands were quiet
for q little In her lap. She was the
most restful woman in the world. It
would be nice. he thought. to 60 for
rides with her In the car-the open
car-on June afternoons ana through
evenings in July. She knew . lot
about waysids flowers, and they
would stop for her to put some In
her belt. Then he would drop her At
the lttls place in tho peace Of the
country. where, with her mother, she
lived, and he'd 90 homo to a swept and
silent house.
II wasn't, however. Of himself that
he was thinking. nor Of Eldreda and
Nanins. but Of Miss Conifee. His ad-
|nairstion for her. he discovered, waa
And rightly. . psrson
Of integrity, who had given her VI
talitY. her life, to him and his IN
tarsst. Now she was an old maid
But hs discarded that term as soon
a. d occurred 70 him-Mias Conifee
was aothing 20 absurd. With money.
With the security he was about TO
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