The Washington times., 1922-01-12

when the ceremony was about 10
begin. when she started to turn
from her throne to the first per-
son at her left. and thus give the
signal for absolute silence and
rapt attention. Her eyes filled
Kindness Of the scene mercifully
missed the face of the poet.
Bridget murmured beneath her
breath: May the devil fly away
with him; II I could only lay my
hands on the coward"
And the old crone. pointing with
a bony finger to a wizened man
beside her: Watch her now: /
was told"
She passed on--the guests stared
Interesting. absorbing this ancient
play-and what II one of those
questioned should answer ''yes?"'
That thought. however, was not
one to be dwelt upon. Absurd
unchivalrous! 1t was not until
Aileen had repeated the question to
the second man. and the first few
words to the third. when she saw
in the flash of an eye that she was
speaking to Bulmer Meade.
Sir Fergus Sees Him.
Calmly, with scarcely an added
tremor. she finished the question:
Are you the one love the best?"
And as she finished II Sir Fergus,
who had turned aside for a second,
wheeled, conforming his wife-to-be
and the man he despised and dread
ed, too. "Meadew he muttered,
much as he might have muttered
"Poisonr' and. with a fear gripping
his heart, watched the tableau.
Something in his quick motion for
ward attracted the attention Of many
guests; but Sir Fergus restrained
himself and waited. II seemed as u
the world had gone to pieces and its
rehabilitation depended on Aileen's
next move.
.. Absurd, unchivalrous. to expect an
answer to her neutrality-suspicious.
Yet Bulmer Meade spoke. moved not
by the loveliness of this woman he
had wooed and cast asides but by the
hope Of personal triumph and the
winning of q wager.
The pause focused the eyes Of the
entire company on Meade. He was
not loath to make q sensation. BE
loved OF my heart" he said. with
bow deep enough to do honor to the
occasion. ''of course I am the one
you love the best"
A profound silence fell On the
guests. Over the face Of Sir Fergus
came q flush succeeded by palor as
he clenched his hands and took a
step forward.
But so far Aileen had not replied:
only the poet stood there apparently
satisfied with the impression he had
made and flattering himself he had
only to whistle to win back this girl
to whom he had once made love, and
who he knew had loved him In re-
turn.
Aileen stood gazing at him and
then. with a motion so swift that
Meade himself could not guess Its
import. she stopped. and taking or
a slipper, rose and slapped the poet
across the face.
Astounded. Meade whipped his
hand to cover his eyes; to be pub
licly branded as q cad IL more than
most men can stand; to Bulmer
Meade, Aileen's action was q thou
sand times worse than horse
whipping administered by q man.
He staggered back dumbfounded
while Sir Fergus halted in his
stride forward with great light In
his eyes.
In the tense silence, broken by
.murmurs Of appreciation and de-
& light, too, and an involuntary cry
from Bridget, Aileen 8 calmly re-
stored her slipper. and facing Sir
Fergus with q look full OF love that
was in her soul, said simply, You
are the one I love the best"
Before the appiauding guests, Sir
Fergus gathered her to his arms.
The Brides Play was ended. not
as In the days Of Count Mansfield
and the high-spirited Enid, and yet
in the same way, for a. Enid loved
OBrien and chose him, 90 ,Aileen
loved Sir Fergus apd chose him; and
two hearts, of each lovingly given,
are the keys to a happy future.
THT EHyn