Evening star., 1923-05-04

there would be no one to shed tear.
Jil-Bett threw herself on her knees
at his feet, seiZing his hand, cover
ing it with kisses.
'Oh. i would care. Mr.. Jack. she
sobbed. IF that happened l should
want to die. too"
You tender-hearted little soul" he
responded. raising her quickly to her
feet. Il had forgotten that you might
feel sorry; you, and you only. The
knowledge of so sincere friendship
is, believe me. very precious to me-
Friendship! Mrs. Nudge had not
told her that he would talk friend
ship. She was at a loss to know how
to reply to that.
The memory of so kind friend
ship will never leave me-" he went
on, land when think of Katar shall
always think of you" -,
Just what do you mean she
queried. This harping still on the
word friendship myStified her. Romeo
had not used that word to his Juliet.
neither had Hiawatha.
My stay here has come to an end"
1t took the girl d full moment to
grasp the import of his words You
are notwithstanding to go-away. she
Gasped.
He nodded. looking far out over the
Are you not content here?" she
asked quickly, earnestly.
He shook his head. His answer
seemed to change the whole world
for her. "No; the restlessness which
has taken possession of me impels
me to move onward. I have earned
sufficient to take me elsewhere. l am
going away from here. Pil-Bett. on the
steamer which will leave here tomor-
row. or next day at latest.
The words struck her us sudden.
icy blast chills a tender flower: an
awful stiffness. like the hush of
death. came over her; the color lett
her face. If he had been looking at
her he would have seen big tears
gather in the dark. dilated eyes. roll
down her pa1lid checks and splash
upon the little hands clutchcd tightly
together; ,,i,,or
the steamer was bound. l would have
sailed on her. This one goes to
America Well. just as we'll there as
any other place. shall 20 oil and
on from one place to >another. and
some day my memory aS<to who am
and from whence | came may return
to me. have had another long talk
with the doctor. That was ms pre-
diction; he was certain of it,
A lump rose in il-Bett's throat.
She could make no answer. All in an
instant the sunshine seemed to nave
been hlotted out and the GOODNESS or
the grave to have settled over the
world.
Il shall often think of you. jill
Bett: wondering if you are happy.
and if life is going on well with you.
You were contented; you said so
only yesterday" she broke in. wiring
ing her little hands together in alb
jcct despair.
Much can take place in a day" he
responded. You shall know all
about it. They discharged me this
morning, not knowing ] had come to
the determination to go. anyway, =,
Discharged you" dismayed Jlla IL
you back. heard them say only
today that you ranked with their
best divers. despite the fact that you
had not had near their experience"
still. in the face of that-though.
indeed, I did endeavor to do my very
best-they have made up their minds
they do not want me-.
"They must take YOU back! They
must" reiterated Jill Bett, her pent-
mp emotion bursting forth in flood
Of bitter tears. Il will so to them,
and on my knees beg g. Of of themw rn,oa
Il would not return to them now un-
der any condition. | could never do
better than my best, and they have
found fault-they are not pleased
with that"
Think what your going would
words scarcely above a whisper, but
he heard and answered:
II haven't the least doubt but what
you will miss me for little while.
then forget all about me-"
She looked up in his face. her lips
quivered. all sound seemed to die on
them. A few moments before she
had danced down that path a dream
ing child. her heart bubbling over
with happiness. Now she stood there
"a child no longer: woman's her
itage of love had swept over her,
awakening her heart: the bitter cup
of unrequited love was being pressed
to her lips. How unconscious he
seemed of it all:
They tell me an Arab. your lover,
who has been away. is returning
shortly. and that you are soon to
NO, no. no." cried Jil-Bett vehe-
nently, Il will never marry him.
Never"
ut seems to be the common fate
of all to marry, some day. little one?"
will you marry some - day."
faltered Jil-Bett. abashed at her own
temerity the next instant for giving
utterance to the thought that was
consuming her.
He shook his head impatiently.
Mrs. Nudge says that every one
marries when the right one is met
she ventured.
Mrs. Nudge may not always have
the right viewpoint on such matters
there arc those whose last thought
is Of marriage. they are so little con-
cerned over it."
You mean you are not; that you
have not met, yet, the girl to whom
you will talk marry?'
Her quaint way of phrasing it
brought a smile to his lips. Let us
talk of other things. Jil-Bett: / am
going to ask you to write to me once
in a while-that is. if the man whom
you will wed does not object to our
friendship. which ] prize so much
You would not stay in Katar.
even though YOU could marry here?''
He shook his head. Marriage is
for those who meet and, after close
companionship. find that they cannot
do without each other"
You will do without-me. And L
L Goodbye!' she whispered
abruptly. The next instant she was
lost to sight by turn in the road
(To be continued tomorrow