Evening star., 1925-08-16

Soul lO1 nSG, WneIneG
could be gained by it or not. 1t was
as though his ultimate ideal had
walked straight out of the background
Of the dreams into the living present.
She was thoroughly modern, both in
clothes and conversation, yet her
sweetness somehow made him think
of old-fashioned gardens and sprigged
muslin. She was beautiful, she was
active, she was considerate: in the
ballroom she was feather, and In the
moonlight she was a fairy philosopher.
But it was in the moonlight of the
terrace, hardly 4S hours after he had
met her. that she destroyed his great
est illusion.
In answer TO one of Miss Paine's
questions. he said that he was in the
Stock Exchange Trust Company of
New York.
Why" she exclaimed. then you're
friend of Walter Blanchard's! Isn't
he a perfect marvel, though? I'm
mad about him. Why, he and my
father are in dozens of things to-
gether.'
Anderton goggled. But then your
father must be Col. Paine-of Paine
& Gordon
why. yes" she said casually. "Of
course he is
Anderton strolling beside her was
tongue-tied. Col. Paine was a COM
mercial landmark; Paine & Gordon
were perhaps the second largest
manufacturers of soaps and perfumes
in the world. And Walter Blanchard.
the new young president of Ander-
tons bank-a man who was unfver-
sally heralded as a financial genius,
and who didn't even suspect that An
derton eXisted-was obviously one of
Miss Paine's intimates. And Ander
ton possessed some very austere prin-
CipleS concerning poor young en-
ployeS and rich young women.
He gave her a recessive smile. TO
tell the truth" he said, II haven't
been introduced to Mr.. Blanchard
IN only a cub in the Trust Depart
ment. And about your father-wen,
I've got a compliment for you.
mean, that's what | intend ii for, no
matter how it sounds. Here it is; |
wouldn't have guessed it in thou
sand years."
Her laugh was delicious And
nothing nicer has been said to me for
ages, It's a most refreshing novelty.
] make you my grateful reverence"
She sank to the ground in deep
courtsey, and was up again before he
could offer his hand.
In view of his previous ardor, his
conduct during the next few days was
80 remarkable that when she presently
encountered him on the veranda. she
accused him pointblank of neglecting
her.
Anderton hadn't a smile in his sys-
tenn. why, l don't know that I'd go
SO far as TO say that. But l do hate
TO be a four-fiusher. And l don't
belong to this crowd; I'm only spec
tator."
She regarded him soberly. Take
me to walk along the cliffs she said.
I've got something to tell you.
= x x
THEY went together to a little
chancel of pines. dominating the
harbor. There Miss Paine dropped
down to the moss; Anderton, leaning
against a tree, surveyed the blue
water.
Now, what's it all about?" she de-
manded Where did you get this
silly inferiority complex? And is
that any reason for you to have been
SO rude to me?"e
He glanced down at her stoiidly.
Il haven't been rude to you. But
can't afford to know you. 1t would
only make me unhappy. 1t is all
very we'll in Seaward. but in New
York I've got about the income of a
plumbers apprentice. Why, 1t would
cost me more than a days pay
simply to take you to lunch! And
I'm not a tame cat and I've got
my OWL OpllllOllS dDOul Things" AoO
I'd rather get it over with-and the
sooner the better
She was tearing bits of moss into
still lesser bits of moss. You're very
unfair" she said, under her breath.
You make me out so mercenary!
It's perfectly horrid of you. l don't
choose my friends by the amount of
money they've got"
No" said Anderton. you don't
have to. But you don't know what it
IS to be on the other side of the
fence. And this is all rather
futile anyway. because I'm going
back to New York tonight
"Tonight?'
Yes. madam. Back to the tread
mill. Vacations over. And I'd saved
up for three months for it, at that. I
wanted to see what Seaward was
like. Well, it was worth it, l sup
pose-even if I have got some ethics.
and even if l don't believe in holiday
love-
Holiday love?'' she queried. with a
tiny frown.
"Um-hum," said Anderton, as phleg-
maticalIy as he could. $50 let's fig
ure that this is good bye"
She rose. and they started toward
the hotel, but at the edge Of the lawn
she fingered to smile up at him.
you've done your best to insult me-"
she said, but you haven't quite sue
ceeded. You're too transparent. And
you're too moral. Only-I appreciate
you even if / do think you are alb
surdly Puritanic. At least. it makes
you different. And this isn't good
bye-because you're coming to see
me in New York
To himself. however, Anderton
swore that he wasn't. Her charm
had overwhelmed him. but his salary
was $500 a month, and he was eX-
tremely proud and aCutely sensitive.
To be sure. if her father had been
endowed with a simple competence,
he might not have taken himself at
such low valuation. After all, he
had just turned %, and his progress
in the bank had been consistent.
But was that any excuse for him to
make himself look like a sycophant?
No, and above all men in creation
he despised the underling who mar
rieS money. The safest procedure
then, was for him never to see her
again.
= = x
RUT he did. In October he had
- formal little note from her; she
had just returned from the Coast and
she desired him to come to tea, spe-
officially to meet Mr.. Blanchard. An
derton scowled. and wrestled with
his convictions. But convictions
aside. wouldn't it appear distinctly
odd to Mr.. Blanchard if Anderton
refused to meet him socially. And
was Anderton in any position to risk
offending his president? Well, not
exactly! Plague take the woman,
anyhow!
So he bought new cravat and went
to tea and found Miss Paine ,IpSet-