Evening star., 1925-12-27

slightest attentions from others jeaI-
ously insistent always upon his rights
rs her fiarCe-he who had nothing to
give. whose strongest claim was upon
her pity.
Ever since have been there" +" she
went on and for a long time before
] believe, a gentleman has been com
ing to Trenliott's To have his hair done
and - he manicured afterwartl
Somehow or other he drifted into be
ing my customer. and it is he whom
nave always told YOU about who gives
mo such a large tip"
II know" Robert remarked suSpi-
ciously. You've always said he be
haved as though you scarcely existed
What about him."
you'll hardly believe what I'm go
ing to tell YOU" she repeated but
you've got to because it's the literal
truth. Today | was depressed He
talked to me a little more than usual
He spoke about the sunshine down
upon the Riviera and how every one
who could was hurryinC off there to
get away from this awful weather. |
told him several Of the girls were 60
ing. and / suppose he couldn't help
seeing how l felt about it
so he asked you to go with him.
eh?" Robert dema nded, with "A sudden
evil twist to his mouth. "A nice nerve
you've got to come and tell me about
1t. Are you coing?"
You promised to listen without in
terrupting," she reminded him quietly.
please keep YOUR word. My story is
difficult enough to make YOU under
stand without your starting with any
wrong ideas. Now, ! tell YOU frankly.
! don't know whether this man is
really just like all the others. or a
crank, or simply the best hearted per-
son in the world. He has no personal
interest in me: he has never even held
my fingers in the way the other men
do when / am at work: vet he made
me an offer, and he made it in a way
that no one could take exception TO.
You must believe that. Robert" she
added. watching his morose expires
sion, ''or | shall not finish what | have
to tell YOU"
Well. go on" he conceded
He has a villa at Monte Carlo. and
he told me that if l could find
brother or a sister to go with me. he
would take us down on Thursday
week for two months, all our ex-
penses to he paid, and he would be
responsible for our situations when we
returned"
We'll" he said. II suppose there
are plenty Of that sort of men in the
West End"
Violet looked steadily at her com
panion across the table. There was
delightful and becoming frmness in
her expression, the whole dignity of
a scrupulously clean mind.
There is one thing Robert. which
you may not say to me-" she reminded
him, nor may YOU hint at it. This
man Is A gentleman, as my father was
and / should trust him in the same
way. Shall ! go on or shall we CON
slider the subject closed?"
Yes, go on" he invited, a little
ashamed of himself 1T isn't you I'm
douhtlng. and anyway YOU haven't
brother or a sister,
No" she assented, but l have
you"
He stared at her in amazement. The
color rose slightly in her cheeks
Robert" she said. I've had two
horrible years. as you know. and dur
Ing the whole of the struggle I've kept
my end up. l haven't even told
fib. I've gone just as straight as any
human being could. I've had the
chances as other girls, and | haven't
considered them. But I'm human in
deed, Robert. l hate misery and ugli-
ness and poverty. l loathe my day by
day life. A few more years of 1t
would be the end of me. I have made
up my mind, if you are willing, to take
this chance
If | am willing?" he gasped.
'Tc be my brother" she explained
That Is what l propose. You see
how quickly l must have made ND nv
mind without knowing it. Ny first
impulse was to tell him | hadn't a
brother. ! didn't do it. My silence
suggested that / had"
You mean me to go to Monte
Carlo. too?" he muttered, in a bewil-
dered tone.
That is precisely what I do mean"
she acknowledged calmly. Now, go
on with your dinner, please, before it
gets cold. and think for minute or
two. Well talk again later"
He obeyed. snd by degrees the idea