Evening star., 1927-11-27


ieather.upholstered Chesterfield IN
which her small figure had been
tucked away.
oh" she exclaimed II had no
idea it was so late. Every one else
has been in bed ages ago"
Il think" said Locke gravely, that
1t is our duty to stand by that last
log. It's been a rather jolly fire. you
know. i"
That is the second one you have
put on after having made the same
remark twice before" she accused
him severely.
II know said Locke. I'm guilty
but think OF the extenuating circum'
stances"
Polly Wickes laughed.
NO" she said.
This is positively the last, pleaded
Locke. There may not be any eX-
cuse for a CRATE fire tomorrow night.
Have you thought of that? The wind
is still bowling, but the rain has
stopped and the moon is coming out,
and" His tongue was running
away with him namely. He stopped
short.
s"Yes?" inquired Polly Wickes. de-
murely.
The great dark eyes were laughing
at him-teasing a little.
well, confound it." he blurted
out, Il don't want you to go. This
has been a day and an evening that
/ shall never forget-very wonderful
ones for me. 1 don't want them to
be only memories-yet.
Just this last one," he pleaded
again. ID
She hesitated for an instant, then
sat down slowly on the Chesterfield
once more. And as he watched her
there seemed to have come curious
quiet upon her. She did not look
at him now-she was staring at her
hands, which were tightly clasped
together in her lap.
''Very WE'LL" she said in low
voice. 81 think that /, too, would
like to have-that last log. There is
something that / want to say-that
I meant to say-that / meant to say
this afternoon on the yacht. 1-Mr.
Locke, do you know who l am?"
She would not look up. He could
not see her face. He knew what she
meant-Mr. Martins words of the day
before flashed upon him. There was
something Of dreariness in her voice.
something that strove to be very
bravely defiant, but was only wistful.
and an almost uncomfortable impulse
fell upon him to touch her face and
lift it gently, and make her eyes
meet his again. There would be an
answer there-an answer that he had
not vet dared put in words. What
right had he to do so? A day of
dreams on the yacht today-that, and
yesterday. Two days! He had
known her longer than that
He found himself answering her
question automatically.
What strange question:! he
was laughing-speaking lightly. "Of
course 1 know who you are.
'Yes," she said gravely, "you
know that my name is Polly Wickes-
but do you know anything about
me?"
He came and stood a little closer
"I think / know you" His voice
had lost its lighter tone.
A little flood Of color came as she
shook her head.
''Did guardy tell you anything
about me on your trip down here?"
mo" he said.
81 didn't think he had" she said.
"He has always been opposed to
either of US saying anything about it
to any one. Dear guardy! I know
1t is for my sake and that he believes
il makes it easier for me, and gen.
orally it does; but-but sometimes 1t
doesn't" She stopped and looked up
suddenly. but I do think it is more
than likely that Mr.. Marlin, in his
queer way, has said something. Has
he?"
Look here" said Locke impul-
sively, A'does it really matter-does it
even matter at all? Mr.. Marlin did
say something, as a matter of fact
yesterday. down there at the boat
house, you know"
what did he say?" she demanded.
"Why," Locke smiled, something
about London, and selling flowers"
"Well, it is quite true" she said
slowly. THAT is exactly what was
flower girl in London-on the street
corners"
81 sell bonds-when I can-and
wherever I can" Locke was laugh
ing again-he was not quite sure
whether he was striving the moro to
put her or himself at ease. i can't
see any difference on the basis of pure
perhaps that the flowers are the more
honest offering of the two. Bonds
sometimes are not always what they
SEEM"
She shook her head.
That's very nice OF you, Mr..
Locke" she said. She was studying
her clasped hands again. "But-but
of course. as you quite well know,
that has nothing whatever to do with
what am saying. You know London.
don't your
"Why, yes; Bit" ne answered.
Yes she said. 81 think you do.
Indeed, from what you have said to-
day, am sure you know it better than
any American l have ever met before:
and, indeed, far better than most
people who live there all their lives.
And so-and so"-her voice broke a
little, then steadied instantly-''it is
not necessary to go into any details,
for you will understand quite well when
I say that lived in Whitechapel, and
even there where only the cheapest
room was to be found, and that when
] sold flowers I did not have any
shoes-and to the police / was known
as gutter-snipe." .
He was beside her. bending over
Heavens. Miss wickes-Polly," he
burst Aout. why do you hurt your
self like this"'
He had called her Polly" The
name had come unbiddel to his
tongue. 1t had brought no rebuke-or
was it that she5had NOT noticed it?
II would hurt myself more" she
said steadily, IF / felt that those
around me could have any justifica
tion in believing that / was pur-
posely masquerading in order to de-
ceive. That would be hypocrisy--and
! hate that!'
"Of course, it would" There was
savage assent in Locke's voice. TITS
nobody's business but your own"
''Oh. yes, it is" she answered in
stantly. Its Miss Martins business
If / come here as a guest"
Yes" said Locke quickly; but you
have told her. and
"a Watt she interrupted: "Yes,
have told her; and now [ have told
you. But your two cases are entirely