The Washington times., 1931-03-06
NO,O Go On With the Story

sickeningly. She steadied her
voice and forced her eyes to
his own.
DO you?" she asked, risking
a great deal for the sake OF
clear thinking, "do you love
me, as I now am, I wonder, or
are you forcing yourself to
sentimentality because Of the
girl I once was, whose memory,
admit it, must have faded
now, a little. I am changed
you have said so. I am not
that girl, Lorry. Perhaps" SAID
Mary Lou, "I never was.
Dressed for q Hike
Later, she joined him in q
heavy sweater, a green tam
and stout boots over woolen
stockings and very short
skirt And they went out to-
gether in a snow furry into the
North Grove where, with Hen
derson's help, they picked out
the tree, a tall, beautifully
shaped majestic fir.
"It's a shame to cut it down"
said Mary Lou, a little sadly,
"but-after all, it will be a
happy sort of death, with
candles burning and people
singing and somewhere a star
shining to remind us"
Lorrimer said nothing. His
heart was sore and bruised
from the impact Of her hard,
straight-flung words. But he
looked down now into her
moved, flushed face and saw
her eyes as radiant as the
stars Of which she spoke. Oh,
she had changed! She was
harder, in some way that he
had to admit was fine, a hard
ness as Of diamonds, yet she
was softer, more easily touched
by the more impersonal emo
tions. He could remember that
other Delight as clinging and
passionate one moment and
glittering with bravado and
gaiety the next. This girl had
gaiety, but Of a different kind;
she had a reckless courage,
but no bravado.
They tramped back to the
house together, the soft, dry
snow stinging their eyes. ting
ling in Mary LOUIS escaping
curls and thick on her long
lashes. In the woods there was
a gray gloom, soft as a doves
breast, family lit with the
dreaming green of the living
frs. Needles lay under foot,
a fragrant carpet. Overhead,
through bare branches and
branches set with cones, the
sky was a thick veil of gray
.. no wind stirred and
their breath smoked on the
frosty air.
Not That Girl
After a moment, he said,
thoughtfully:
"No, you're not that girl.
That girl would never have
spoken to me as you did, just
now. That girl didn't, per-
haps, think very much. She
just-was- sunshine is, as
flowers are. Remember that
day at Richmond, De-
light -? I do No,
you are not that girl. But you
are the girl I want. -" he
ended.
She did not answer. She was
suddenly family sick, vaguely
giddy, tired to death Of her
masquerade. very near to tears
and knew not why.
There was a little silence
heavy with unspoken words.
Look here" he said sudden
ly, "weIl make a bargain, you
and 1. Always be honest with
me. Promise you'll come to
me, if you find that after
all I am a little worthy Of
your caring will you?"
She nodded. What else could
she do?
"And I'll" he tried to
laugh-"I'll make an effort to
snap out of it, as suggested.
I'll go with mother to that
Christmas shindig of hers. And
now," said Lorrimer, shall we
go look for the tree?"
She nodded again and as
he held out his hand, put her
own within it. He held it a
long moment, hard, fast.
"You-speak your mind" he
told her, smiling wryly. Il
guess I've been pretty much Of
a damned fool. There isn't
much room in this world for
dreamers :" he said.
Mary Lou squeezed his hand
hard, a second, and then re-
leased her own.
There's lot of room for
dreamers," she told him, "but
they are doers as well. Just