Younger Set Copyrighted, ii .t i .-i t r i' i ii r.i i,i i i 1 1 v ii ' . '; U U 111H KIHll?r. JMUU Ifl'IUI II. Ull , Kllecn Ki-roll. ward I liia aim ausuii .....AM, 1 I . 114 .... l.tu I 1,1(1 V. . l.v. , niim;uL cuilb I'll ill- .. ' - - - tber. Gerald, dcsnltc' the touuc man s Prt nT hur Ttirlitumtit 1 lu Villi X'ltVVll. Gerald 1r wnrrind nhont vounr Erroll B ul jmmiin j jit i km f. ii in iirniv uium in fit., nnrl ohn hoc Intiiritr1 nr)H OI Ills I11HTIV TTT1 H III ua 1 BVII IlflllM ll'l aiu Ifl IJULV II 149 Tf IIIT'II III I II I. I UJJU hpIb lutrnrliirmi ro iurH. liosuiliunu lAflflnr nf thf fact nt ntld AHZP'S flofl- zricnd lie annul wauxp in nrmniin ucram rrorn namniinc. j-iflcinniu ,eercara aisntw'B in xx'iwyii. wuu nptttj'd in li1i nfllm. n ilati ti control the stin. -who denounces Necrrard and his CimpEBF is among her pillows as the table was removed, and Selwyn drew his I . nMiu. nuui w me luu Litre. with Gerald?" she ask- "Could yon tell me?" otmnir serious is tne matter, rt ne not m. nr Tun- lay still a moment; then, with slightest gesture, "Come here." apntprl hlmeplr nnnr hpr Shp in In hand fearlessly on his arm. 11 me," she demanded. And as came suddenly Into the library. ther. I heard him say something worried me, and I slipped out be- tney saw me. us IUUI 11." rtnn'r imntp n-iinr Tnn nnnrn." 1(1 TTi-TXilSIlfMlIl Vflll J11TI11I1T nat am you near Austin say ?" ne heard something about dlsslpa- . TTp trns verv anirrv with Gerald. A. . 1- 1 1 .1,1 1- .... 1 . n or Gerald because then we are (V uiiiiriiiHi u iiilik. xit:i uuut-iTi. ph tint! tirrhtonpfl on his arm. re- i . .1 . . ,.i..: it" . . -.1 . 1. 1 smoothed her hair, which contact the pillows had disarranged so it threatened to come tumbling u re jinars uesnair ana my enujess .Khmpnt- T'fl twist and nln Ton I li luui'ii. rMiuit- uuv i will luu. 1 m .1 . r. -3 -f 1 1 1 . at are you looking at so curiously, tain Selwyn my mop?" t's about the most stunningly curious. was a new note in their cordial IH'V. 1111K IlHKl'MllL lULTUhlUIl Ul L1JU charming recognition of her ma tythat she was fast becoming a nn Tpmpn n rnn nn liiriivimi.n no longer classed vaguely as one se soft, uncxpanded personalities i;suiiiifiuu uiiu uuuliiui his tiny grudge in her heart that g in particular about Her excent n he tried to be agreeable con lner Knmo. tiptt pawti Tho "nntmcf become the sharper, too, since she awakened to the admiration of r men. And the awakening was Half "convinced happiness" mln with shy surprise that the wise red headed girl," she said teas- n tnan tr a matter of fact he himself had omo aware of it so suddenly that had no time to think very much - ff T , . - .1 ... X t he had not always been aware It, or was it partly the mellow i irom uie lamp tinting ner till Slowed and shimmered like a sorceress, sitting so straight In her tnrauolse Bilk and misty 7 took his leave, and Selwyn rose, a troubled, careworn expression 4Q w WIIIUI made him seem bo yonne in Miss vnnthfnl miu alt. Boots," he aid. 'I'm going witn yon." And to XUlesa, al By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS, Author of "THE FIQrlTINQ CHANCE," Etc 1907, by Robert W. Chambers. most absently: "Good night Tm so very glad you are well again." "Good night," she said, looking np at him. The faintest sense of disappoint ment came over her t what she did not know. Was it because in his com pletely altered face she realized the Instant and easy detachment from her self and what concerned her? Was It because other people, like Mr. Lansing other Interests, like those which so plainly In his face betrayed his preoc cupation had so easily replaced an In timacy which had seemed to grow new er and more delightful with every meeting? What was It, then, that he found more Interesting; more Important, than their friendship, their companionship? Was she never to grow old enough or wise enough or experienced enough to exact without exacting his para mount consideration and Interest? Was there no common level of mental equality where they could meet where termination of Interviews might be mu tual, might be fairer to her? Now he went away, utterly detached from her and what concerned her, to seek other Interests of which she knew nothing; absorbed in them to her ut ter exclusion, leaving her here with the long evening before her and noth ing to do, because her eyes were not yet strong enough to use for reading. Lansing was saying, "Til drive as far as the club with you, and then yon can drop me and come back later." "Eight, my son. Til finish a letter and then come back." "Can't you write it at the club?" "Not that letter," he replied In a low voice and. turning to Eileen, smiled his absent, detached smile, offering his hand. But she lay back, looking straight up at him. "Are you going?" "Yes. 1 have several" "Stay with me," she said in a low voice. For a moment the words meant noth ing; then blank surprise silenced him, followed by curiosity. "Is there something you wished to tell me?" he asked. "N-no." His perplexity and surprise grew. "Wait a second. Boots," he said. And Mr. Lansing, being a fairly Intelligent young man. went ont and down the stairway. "Now," he said too kindly, too sooth ingly, "what is it. Eileen?" ".Nothing. I thought but 1 don't care. Please go. Captain Selwyn." "No, I shall not until you tell me what troubles you." "I can't." "Try. Eileen." "Why, It is nothing, truly It Is noth ing. Only I was it Is so early only a quarter past 8." He stood there looking down at her, striving to understand. "That is all," she said, flushing a trifle. "1 can't read, and 1 can't Bew. and there's nobody here. I don't mean to bother you" "Child," he exclaimed, "do you want me to stay?" Yes." she said. "Will you?" He walked swiftly to the landing outside and looked down. "Boots," be called in a low voice. "I'm not going home yet Don't wait for me at the Lenox." "All right" returned Mr. Lansing cheerfully. A moment later the front door closed below. Then Selwyn came back into the library. For an hour he sat there telling her the gayest stories and talking the most delightful nonsense, alternating with Interesting Incisions into serious sub jects which it enchanted her to dis sect under his confident guidance. Alert, intelligent all aqulver between laughter and absorption, she had sat up among her silken pillows, resting her weight on one rounded arm, her splendid young eyes fixed on him to detect and follow and interpret every change in his expression personal to the subject and to her share in it His old self again! What could be more welcome? Not one shadow In his pleasant eyes, not a trace of pallor, of care, of that gray aloofness. How jol ty, how young, ho was after all! They discussed or laughed at or men tioned and dismissed with a gesture a thousand matters of common interest in that swift hour Incredibly swift unless the hall clock's deadened chimes were mocking time itself with mischievous effrontery. She heard tbem, the enchantment still in her eyes. He nodded, listening, meeting her gaze with his smile nndls turbed. When the last chime had sounded she lay back among her cush ions. "Thank you for staying." she said quite happily. "Do you think me in teresting to real men, like you and Boots?" she asked. "Yes," be said deliberately, "I do. don't know how interesting, because 1 never quite realized bow how you had matured. That was my stupid Ity." "Captain Selwyn," in confused tri umph, "you never gave me a chance I mean, you always were nice In In the same way you are to Drina. I liked it don't please, misunderstand only I knew thore was something ehw to me something more nearly your own age. it was Jolly to know you were really fond of me, but youthful Asters grow faster than yon imagine Aad now; when you come. I shall von tare to believe It Is not wsolly to do me a kindness but a little to do yourself one too. Is that not the basl of friendship?" "Yet" "Community and equality of Inter ests, Isn't itr "Yes.- "And in which the the charity of superior experience and the inattention of Intellectual preoccupation and the amused concession to Ignorance must steadily, if gradually, disappear? Is that it too?" Astonishment and chagrin at his mis conception of ber gave place to out right laughter at his own expense. "Where on earth did you I mean that I am quite overwhelmed under your cutting Indictment of me. Old duffers of my age" "Don't say that" she said. "That is pleading guilty to the indictment and reverting to the old footing. 1 i shall not permit you to go back." "I don't want to, Eileen." "I am wondering," she said airily, "about that 'Eileen.' I'm not sure but that easy and fluent 'Eileen' is part of the indictment What do you call Gladys Orchil, for example?" "What do I care what I call any body?" he retorted, laughing. Their light hearted laughter mingled delightfully fresh, free, uncontrolled, peal after peaL She sat huddled up like a schoolgirl, lovely head thrown back, her white hands clasping ber knees; he, both feet squarely on the floor, leaned forward, his laughter echoing here. "What nonsense! What blessed non sense you and I are talking!" she said, "but It has made me quite nappy. Now you may go to your club." "I don't want to." "Oh. but yon must" 6he was now dismissing him "because, although 1 am convalescent I am a little tired, and Nina's maid Is waiting to tuck me in." "So you send me away?" "Send you" She hesitated, de lightfully confused In the reversal of i roles not quite convinced of this new i , power which of Itself had seemed to invest her with authority over man "Yes," she said, "I must send you away." And her heart beat a little faster in her uncertainty as to bis obedience, then leaped in triumph as he rose with a reluctance perfectly visible. "Tomorrow," she said. "1 am to drive 1 for the first time. In the evening 1 may be permitted to go to the Grays' ' mid-Lent dance, but not to dance i much. Will yon be there? Didn't tbey I ask you? I shall tell Suddy Gray what j I think of him. I don't care whether 1 it's for the younger set or not! Good ness me, aren't you as young as any- , body? Well, then, so we won't see each other tomorrow. And the day after that on, I wish I had my en gagement list Never mind; I will tele phone you when I'm to be at borne or wherever I'm going to be. But it won't be anywhere in particular be- 1 ! cause it's Lent of course. Good night i j Captain Selwyn. Yon've been very 6weet to me. and I've enjoyed every single instant" When he had gone she rose, a trifle i excited in the glow of abstract happi ness, and walked erratically about 6miling to herself, touching and rear ranging objects that caught her atten tion. Then an Innocent Instinct led her to the mirror, where she stood a 1 moment looking back into the lovely reflected face with its disordered hair. "After all." she said. "I'm not as aged as I pretended. I wonder if he is laughing at me now. But he was very, very nice to me." Selwyn was playing the fizzing con- tents of a siphon upon the iced Ingre dients of a tall, thin glass which stood on a table in the Lenox club. The governor's room being deserted except by himself and Mr. Lansing, he continued the animated explanation of his delay in arriving. "So I stayed," he said to Boots, with an enthusiasm quite boyish, "and I had a perfectly bully time. She's Just as clever as she can be, startling at moments. I never half appreciated her. She formerly appealed to me in a dif ferent way. a young girl knocking at the door of the world and no mother 'or father to open for her and show her the gimcracks and the freaks and the sideshows. Do you know. Boots, that some day that girl is going to marry somebody, and it worries me, knowing men as I do, unless you should think of" "Great James," faltered Mr. Lan sing, "are you turning Into a schat schen? Are you planning to waddle through the world making matches for your friends? If you are I'm quitting I you right here." "It's only because you are the de centest man 1 happen to know," said : Selwyn resentfully. "Probably she'd 1 turn you .down anyway. But" and he brightened up "I dare say she'll choose the best to be had. If s a pity, though." "What's a pity?" "That a charming, Intellectual, sensi tive, innocent girl like that should be turned over to a plain lump of a man." "When you've finished your eulogy on our sex," said Lansing. "I'll walk home with you."' As the two men entered their own door and started to ascend the stairs a door on the parlor floor opened, and their landlady appeared, enveloped in a soiled crimson kimono and a false front which had slipped sideways. "There's the sultana," whispered Lansing, "and she's making sign lan guage at you. Wigwag her, Phil. Oh, good evening, Mrs. G reeve! Did yea wteh to apeak to me? Oh to Captain Selwyn of courser nf you please." said Mrs. G reeve mlnoasly, so Lansing continued Bp ward: Selwyn descended. Mrs. G reeve waved him Into the Icy parlor, where hi presently found her straightening ber "front" with work worn fingers. "Captain Selwyn, I deemed it my duty to set up in order to Inform you of certain specials doln'a." she said haughtily. "What 'doings T " he Inquired. "Mr. KrrclIX sir. Last night he evi dentially found difficulty with the stairs, and 1 seen him asleep on the parlor sofa when 1 come down to an swer the milkman a-smokln' a .cigar that wasn't lit with his feet on the angelus." "I'm very, very sorry, Mrs. G reeve," he said, "and so is Mr. ErrolL He and I bad a little talk today, and 1 am sure that he will be more careful here after." "There Is cigar holes burned Into the caipet" insisted Mrs. G reeve, "and a mercy we wasn't all Insinuated in onr beds, one window pane broken and the gas a blue an' whlstlln' streak with the curtains blowin' Into it an' a strange cat on to that satin dozydo, the proof being the repugnant per fume." "All of which." said Selwyn. "Mr Erroll will make every possible amends for. He is very young. Mrs Greeve and very much ashamed. I am sure. So please don't make it too bard for him." She stood, little slippered feet plant ed sturdily in the first position In dancing, fat bare arms protruding from the kimono, her work stained fingers linked together in front of her. With a soiled thumb she turned a ring on her third finger. "I ain't a-goin to be mean to no body," she said. "My gentlemen U always refined, even If they do some times forget thelrselves when young and sporty. Mr. Erroll la now abed, sir, and asleep like a cherub. Ice bavin' been served three times with towels extra. Would you be good enough to mention the bill to him in the mornin. the grocer bein sniffy?" And she handed the wadded and inky memo randum of damages to Selwyn. who pocketed it with a nod of assurance. "There was." she added, following him to the door, "a lady here to see you twice, leavln no name or inten tions otherwise than business affairs of a pressln nature." "A lady?" he repeated, halting short on the stairs. "Young and refined, allowln' for a automobile veil." "She she asked for me?' he repeat ed, astonished. "Yes, sir. She wanted to see your rooms. But havln no orders. Captain Selwyn, although I must say she was that polite and ladylike and." added Mrs. Greeve irrelevantly, "a art rocker come for you. too. and another for Mr. Lansing, which I placed In your respective settin rooms." "Oh," said Selwyn, laughing in re lief, "it's all right Mrs. Greeve The lady who came is my sister, Mrs. Gerard, and whenever she comes you are to admit ber. whether or not I am here." "She said she. might come again." nodded Mrs. Greeve as he mounted the stairs. "Am I to show her up any time she comes?" "Certainly. Thank you." he called back. "And Mr. Gerard, too. if he calls." He looked Into Boots' room as he passed. That gentleman, in bedroom costume of peculiar exotic gorgeons ness. sat stuffing a pipe with shag and poring over a mass of papers pertain ing to the Westchester Air Line's prop erty and prospective developments. "Come in. Phil." he called out "and loo' at the dinky chair somebody sent me." But Selwyn shook his head. "Come Into my rooms when you're ready," he said and closed the door again, smiling and turning away to ward his own quarters. As he lighted his pipe there came a hesitating knock at the door. He jerked his head sharp ly. The knock was repeated. K Chapter 9 ELWYN walked swiftly to the door, flung it open full width and stood stock still. And Mrs. Buthven en tered the room, partly closing the door behind, hand still resting on the her gloved knob. For a moment they confronted one another, be tall, rigid, astounded; she . pale, supple, relaxing a trifle against j the half closed door behind her, which I yielded and closed with a low click. At the sound of the closing door he found his voice. It did not resemble his own voice either to himself or to her, but she answered bis bewildered question: "I don't know why I came. Is it bo I very dreadful? Have I offended you? I did not suppose that men cared about conventions." "But why on earth did you come?" he repeated. "Are you in trouble?" "I seem to be now," she said, with 1 a tremulous laugh. "You ire frighten ing me to death. Captain U-lwyn." Still dazed, he found the first chair at hand and dragged it toward her. She hesitated at the offer; then "Thank you," she said, passing before him. She laid her hand on the chair, looked a moment at him and sank into It Besting there, her pale cheek against her muff, she smiled at him, and every Brve hi him quivered with pity. "World without end, amen," she said. "Let the Judgment of man pass." The Judgment of this man passes very gently," he said, looking down at her. "What brings yea here, Mrs. Stutbven "WH1 you Ik-IIptp otr -Yea." "Then It la simply the desire of the friendless for a friend, nothing else, nothing more subtle, nothing of ef frontery, n-notblng woroe Do you be lieve me?" "1 don't understand." Try to." "Do you mean that you have dlITeittt with" "HlmT" She laughed. "Oh. do I was talking of real people, not r myths. And real people are not rerj friendly to me always, not that tbey are disagreeable, you understand, only a trifle overcordlal. and my most inti mate friend kisses me a little too f re- I quently. By the way. she has quite succumbed to you. I bear." "Who do you mean?" "Why. Bosamund." He said something under his breath and looked at her impatiently "Didn't you know it?" she asked, smiling. "Know what?" "That Bosamund la quite crazy about you. There's no use scowling and squar lug your chin. Oh. 1 ought to know what that Indicates. I've watched you do it often enough, buthe fact is that the handsomest and smartest woman in town is forever dinning your perfec tions into my ears." He drew up a chair, seated himself very deliberately and spoke, his un lighted pipe in his left hand: "The girl I left the girl who left me was a modest clean thinking, clean minded girl, who also bad a brain to use and employed It What ever conclusion that girl arrived at concerning the Importance of mar riage vows is no longer my businesn. But the moment she confronts me again, offering friendship, then I may use a friend's privilege, as I do. And so I tell you that loosely fashionable badinage bores me. And another mat terprivileged by the friendship you acknowledge forces me to ask you a question, and I ask It point blank. Why have you again permitted Gerald to play cards for stakes at your bouse after promising you would not do so?" The color receded from her face, and her gloved fingers tightened on the arms of her chair. "That la one reason I came." she said, "to explain." "You could have written." "I say it was one reason. The oth er 1 have already given yon because I I felt that you were friendly." "I am. Go on. Please explain about Gerald" "Are you sure," raising her dark eyes, "that you mean to be kind?" "Yes. sure." he said harshly. "Gc on." "You are a little rough with me a-almost insolent" "I I have to be. Good God. Allxel Do you think this is nothing to me. rUIs wretched mess we have made of life? Do you think my roughness and abruptness come from anything hut pity pity for us both, 1 tell you? Do you think 1 can remain unmoved looking on the atrocious punishment rou have Inflicted on yourself tether d to to that for life the poison of the contact showing in your altered voice and manner, in the things you laugh at in the things you live for. in the twisted, misshapen ideals that your friends set up on a heap of nug gets for you to worship? Even if we've passed through the sea of mire, ran't we at least clear the filth from ur eyes and see straight and steer straight to the anchorage?" She had covered her pallid face with her muff He bent forward, his hand on the arm of her chair. Her gloved hand, moving at random, encountered his and closed on it con vulslveij. "Do you understand?" he repeated. "Y-es, PhiL" Head still sinking, face covered with the silvery fur, the tremors from her body set her hand quivering on his. Heartsick, he forbore to ask for the explanation. He knew the real answer anyway, whatever she might say, and he understood that any game in that house was Buthven's game and the guests his guests and that Gerald was only one of the younger men who had been wrung dry In that house. No doubt at all that Ruthven needed the money. He had been picked up by a big, hard eyed woman who had al most forgotten how to laugh until she found him furtively muzzling ber dia mond laden fingers. So when she dis covered that he could sit up and beg and roll over at a nod she let him fol low her, and since then he had become Indispensable and bad curled up on many a soft and silken knee and bad sought and fetched and carried for many a pretty woman what she her self did not care to touch even with white gloved fingers. What had she expected when she married him? Only Innocent Ignorance of the set he ornamented could ac count for the horror of her disillusion What splendors had she dreamed of from the outside? What flashing and Infernal signal had beckoned ber to enter? What mute eyes had promised? What silent smile Invited? All skulls seem to grin, but the world has yet to bear them laugh. "Philip?" "Yes. Allxe." "I did my best w-wlthout offending Gerald. Can you believe me?" "I know yon did. Don't mind what I said." "N-no, not now. Yon do believe me, don't you?" "Yea, I do." "Thank yon. And, Pill, X will try to a -steer straight because you ask use." "You must" "I will. It la coed to be here. I aaast not esse aula, aat IT" "Not again. Allxe.8 "On yoar acceaat?" "Ob yoar own. What do, I care?" "1 didst know. Tbey say" "What?" be asked sharply. "A rumor 1 beard It others speak of It perhaps to be disagreeable to me." "What have yoa beard?" "That that you might marry gain." "Well, yoa can nail that lie." he said hotly. "Then It Is not true?" "True! Do yon think I'd take that chance again, even If I felt free to do itr "Freer she faltered. "But you are free. Phlir "I am not" he said fiercely. "No man Is free to marry twice under such conditions. Ifs a Jest at decency and a slap In the face of civilization! I'm done for finished. 1 had my chance and I failed. Do yon think I consider myself free to try again, with the chance of further bespattering my family?" "Walt until you really love," she said tremulously. He laughed Incredulously. "I am glad that It Is not true. I am glad," she said. -Oh. Phil. Phil, for a single one of the chances we had again and again and again! And we did not know we did not know! And yet there were moments" Dry tipped he looked at her. and dry of eye and lip she raised ber bead and stared at him, through him. far be yond at the tw!. irfaosta floating under the tropic star?" locked fast in their first embrace. Then she rose, blindly, covering her face with her bands, and be stum bled to his feet shrinking back from her because dead fires were flicker ing again, and the ashes of dead roses stirred above the scented embers and the magic of all the cast was de scending like a veil upon them, and the phantom of the past drew nearer, smiling, wide armed, crowned with living blossoms. The tide- rose, swaying here where the stood. Her hands fell from her face. Between them the grave they had dug seemed almost filled with flowers now, was filling fast and across it they looked at one another as though stunned. Then his face paled, and he stepped back, staring at ber from stern eyes. "Phil." she faltered, bewildered by the mirage, "is It only a bad dream, after all?" And as the false magic glowed Into blinding splendor to en gulf them. "Oh. boy. boy. Is it hell or heaven where we've fallen?" There came a loud rapping at the door. "PhiL" she wrote, "I am a little frightened. Do you suppose Boots sus pected who it was? I must have been perfectly mad to go to your rooms that night and we both were to leave the door unlocked with the chance of some body walking in. But Phil, how could I know it was the fashion for your friends to bang like that and then come in without the excuse of a re sponse from you? "I have been so worried, so anxious, hoping from day to day that you would write to reassure me that Boots did not recognize me with my back turned to him and my muff across my eyes. "But scared and humiliated as I am I realize that it was well that he knocked. Even as I write to you here in my own room, behind locked doors. I am burning with the shame of it "But I am not that kind of woman. Phil. Truly, truly 1 am not When the foolish impulse seized me I had no clear idea of what I wanted except to see you and learn for myself what you thought about Gerald's playing at my bouse after I had promised not to let him. "Of course I understood what 1 risk ed in going. I realized what common interpretation might be put upon what I was doing. But ugly as it might ap pear to anybody except you. my mo tive, you see. must have been quite Innocent else I Bhould have gone about it in a very different manner. "I wanted to see you; that is abso lutely alL 1 was lonely for a word, even a harsh one. from the sort of man you are. I wanted you to believe it was In spite of me that Gerald came and played that night "He came without my knowledge. I did not know he was Invited. And when he appeared I did everything to prevent him from playing. You will never know what took place, what I submitted to. "I am trying to be truthrul. Phil. I want to lay my heart bare for you. but there are things a woman cannot whol ly confess. Believe me. I did what 1 could. "I remember what you said about an anchorage. I am trying to clear these haunted eyes of mine and steer clear of phantoms for the honor of what we once were to each other be fore the world. But steering a ghost ship through endless tempests Is hard labor. Phil, so be a little kind, a little more than patient it my hand grows tired at the wheel. "What do you think of me? Asking you shows how much I care. Dread of your opinion has turned me coward until this last page. What do you think of me? I am perfectly miserable about Boots, but that is partly fright though I know I am safe enough with such a man. But what sets my cheeks blazing so that I cannot bear to face my own eyes In the mirror is the fear of what yon must think' of me in the still, secret places of that heart of yours, which I never, never under stood. ALTXB." It was a week before be seat his re ply, although bo wrote many answers, each In tarn revised, corrected, copied aad receded, only to ba destroyed to the- aad. Bat at last b forced bias Continued on pace 2. i
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