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