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Show ..... . LI j i j nj-ir . - i ' ...... - i. . j iSHORT STORY OF THE PAY jv ! "Of course." cried Slbella. abruptly. ( : "they are often immensely rich!" j ' "Those who cherish aa Ideal, you I i mean?'" . ; "How absurd you are today!" she aa- swered. ' "What did you" 1 "I thought you had grasped the fact .' that I was talking about Americas ' girls, said Slbella, reproachfully. "Oh ahyes!" I "Fortunate that Maltland wasn't at- tracted by it." I suggested, and I fan- cled she looked at me reproachfully. - i "You don't think Eustace Is that kind J of man?" she said. I "The proof of the pudding is In the eating." A "I shall see you at Lady Ashmore's ( tomorrow !"i she exclaimed as she rose f from her seat on the sofa. "I Intend to try to do my duty," I restarted. res-tarted. "You shall have two waltzes as a reward," re-ward," said Slbell. graciously. "It Is Immensely tantalizing" "Tantalizing." - "So near and yet so far," I observed. "But still." I added. "I hope you wiU have s good time." j "Whx. shouldn't IV she demanded. "I shall try and congratulate you both" "I don't understand you." said Slbella. Sl-bella. "I said I ahould try to congratulate you both." ! "Both?" she murmured. "Of course; you and Maltland." "It Is scarcely a thing to Joke about!" ' ahe exclaimed, with her face aflame. j "I assure you," I insisted. "I never felt less like Joking in my life." "Then why do you suggest that I J should be congratulated?" demanded ' Slbella, in a rather low voice. ' ! "Upon your engagement " ' "That." Slbella faltered, "was ended four months ago." "But you told me it had been renewed." re-newed." I "Indeed." she said, with a sigh. I told you nothing of the kind." 1 I "Upon my word." I insisted, "you cer- I talnly said I must congratulate Malt- j land " i "Why. of course!" t "when I meet him at Lady Ash- f more s tomorrow night." "Don't you understand?" cried Slbella Impulsively. "He is going to marry 1 some American girl." and she laughed a little strangely. t "Slbella," I said. . "Well?" answered Slbella. C "Upon my word. I am sorry if' , V "How very absurd you are this afternoon," after-noon," she exclaimed, but she turned away her head as I took her hand. A HATTSB OT CONQEATUXATIOII "Do you think that American rrU are really nicer asked Slbella. "The question seems rather general," I suggested. "You understand perfectly well what I mean!" she cried, somewhat petulantly. petu-lantly. "Perfectly." I admitted. "I wish," said Slbella. "you would try not to be horrid." "Maltland." I remarked, "has been away four months." Slbella stared at the window and sighed deeply. "Four months and Ave days," she murmured. . "Now." I retorted, "you are too particular." par-ticular." "Sometlmea," said Slbella, "I think one is not quite particular enough." "Then you are beginning to repent?' "How can I repent if I have not done anything wrong?" she demanded. "Anyhow.". I suggested, "one can make up one's mind sever to do it gain." ' "Ah!" said Slbella, with another sigh, "one may not get the chance." "To make up one's mind?" "To do it again." she answered. "Still." I reminded her. "you drove Maltland away1." "He simply went to America for a change " "The week after you broke oft your engagement" It it really wasn't my fault." said Slbella. "Still, one's tendencies may be a little too catholic." I hinted. "If you wish to criticise me" "For the dismissal of Maltland?' I exclaimed. "Did you know that he had returned?" re-turned?" asked Slbella. "I heard it at the club." "Then." she demanded, "why didn't you tell me?" ' "Of course," I said, "I don't mean to say I wished the fellow to stay away forever" "I don't see," answered Slbella, deliberately, delib-erately, "that It would make the least difference in the world to you." "Still, one lives In hope, you know." "It would be wiser to hope for something some-thing else," she said. "Oh, well." I returned, "of course. I can see how It is going to end." "You haven't answered my question!" cried Slbella. "Let me see" "Do you think that American girls are really nice?" she persisted. "Anyhow," I answered, "the fellow has got away safely." "I met Eustace at Mrs. Beresford's the day before yesterday." she faltered. "No doubt you talked over old times?" "Why. naturally." "And you you felt pleased to see him?" "Of course." ahe answered. "I told you." 1 said, "that I knew how it would end." "I think Eustace seemed nicer than ever!" she exclaimed. "Then I suppose I must offer my congratulations con-gratulations the first time I see him?" "Are you going to Lady Ashmore's tomorrow night? "Are you?" I asked. "Why should 1 stay away" she demanded, de-manded, rather excitedly. "Then certainly I shall go!" "Because Eustace will be there?" said Slbella. "He would think it rather odd if yoa didn't." she retorted. "So you really admire ad-mire them?" she added. "Whom?" "I wish," cried Sibella, "you would try to remember what we were talking about." "I can never forget," I answered. "I asked whether you admired'' "Oh. yes," I exclaimed. "Do you?" "I admire women in general," I began. be-gan. "And none In particular?" "Ah, well," I answered, "it's sn old story." "How old?" asked Slbella. an.1 she leaned back languidly on tho sofa. "Put It down at a decade." "But then then I could only have been about 11," she murmured. "You see." I urged, "It's something like life itself. Nobody knows when It actually begins " "Or when It ends." said Slbella. "It will never end." I answered, and she smiled, yet .not all unkindly. |