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Show ;:J Rich CM, :::: Girl, Poor ilii Girl ; ii i .. . i ', it By MYRA CURTIS LANS . 1114, Wuta Nwpp.r Uolea.) TFFIE leaned out of the window and looked Into the itreet below. It was the eve of her marriage. She was twenty-eight and Ralph was thirty-seven. They were both too old for folly. It wag essentially a marriage of convenience. For Ralph had an old and untarnished name, and Effle had money. . More money than she knew what to do with. Her father had been a millionaire, mil-lionaire, and she had Inherited half his money and a large house In the city. She was certainly a rich girl. Only love had never come her way. Just a few trivial flirtations, and twice what she thought was the genuine thing, but found was not. In that she was poor a very poor girl. It was not late. Her relatives had gone home early, leaving her alone, except for the servants, In the large house. And she leaned out of the window, win-dow, looking at the people passing. How Intent they were, each on v his own affairs. Each person looking for happiness, and never finding It That was the way it went Then she saw a couple sauntering slowly along the street, their arms about each other. They were absorbed In each other, heedless of the softly fulling rain. Poor they were, and yet so rich In their love. It was she who was the poor girl. If only she could step ont of the great house and put everything behind her Ralph, the whole past, and begin to live. She had never lived. And now she was entering a blind alley with Ralph. She bad tried so hard to love him, but it was all Impossible. And somewhere some-where In the world a lover might be waiting for her the lover who would make her rich. She started as a ring came at the door. She had sent the servants to bed; she espected nobody. She went out to the hall and opened It, a little frightened. Ralph stood there. "Oh, It's you I Oome In!" She leaned forward, prepared to give him the mec'ianlcal kiss that was already becoming the habit between them. But his face startled her. "Come In, Ralph. What Is Itr she asked, facing him In the drawing-room. "Is anything the matter?" she went on. "Effle, I've been thinking. It Isn't too late. Would you like to release me?" The words made her heart bound. Releasewhat she had dreamed of! For a few moment wild hopes ran coursing through her brain. Then she saw the Impossibility of It all her relatives, her friends, the scandal. . . . "Why, Ralph?" "Because you don't love me, Effle. It would be Insensate to start our life together like that Tou don't do you?" "No," she cried desperately. "I Tve tried so hard to, Ralph. But It was Impossible from the beginning." "Then r "Can we help going through with It now?" "I'll take the responsibility." "You can't, Ralph. Jilting Is a woman's wom-an's privilege." She laughed bitterly. bitter-ly. "Well let It be as you say." Be turned away, and she saw him wallowing hard. She took a step toward him. "Isn't that all right Ralph?" He took her hands In his. "Effle, It you knew how very much I cared. Did you think It was anything else? Your money?" She was listening as In a dream. What was he telling her? "I know you tried to care, but yon couldn't Effle. And that's why I want to set you free." "Ralph, I never knew all this. I "But it Isn't too late." "Ill give you .your answer In a few minutes. No, wait wait I" She was trying desperately to think. If she had known but they had started start-ed wrong from the beginning. Sh turned toward him, and the look on hit face touched her to the heart "Ralph, I did care at first till yoc seemed to repulse my love. No, don'l answer that. We don't want to quarrel quar-rel now. Ralph, dear, I I want U go through with It You see, nobody has ever cared for me, and If you say you do" And then suddenly she knew shi was no longer a poor girl but a very rich girl Indeed. |
