Show false faces by JANE ORYAN copyright service R liked him at once because S SEL his smile was attractive and the expression of his eyes was both frank and sympathetic and he hailed from that west about which she heard so much from her father and which made her long to be of it he liked her a at t once because she had something more than mere prettiness her held understanding as well as the glow of youth her smile was distinctive it was in accord with the seriousness of her face and the intelligence of her eyes she never giggled nor wasted time in idle talk with the shallow young men in the office ice yet she was friendly and obliging ing rutherford considered her unusual and for that reason the obvious red of her lips annoyed him he decided that it must be remedied he realized that he would have to bide his time before he could broach the subject he realized also what his interest m in her meant and he was pleased she would make an excellent wife and that was what he wished so with his vast help their acquaintance grew and grew their regard for each other rutherford became acquainted with claras mother and brothers and sister he told her about his folks yet no of the obvious red of her lips was made he still waited the right opportunity and it came of course he had invited her to the theater and it was at the end of the first act when clara exclaimed the lea leading ding lady beautiful that he recognized his chance yes he answered 1 I suppose she is but she would look far lovelier if she so artificial look at her mouth for instance but said clara if she d rouge it it look good over the footlights but it is so palpably unreal d exclaimed and when anything artificial loses the semblance of reality beauty no longer exists clara looked at him seriously there there was absolute understanding in in her eyes then with a smile she opened her vanity box and regarded herself critically in the mirror A slight frown came between her brows you are right she said it is not pretty it will be remedied his eyes thanked her eloquently then than suddenly she leaned nearer and whispered what about my face her eyes twinkled he looked surprised 1 I never suspected he said with a smile that is where artificiality drops all its syllables but the first one cannot object to perfection then the curtain arose on the second act and they watched it happily how do yo like the hero rutherford inquired when the curtain descended splendid clara replied but severe severe said rutherford he has ideals for the girl he loves and for himself there is no pretense there no artificiality he looked squarely at clara 1 I should be like that he said with the girl I 1 love clara felt self conscious but she assumed a nonchalance as she inquired you would be suspicious and jealous he nodded gravely where here is there love with without out jealousy rational jealousy of course and where there is jealousy jealous Y there is always suffering clara smiled with assumed sadness what a tragic state love is she sighed A glorious state he replied prompt lv she must have agreed with him after all for that very night he proposed in the taxi and was accepted you are sure clara he asked tensely As sure as can bet be she answered her eyes as tender as his and you understand that I 1 demand much he asked dut not any more than you give she smiled into his eyes with absolute conf confidence idenie not any more he replied then h en everything was forgotten in their first kiss blissfully the next days passed then upon the third as they walked together after business hours rutherford startled clara by saying suddenly love has made you serious dearest she laughed but her pretty mouth now only naturally red did not show real mirth love is a serious matter she said and I 1 try not to make you s uffer suffer he pressed her hand and gave her a look fraught with tender appreciation p 1 I understand dear he said bettor better than you think it I 1 is S hard I 1 admit for or me 0 o watch those nien talk to you and smile end and see buur answering smiles but U 1 know it is a part of the days work lie he looked at her intently they never say he began then broke off no dew dearest rest I 1 shant question you my faith in you is complete she sighed but so faintly that he did not hear they walked through the park to their favorite summerhouse summer house where they sat hand in hand scarcely talking once in a while clara would indicate some tree or shrub at hand whose beauty she asked rutherford to note when they parted they made arrangements range ments to meet there on the morrow at five it would be saturday and a half holiday but rutherford had some business to attend to and could not meet ner her sooner several times he expressed his disappointment over this and each time clara laughed while the color deepened in in her cheeks and each time she said it cant be helped dear in the vestibule of her ome he held her close to him and kissed her 1 I wish he said that you were not quite so serious her laugh was so gay that he brightened and when he left lef t her er was feeling quite happy indeed but there was no doubt that love was a serious business at noon the next day when they left the office together he said as he pressed her hand at parting five dearest but he finished his business much earlier than he had thought and it was scarcely four when he entered the park and walked to their trysting place clarahan Cla clara had said she had things to attend to so in what better way could he spend his time than in waiting for her in the park the air was crisp and it w was as not likely that anyone would be in the summerhouse summer house but as it came to view he saw that someone was there a girl and a man they seemed intent upon each other their backs were to him only their profiles were visible then suddenly his heart contracted the girl was claral clara thu attitude of the young man was ummi unmistakable shakable sta kable he was making love loh lo h to her unconsciously rutherford h had a d stopped in his walk but now he made a spasmodic movement forward the pain at his heart seemed beyond his strength to endure nevertheless erth eless he strode on and presently he heard what the man was say saying ing darling you are the dearest girl in the world dont think of that other one he cannot love you as I 1 do so this was the girl who had stopped rouging her lips to please him who had done everything to please him a cry of pain came from him and they turned and saw him clara managed to laugh as she said oh tom youre away ahead of time he laughed too a dry harsh laugh As you are he replied staring into her frightened eyes 1 I think she said quickly with a sudden glance at the young man beav her you had better go she gave him a push with her hand and automatically he arose rutherford turned his fierce eyes upon him would you go off like a sneak he cried the young man seemed dazed and gazed at him speechless clara sprang to her feet and laid a hand upon the arm of rutherford no she said not like a sneak he understand As rutherford made no effort to reply sh she e turned to the young man mai i and smiled you had better go she said and hear from me he smiled and bowed then turning to rutherford with a look of mingled dislike and nd suspicion clara watched him for a moment or two then with a sigh turned to rutherford she saw how deeply he was suffering A look of pa pain in came to her eyes and with a sudden movement she brought to view her left hand which she had he held id behind her back and in which chic h was a book there she said is the explanation then with a little sob she cried oh tom that you should have doubted mel me he had taken the book and now stared at it instant relief showed in his face he looked up quickly at clara caught her hand and drew her to the seat of the summerhouse forgia forgive e me he ale pleaded abed tears brimmed brimme d claras eyes she said 1 I had promised promise cl to be in the play quite some time ago but when we became engaged I 1 tried to resign but could not without disrupting everything so I 1 thought to keep it from you to save you pain he glanced about and seeing that no one was in sight kissed her tenderly in my heart I 1 did not doubt you he whispered then he glanced at t the he book and im going to see you play the part because we cant upset everyone but please never let it happen agai rillo |