The City of Fire

ustrous with long curling black lashes framing them in a face that might have been modeled for an angel, so round the curves, so enchanting the lips, so lofty the w

she had plenty, while Opal Verrons had placed her entire care upon developi

f. She was always startling and lovely even in her simplest costume. Many people turned to watch her in a simple dark blue serge made like a child's girded with a delicate arrangement of medallions and chains of white metal, her dark rough woollen stockings rolled girlishly below white dimpled knees, and her feet shod in flat soled white buckskin shoes. She was young enough to "get away with it," the older women said cattishly as they watched her stroll away to the beach with a new man each day, and noted her artless grace and indif

mp and well cared for they were fairly sleek, and had an old wise air about them as she patted her puffy curls daintily with a motion all her own that showed her lovely rounded arm, and every needle-pointed shell-tinted finger nail, sleek and puffy, and never used, not even for

ard rooms and compared her to vamps of other seasons, and decided she had left them all in the shade. She was a perfect production of the modern age, more perfect than others because she knew how to do the boldest things with that cherubic air that bereft sin of its natural ugliness and made it beautiful and delicious, as if degradation had suddenly become an exalted thing, like some of the old rites in a Pagan Temple, and she a lovely priestess. And

s suddenly lost her luxurious air of nestling content. The hotel clerk handed her two telegrams as

baby and both were in a hospital in a critical condition. He

te dog that was dancing after her, and Opal gave a sharp cry and tore the telegram into small bits. But when she opened the second message her face paled under its delicate rouge as she read: "Mortimer McMarter kille

to be looking forth from those wide limpid eyes for an instant, the spirit of a coward who had been fooling the world; the sp

but for herself! And then she gave a horrid little lost laugh and dropping the telegram as if it had b

own men, weren't they? It was up to them. I'm go

and gold grating and waving a mocking little white hand at them as they watched her amazed. Then one of them stooped and picked up the telegram.

oking at one another strange

nner Laurie Shafton had ever eaten before. It had a taste that he hadn't imagined just pl

menu, and he met them as something new and del

here was queer

room with a bay window looking toward the church and a wi

making up parodies on it-one ran something about "this same old fish upon my plate," and rhymed with "hate." He stared at the lovely bowed hair of the girl across the table while it was going on, and got ready a remark calculated to draw her smiles, but the girl lifted eyes that seemed so far away he felt as though she did not see him, and he contented himself with replying to his host's question something about the part of the chicken he liked best. It was a queer home to him, it seemed so intimate. Even the chicken seemed to be a detail of their life together, perhaps becau

ow passed over

nk Billy was with the baseball team-" then her eyes travelled away out the window to the distant hills, she did

out Miss Saxon crying? Did she care so much for Billy

n as she poured coffee, "I hope she's not

denly looked up

e back yester

her eyes from the hills, but she did not look

uld be several, but there was always one.

seemed to have settled into the eyes of the family since their name

the limit for roads. What's the matter with the highway? Had a Detour right in the best

d Marilyn looking

oed the mini

et on you know. Date with a lady. Staked a lot of money on winning, too. Hard luck," Then he

with a gesture of admiration toward her, "You se

he were offended at it. Then the eyes look on an impersonal look and wandered thoughtfully to the mountains in the distance. Laurie felt his cheeks burn. He felt almost embarrassed again,

thing to flood the road but the Creek, which never was known to overflow its banks more than a

man laughe

drink to keep my nerve till morning. There were some dandy spilling places around those

ugh to his soul like a lightning flash and away again, and there was actually scorn on her lip

orth with a little of his own natural gaiety in

e were surprised and perhaps had not done him justice. She looked like

mine I'd have hobbled over to the-service

ver. It is a rather good organ for so small a one." She was trying to be polite to him. It p

it was the organist that I noticed. One doesn't

usness. "But the children are to sing this evening. You'll like

hich she did not take at all because she was passing her mothe

New York?" th

Laurence Shafton, son of William J., of Shaf

such a way with him of acting as though he knew everything and nothing impressed him; as though he was just as good as the next one! As though his father w

tions with direct steady gaze, and polite phrases, but they did not gush nor have the attitude of taking him eagerly into their circle as he was accustomed to being t

with a leather bound book, perhaps a Bible, or prayer book. He wasn't very familiar with such things. She took a little gold pencil from a chain about her neck and made notes

ed ankle, and a place in the family! A girl like that was worth a few days' invalidism. His ankle didn't hurt much since the minister had dressed it again. He believed he could get up and walk if he liked, but he did not mean to. He meant to stay here a few days and conquer this young beauty. It was likely only her way of vamping a man, anyway, and a mighty tantalizing one at that. Well, he would show her! And he would show Billy, too, whoever Billy was! A girl like that! Why,-A girl like that with a face like that would gra

the house to take a nap, and the minister had been called away

muse me," he said in the voi

ed up and smi

ool class in a few minutes, and I was just getting my les

day-school! Give them a vacation to-day and let them go fishing. They'll be delighted, I'm sure. You have a wonderful foot. Do

t is the Sabbath," she smiled indu

teach you easily. And what has

in the least. And the Sabbath has everything to do

e asked in g

et apart for enjoying God

sta

woman I ever met," he said admiringly, "Did no

of her beautiful eyes the

to a lady of slight acquaintance." She rose and gathered up her book and hat that

He felt almost as he had felt once when he was caught

gracefully, "I hope you will

ly, "only I do not like it. Now you must

teps and across the lawn. Her dress brushed against his foot as she went and it seem

rch, an anger that she dared to trample upon him that way, a fierce desire to get away and quaff the cup of admiration at the hand of some of his own friends, or to quaff some cup, any cup, for he was thirsty, th

return. She lingered for a long time on the church steps talking with those everlasting kids ag

and that girl played on! Dash it all! Why didn't she quit? It was wonderful music, but he wanted to talk to her. If he hobbled slowly could he get across that lawn? He decided to try. And then, just as he rose and steadied