The Lighted Match

ess of Van Bristow's individuality and taste, hi

thing of the atmosphere of a museum dedicated to past eras. It was crowded with useless junk that stood for divers m

Benton appeared together, ranging from ancient football days to snapshots

enton clanked, booted and spurr

t there was a trace of wander-lust in the eyes that

folded arms, and stood looking down almost

unpleasant to do," began the guest, "

ooked up, mil

occasions. Now, however, there was a certain purposeful ring in Benton's voice which told the other this was quite different

a defiant glint

he announced briefly, "o

ed it with concentrated attention, while hi

ort-and I mean to make the hardest war I know." He paused, but as Van gave no indication of cutting in, he went on in aggressive announcement. "What I

lent reflection. Finally he knocked the ashes from his pip

ou?" was his brief

ther

and down the room. When at length he stopped it w

ra has hungered for freedom. We've felt that she had the right to, at least, her little intervals of recess. It happened that she could have them here. Here she could be Miss Carstow-and cea

ust what she wants." He lifted his hand in protest against anticipated interruption. "I know that you have got to line up with your royal relativ

dea. It is only for an idea that men and women martyr themselves. With Cara this idea has become morbid-an obsession. She has inh

n courage-that instead of loyalty it is des

es clouded with the gravity of

that a girl superbly American in everything but the accident of birth should have no chance-no opportuni

her spoke, then

with a satisfied sigh. 'I finks I'm lovely,' she announced. At five one is frank. Her verdict has since then been duly and

oking out. Finally he wheeled to demand: "How

to his brushes and paint tubes. He saw before him achievement of that sort. Assassination claimed his father and brothers, and, facing the same peril, he took up the distasteful duties of government. My au

d by degeneracy and untainted with libertinism. Karyl is as decent a chap as yourself. He loves her, and though he knows she accepts him only from

was, with his friend, the silence of despair and surrender. At

ented quietly, "I hav

ts which properly belonged to the summer. That afternoon a canoeing expedition was made up river to e

pointed out that an engagement to go up the river in a canoe is entirely distinct from an engagement to come down the river in a canoe. He cited so many excellent authorities in support of his contention tha

ir paddles from the water they floated with the slow current. The singing voices of the party behind them

. The man stuffed tobacco into the bowl of his pipe a

ead. Against it the gaunt branches of a tall tree traced the

enton rais

sent for you,

an once and gave me a rose. It was such a wonderful rose"-she spoke almost tend

rt of present," he assu

addle. The man leaned back, steadying the canoe wi

ace in a splendid temple of the Sun Worshipers. When I rescued him he was squatting cross-legged on a counter among silver and copper trinkets belonging to a civilization younger than his own. When you've been a god and come to be a souv

oice that threatened to become unsteady. "Tell

ly. Jonesy is not conventional in his ideas, but his morals are sound. He has seen religions and civilizations and dynasti

the singing voices were drawing

ss-legged on my chest. When I breathed, he seemed to shake his fat sides and laugh. When a pagan

rearing abutments, but that when you try to build a dam to stop the Amazon you are dealing with folly. He argued that when one sets out to

e except for the quiet dipping of their paddles, the dripping of the water f

perhaps he will give you good advice-on tho

tears. "He has already given me good advice, de