The Lighted Match

-shooting found Van Br

s of stubble. Under a scarlet maple that reared itself skyward all aflame, and shielded by a festooning

ramed a question, then hesitated, fearing the answer.

estioned, "ho

hing but memory. Do you realize what it all means?" She leaned forward and laid a hand on each of his shoulders. "Just one week mo

g. You love me-that is the miracle. And because of a distorted idea of duty, our lives must go to wreck. Don't you see th

e we going to do about i

way!" he pleaded eagerly. "Sup

stood back

ok into his eyes. "I wish you could,

ith a resentful sense of the monstrous injustice o

-I've got to be his wife." Then, in a quick, half-frightened tone: "Yet

of his own frown. "Am I so

don't trust myself on the same side of the road with you. You must go across and sit on t

be fifteen feet away," he protested, "and my arms are not

epeated wit

ly, his face g

-" He cast about for a sufficiently rebellious sentiment, then resolutely asserted: "I'll stay here until I rot

the kingdom,"-once more her eyes became wistful-"you may say what you like about it. You can't possibly hate it as much as I. There is no anarchist screaming his adherence to the red flag

then his voice was raised i

s. Why, Cara, I can get one good, husky Methodist preacher who can d

ght into the open blue of the skies, the harder the return to a gilt cage? But, dearest-there is such a thing as keeping o

yours by right-divine right. You have nothing to do with cages, gilt or otherwise. My duty is to

g voice was

in, you will only make it harder for me. I must do what I must do. I could

with a pronounced glance at Benton, there would be a masquerade affair on the evening before Cara's departure for New York. She said this was

e place, the object whereof was guarded wit

le when it began to develop that an exodus impended. "Do your appetites crave the

of an oracle gazing into crystal. "There, for example, is Colonel Centress who will p

nt beau across the table q

did you guess i

rse, but this is a mysterious flurry

in Manhattan to-day he would probably lead you to a costuming tailor, where you wo

ss face proved a constant irritation to her exuberant vivacity. "I understand, Colo

e would have said that he had not recognized the thrust. "I shall only

confided to her next neig

ed Mrs. Van, looking accusingly at Bento

ete final arrangements for getting the Isis into commission, but n

diplomacy-one very difficult to become accustomed to," he c

your yacht!" mused Cara. "And yet you

e, "I should shanghai Mrs. Van for a chaperon and give a party to Europe. Unfortunately I can't get her