Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

232 Warren said, gravely: ‘‘ Channing is very fortunate,” and leaned back a little in his chair as though for the first time since meeting Eve he was studying her. His-embarrassment had gone. Much of the laughter had left his eyes. He seemed very serious to Eve; the change in him an- noyed her, : What she had said about Channing had brought the quick constraint upon Warren. Eve’s emotions were in something of a tu- mult. She felt resentful, piqued. ‘You like people, don’t you?” she chal- lenged. “ Certainly.” “ Girls?” <6 Yes.” ** Well, I like Channing. I love him!” “So you intimated. I wish you happi- ness.” Eve’s cheeks turned crimson. “T am sure I am grateful,” she said stiffly; ‘“‘ but a girl can love a man without ‘marrying him, can’t she? Have you mar- ried all the girls you have loved?” Warren flushed. His smile betrayed his relief. He grew suddenly very calm and de- liberate, and his eyes twinkled. Eve knew her words had banished his jealous thoughts, but she didn’t know whether she was glad or sorry. If she could have been certain his thoughts had been jealous ones she might have annoyed him a little longer. “Ves,” he said gently, “ it is possible to love without marrying. Some of the great loves of history have been platonic.” Eve frowned. “T don’t think I should care to love that way!” she declared. “If I loved a man I think I should want to marry him!” His eyes sobered. “JT think I have misunderstood you. I was certain I heard you say you loved Channing.” “T love Channing. But I have never thought of marrying him. I don’t think he would have me. I suppose he thinks I am too young and—and foolish.” “JT see. Channing is a very wise man, T suppose.” “ Awfully. I—I think Channing knows ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, Of course, his. grammar isn’t It’s everything. what it should be. I don’t mean that. in other things. Channing is great!” “Yes, I think he is. He impressed me that way. He is master of himself.” Warren’s manner had changed. His eyes had brightened; there was a glow in his cheeks; a repressed enthusiasm seemed to possess him. He insisted upon showing Eve some photographs he had taken back East. Several of them were bits of scenery, buildings, a stretch of beach with some bathers basking in the sun. There. were others with girls in the foreground. Eve examined these: at some length. When she passed the pictures back to Warren she settled back into her chair and regarded him for a time with steady, un- smiling eyes. “You knew many girls back East, I sup- pose?”’ “Quite a few, naturally,” he confessed with evident reluctance. ‘“‘ You see,” he went on apologetically, “‘ they are there, and ~ —and you can’t help it.” “No, I presume not.” Eve’s voice was low, even, toneless. Very deliberately she got up, walked to the edge of the porch and motioned to Channing, who was still on his horse, and riding slow- ly along a rambling fence about two hun- dred yards distant. Warren had got up, too, and was stand- ing near the chair in which Eve had been sitting. He made no protest, and was silent as Channing rode up, leading Eve’s horse. Ready to mount, Eve turned and looked at Warren. Her eyes were still very steady, though now they had a flash of defiance in them, even though she smiled. “Thank you for a very pleasant visit, Mr. Warren,” she said. “Miss Bassett,” said Warren eagerly, “ I wouldn’t have missed your visit for any- thing. I shall be repaying it some day.” Eve mounted her horse without assist- ance, Channing observed. And _ without looking at Warren she spoke as she moved away. “You will be welcome, I’m sure, Mr. Warren. I hope we shall become very good —neighbors.” TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK ECORNICGLOOOLK (E@