o understand.

"I wish you could go with me."

She smiled.

"Your father's society doesn't make quite such an appeal to me as it
does to you." Carelessly, she added: "Where are you going--Paris or
London?"

He sent a thick cloud of smoke curling to the ceiling. A European trip
was something he had long looked forward to.

"London--Vienna--Paris," he replied gayly. With a laugh, he went on:
"No, I think I'll cut out Paris. I'm a married man. I mustn't forget
that!"

Annie looked up at him quickly.

"You've forgotten it already," she said quietly. There was reproach in
her voice as she continued: "Ah, Howard, you're such a boy! A little
pleasure trip and the past is forgotten!"

A look of perplexity came over his face. Being only a man, he did not
grasp quickly the finer shades of her meaning. With some irritation, he
demanded:

"Didn't you say you wanted me to go and forget?"

She nodded.

"Yes, I do, Howard. You've made me happy. I want you to be happy."

He looked puzzled.

"You say you love me?" he said, "and yet you're happy because I'm going
away. I don't follow that line of reasoning."

"It isn't reason," she said with a smile, "it's what I feel. I guess a
man wants to have what he loves and a woman is satisfied to love just
what she wants. Anyway, I'm glad. I'm glad you're going. Go and tell
your father."

Taking his hat, he said:

"I'll telephone him."

"Yes, that's right," she replied.

"Where's my cane?" he asked, looking round the room.

She found it for him, and as he opened the door, she said:

"Don't be long, will you?"

He laughed.

"I'll come right back. By George!" he exclaimed, "I feel quite excited
at the prospect of this trip!" Regarding her fondly, he went on: "It's
awfully good of you, old girl, to let me go. I don't think there are
many women like you."

Annie averted her head.

"Now, don't spoil me," she said, lifting the tray as if about to go into
the kitchen.

"Wait till I kiss you good-by," he said effusively.

Taking the tray from her, he placed it on the table, and folding her in
his arms, he pressed his lips to hers.

"Good-by," he murmured; "I won't be long."

As soon as he disappeared she gave way completely, and sinking into a
chair, leaned her head on the table and sobbed as if her heart would
break. This, then, was the end! He would go away and soon forget her.
She would never see him again! But what was the use of crying? It was
the way of the