For Drexley was not of the fashionable world-not even of the fashionable literary world. At heart he was a Bohemian of the old type. He loved to spend h

me to another world-the strictly exclusive world of rank and fashion. Drexley wandering about, seeing never a face he knew, felt ill at ease, conscious of his own deficiency in dress and deportment, in a world where form was the one material thing, and a studhole shirt or an ill-cut waistcoat were easy means of acquiring notoriety. He

only remembered that people were coming to-night. Janette was out, an

lace here," he answered

can explain your note

med in

little club, your Scotch whiskey and your pipe. Never

he said, "I long for no

r throat, and the glittering spangles upon her black dress. Truly a wonderfully beautiful wo

rim friend," she said, "at those speec

despised," he answered blun

an who makes them. My friend, that little s

ned imp

looking for you. Let me know why you made me t

ed him badly th

k with him. I have deprived the Ibex of a contributor who might possibly have be

e said softly, "t

f course. But your letter

she yawned, "

said, "how the poor yo

me! Scar

said, "to interfere in

" she said. "You have

oman. I have many a time had to stand godfather to your literary foundlings. You have never yet exercised the contrary privilege. I have done a me

k some interest in that young man, and I offered him my help. He coolly declined it-talked of succeeding by his own exertions. So priggi

was

ryth

vanity; you sto

amed u

I value frankness from my friend

he exact

hy of you," he

ged her s

me," she said. "You know I a

hat a womanly a

archways, a woman's voice came pealing out to them, the passionate climax of an Italian love song, the voice of a prima donna of world-wide fame. A st

learned what I wanted to know.

though she were seeking to discover from his face how much his opinion of

angry w

o right t

noy

with

hall see that his future is properly shaped. If he is what I have an idea that

s? One or two were doing fairly well, from a pecuniary point of view-but there were others! She read his though

y. "It is not generous of you. I did all I could f

would often be much better without. You are generous, great-hearted, sympathetic, else I would not speak like this to y

she answered. "You talk as though I w

"I believe in you. I know that you are generous. Only-

h, and I have influence. Nothing interests me so much as helping on a little young people who have gifts. Isn't it a little hard that I should I h

ted. She turned to

ing, "I will be very care

comes t

d, with an odd little smil

*

l of chaff. He held his own as usual, lighted his pipe, and played a game of pool. But all the same he was not quite himself. There was the old restl

about that young fellow you

is chief full

he sai

sight of him. You haven't his a

ice answered shortly.

black and sullen, but lit with a thousand fitful l

k rot, Ric

an answered. "You gave him a knoc

conduct of the magazine I have to sometimes cons

" were, muttered a curse between his

ear anything of him,"

Reuss intend to be kin

l!" Drexley ans