Contrary Mary

"The man she loves."

She flashed a sparkling glance at him, and rose.

"Come, mother," she said, "it is time to go." Then, as she gave Roger

her hand, she smiled. "Faint heart," she murmured, "don't you know

that a man like you, if he tries, can conquer the--world?"

She left Roger with his pulses beating madly. What did she mean? Did

she think that--Mary----? He went up to the Tower Rooms to dress for

dinner, with his mind in a whirl. The windows were open and the warm

air blew in. Looking out, he could see in the distance the shining

river--like a silver ribbon, and the white shaft of the Monument, which

seemed to touch the sky. But he saw more than that; he saw his future

and Mary's; again he dreamed his dreams.

If he had hoped for a moment alone that night with the lady of his

heart, he was doomed to disappointment, for Leila and her father came

to dinner. Leila was very still and sweet in her widow's black, the

General brooding over her. And again Roger had the sense that in this

house of sorrow there was no place for love-making. For the joy that

might be his--he must wait; even though he wearied in the waiting.

And it was while he waited that he lunched one day with Porter Bigelow.

The invitation had surprised him, and he had felt vaguely troubled and

oppressed by the thought that back of it might be some motive as yet

unrevealed. But there had been nothing to do but accept, and at one

o'clock he was at the University Club.

For a time they spoke of indifferent things, then Porter said, bluntly,

"I am not going to beat about the bush, Poole. I've asked you here to

talk about Mary Ballard."

"Yes?"

"You're in love with her?"

"Yes--but I question your right to play inquisitor."

"I haven't any right, except my interest in Mary. But I claim that my

interest justifies the inquisition."

"Perhaps."

"You want to marry her?"

Roger shifted his position, and leaned forward, meeting Porter's stormy

eyes squarely. "Again I question your right, Bigelow."

"It isn't a question of right now, Poole, and you know it. You're in

love with her, I'm in love with her. We both want her. In days past

men settled such things with swords or pistols. You and I are

civilized and modern; but it's got to be settled just the same."