按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
without cause or provocation； has received the devil of a bump。
Before Miss Page could venture upon an explanation； Anita Flagg had
changed into a very angry young woman。
〃And what's more；〃 she announced； 〃he can't do it to me！〃
She sent her telegram back again as it was； word for word； but this
time it was signed； Sister Anne。〃
In an hour the answer came： 〃Sister Anne is the person to whom I refer。
She is dead。〃
Sam was not altogether at ease at the outcome of his adventure。 It was
not in his nature to be rudecertainly not to a woman； especially not to the
most beautiful woman he had ever seen。 For； whether her name was Anita
or Anne； about her beauty there could be no argument； but he assured
himself that he had acted within his rights。 A girl who could see in a well…
meant offer to be kind only a subject for ridicule was of no interest to him。
Nor did her telegrams insisting upon continuing their acquaintance flatter
him。 As he read them； they showed only that she looked upon him as one
entirely out of her worldas one with whom she could do an
unconventional thing and make a good story about it later； knowing that it
would be accepted as one of her amusing caprices。
He was determined he would not lend himself to any such
performance。 And； besides； he no longer was a foot…loose； happy…go…lucky
reporter。 He no longer need seek for experiences and material to turn into
copy。 He was now a man with a responsible positionone who soon would
be conferring with cabinet ministers and putting ambassadors At their ease。
He wondered if a beautiful heiress； whose hand was sought in marriage by
the nobility of England； would understand the importance of a London
32
… Page 33…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
correspondent。 He hoped someone would tell her。 He liked to think of her
as being considerably impressed and a little unhappy。
Saturday night he went to the theatre for which he had purchased
tickets。 And he went alone； for the place that Sister Anne was to have
occupied could not be filled by any other person。 It would have been
sacrilege。 At least； so it pleased him to pretend。 And all through dinner；
which he ate alone at the same restaurant to which he had intended taking
her； he continued； to pretend she was with him。 And at the theatre； where
there was going forward the most popular of all musical comedies； the seat
next to him； which to the audience； appeared wastefully empty； was to him
filled with her gracious presence。 That Sister Anne was not therethat the
pretty romance he had woven about her had ended in disasterfilled； him
with real regret。 He was glad he was；； leaving New York。 He was glad he
was going； where nothing would remind him of her。 And then he glanced
upand looked straight into her eyes！
He was seated in the front row； directly on the aisle。 The seat Sister
Anne was supposed to be occupying was on his right； and a few seats
farther to his right rose the stage box and in the stage box； and in the stage
box； almost upon the stage； and with the glow of the foot…lights full in her
face； was Anita Flagg； smiling delightedly down on him。 There were
others with her。 He had a confused impression of bulging shirt…fronts； and
shining silks； and diamonds； and drooping plumes upon enormous hats。
He thought he recognized Lord Deptford and Holworthy； but the only
person he distinguished clearly was Anita Flagg。 The girl was all in black
velvet； which was drawn to her figure like a wet bathing suit； round her
throat was a single string of pearls； and on her hair of golden…rod was a
great hat of black velvet； shaped like a bell； with the curving lips of a lily。
And from beneath its brim Anita Flagg； sitting rigidly erect with her
white…gloved hands resting lightly on her knee； was gazing down at him；
smiling with pleasure； with surprise； with excitement。
When she saw that； in spite of her altered appearance； he recognized
her； she bowed so violently and bent her head so eagerly that above her the
ostrich plumes dipped and courtesied like wheat in a storm。 But Sam
neither bowed nor courtesied。 Instead； he turned his head slowly over his
33
… Page 34…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
left shoulder； as though he thought she was speaking not to him but some
one beyond him； across the aisle。 And then his eyes returned to the stage
and did not again look toward her。 It was not the cut direct； but it was a cut
that hurt； and in their turn the eyes of Miss Flagg quickly sought the stage。
At the moment； the people in the audience happened to be laughing； and
she forced a smile and then laughed with them。
Out of the corner of his eye Sam could not help seeing her profile
exposed pitilessly in the glow of the foot…lights； saw her lips tremble like
those of a child about to cry； and then saw the forced； hard smileand
heard her laugh lightly and mechanically。
〃That's all she cares。〃 he told himself。
It seemed to him that in all he heard of her； in everything she did； she
kept robbing him still further of all that was dear to him in Sister Anne。
For five minutes； conscious of the foot…lights； Miss Flagg maintained
upon her lovely face a fixed and intent expression； and then slowly and
unobtrusively drew back to a seat in the rear of the box。 In the' darkest
recesses she found Holworthy； shut off from a view of the stage by a
barrier of women's hats。
〃Your friend Mr。 Ward；〃 she began abruptly； in a whisper； 〃is the
rudest； most ill…bred person I ever met。 When I talked to him the〃 other
day I thought he was nice。 He was nice； But he has behaved abominably
like a boorlike a sulky child。 Has he no sense of humor？ Because I
played a joke on him； is that any reason why he should hurt me？〃
〃Hurt you？〃 exclaimed little Holworthy in amazement。 〃Don't be
ridiculous！ How could he hurt you？ Why should you care how rude he is？
Ward's a clever fellow； but he fancies himself。 He's conceited。 He's too
good…looking； and a lot of silly women have made such a fuss over him。
So when one of them laughs at him he can't understand it。 That's the
trouble。 I could see that whe