Photoplay (Feb-Sep 1917)

106 Photoplay Magazine you came home . . . Harry, I'm so lonely now." Her bright little face, lifted to him, was full of trouble. Her wee hands implored him, and her eyes were full of tears. Without a word, Harry gathered her in, comforting her with little meaningless petting words, stroking her bright hair, and holding her closer and closer. Presently her arms stole about his neck, and she kissed him as innocently and ardently as a little child. Then, though the heavens had fallen, he must tell her that he loved her. "I knew it," she cooed. "We don't need to bother even to ask each other. I was always yours — and Harry, I know you've always been mine ; just mine, and nobody else's." And the sweetness of the hour was fanged by the memory of Benita, the snake in his Eden. The sun grew red and low. Suddenly Mildred, with her hair tumbled and her face flushed, darted away. "Aren't we terrible !" she giggled, guiltily. "Come to dinner with me, Harry !" She rushed back for his hand. "I can't tonight," he answered. And he pleaded the old excuse of another engagement. He wanted to be alone with his damning conscience — rather, he was afraid to take it to a party. But Mildred found Sato waiting her. He had brought some papers requiring her signature across the bay. He must be the dinner guest. He was told to tarry and hear the great secret. "... and I guess we'll be married next month !" she finished, merrily. It had come ! Like the sun of execution morning, the condemned man was perhaps gladder to see it than otherwise. It was good to have an end to hopes that could not be. Sato was at least glad that Mildred's property was in his hands until she was of age ; he would conserve it for her. Then Harry, too, would be past the silly age. So Sato congratulated her with Samurai gravity, and lingered in polite torture until ten. This evening was Thursday's. Harry really went to San Jose, to avoid meeting his innocently bigamous fiancee — and turned directly homeward to confess. Why not fight his folly in the open? Mildred must know all about it some day, anyway. And as he dragged himself to her house, on Saturday afternoon, Benita rang the bell of his own home. Fortune favored her, in a way. No one was there save Harry's Japanese servant, and to him she coniided the imperious message : "Tell him his ivije has arrived, and must see him at once !" The servant, being human, rolled this delectable morsel of scandal under a tongue that found small opportunity to chatter, and proceeded on his way to the Thornton estate. .And he found the chance to unburden himself in meeting Sato. He told the story between smirks and obsequious bows. From the flame of rage against Maxwell that leaped in Sato's soul there emerged piercing wild hope — this fool had damned himself ; where should she turn now but to Sato, who had always loved her? In a moment this feeling gave way to a calmer one. Mildred must be protected. He told Harry's servant to go any place but to the Thornton home ; meanwhile, he walked rapidly back to the casa Maxwell, where he was told Benita was waiting. Could the Japanese have known the great hit he made with Benita lie would not have been flattered, but he would have felt surer of the end of his game. He informed her, politely, that he had intercepted her message, but that Mr. Maxwell was out of town for the afternoon, and would not return until evening. He very seldom spent the night at his home, preferring his club on Ellis street, in town. Sato would arrange for an apartment for Mrs. Maxwell at the St. Francis? Anything, he felt, to get her across the bay from Mildred ! She poisoned the very air. In the presence of his hypnotism Bonita consented to everything Sato suggested. ^\'hen he had seen her on the ferry, and had telephoned for rooms, Sato hastened to Thornton house. He must stand as a bulwark between Mildred and the terrible revelation. Maxwell was in the drawing-room. And Sato noticed the terribly funereal air that overcast the whole home. He advanced slowly, his eyes fixed balefully on Harry, who returned his look understandingly, yet without rancor. "Harry has just told me," said Mildred simply. She was facing the situation bravely.