y one's personality seems more pleasing to me than my own,
and I still felt as if I were really Marta.

"My early ideals of manly suitors were patterned slightly on your
model; it piqued me, I admit, that you didn't seem to fall for a
little romance with me, as many suitors had done.

"When I saved Francis from being thrown (I've turned that trick many
a time in pictures) I felt that I had in a way repaid Mrs. Kingdon
for her hospitality. You were so homey and nice that night, I almost
'fessed up. I did my best to make you care more--and I thought I had
succeeded; but you still made reservations and I thought your
reluctance came from my past--Marta's past--

"That night as I stood at my window vaguely regretting my deception,
Jo came along. I flew down to him and told him that I had heard from
Marta, and we had a nice long talk together. I told him she was
living 'straight,' but I respected her wish not to let him know where
she was.

"I don't know why, as time went on, I didn't tell you who I was.
Maybe it was natural perversity, or the fateful habit of playing a
part.

"I ran away to town that day you were all absent and met Larry
Lamont, my cousin, the only kinsman I have. He was once a
harum-scarum lad and did some flying acts for a company I was with,
and one day when he was laid off for 'reasons,' I gave him a calling
down and advised him to go to an aviation school and learn to fly
scientifically. I hadn't heard from him until I saw him at the hotel,
and found he had made good and joined the flying service of France.

"Marta's unexpected arrival upset things. I knew that Mrs. Kingdon
was interested in my account of her and in her love for Jo; also that
she intended to help them eventually, but I did not know she had
communicated with Marta during her own absence. Hebler's sudden
appearance was the last straw. He insists I am under contract for
another of the wild and woolly pictures I am so tired of playing. I
am not posted on the legality of contracts, and it seemed easier to
dodge him until he should have to secure some one else. You were very
nice about offering to help me evade him. Some way the return of
Marta and the sudden arrival of Hebler made me realize I had been
playing a part. That night in the library when you told me you loved
me and asked me to marry you, I was really myself. I was surprised by
the discovery that y