:

"That wouldn't be fair."

"If you go to Jerry's for luncheon with one of your girl friends, and
you see me eating alone, keeping bushels of wonderful news all to
myself, is that making love to you?"

"Yes."

"No!" he contradicted, flatly. "But I'll do more-- I'll let you tell
Mrs. Vandergilt that you own the only engine of destruction available
against man's stupidity."

Knowing that he was alluding to her beauty, she said:

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I belong to you, don't I? And if women are to get the vote can't
you tell dear Ethel's mother--"

"Do you mean old Mrs. Vandergilt?" she interrupted.

"Yes."

"Then say so."

"I will," he meekly promised. "You tell the old lady that you will
insure success for the Cause by lending me to her. I've got a scheme
that will do more in a month than all the suffragettes have accomplished
in fifty years. You might get Ethel interested in my plan--"

"I won't!" She smiled the forgiving smile that infuriates. She lost her
head. "You think I am jeal--that I'm--"

"I think not of you, but of myself, and of how I may keep my promise to
your father and survive. If you see me, and can talk to me, I shall live
honorably. Will you shake hands?" He held out his right hand. She
ignored it. He deliberately took hers and led her to a chair. "Will you
do what I ask, dear?" he entreated, humbly.

"No!" She stood there, cold, disdainful, refusing everything--even to
sit down.

"Then," he said, tensely, "then I must--" He seized her in his arms and
kissed her unresponsive lips. "I am not making love to you," he
murmured. "I am not!" And he kissed her again. "I promised not to see
you; and I won't--not even if you see me."

He released her and was silent. She looked up and saw that his eyes were
tightly closed.

"I'll be there," she said, triumphantly, "at one o'clock."

"I am a man of my word!" he said, fiercely.

"Every day!" she added, with decision.

She did not know that this wifelike attitude thrilled him as not even
the kisses had; but he said, earnestly:

"No. I'm going now. It's good-by for a month. For a whole month!"

"Northeast corner table," she said, audibly, as though to herself.
"Northeast cor--"

"Play fair!" he urged. "Amuse yourself with Mrs. Vandergilt." He looked
at her as though he desired her to occupy herself with some hobby for
thirty days. The sight of her face, and nothing else that she could see,
made him say, "Good-by!" And