Page:A fool in spots (IA foolinspots00riveiala).pdf/13



They were seated tete-a-tete at a dinner table.

"Tell me why you have never married, Milburn," and the steel eyes in Willard Frost's face searched through his glasses.

Robert Milburn's answer was a shrug, and a long cloud of smoke blown back at the glowing end of his cigar.

"Tell me why," persisted the keen-eyed Frost.

"Because it is too expensive a luxury; besides, a man who has affianced a career like mine must take that for his bride," was Robert's answer.

"Admitting there is warmth and color in some of your artistic creations, old fellow, I should think you would find these scarcely available of winter nights, eh?"

Robert laughed; his laugh was short, though, and bitter. He had taken keen pleasure in the cynical