Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/40

 spirit moved him he could talk interestingly. But he was a man of moods and for the most part taciturn, as tight with his words as he was with his money.

Louella was conscious of the thoughts that were going through his mind as he gazed at her but she did not resent them. She wanted to be desired of men. That was the way to continue prosperous herself.

"This is like old home week," declared Templeton. "I never hoped to have such pleasure in Chicago. You've grown prettier every day since I last saw you, Mary. Are you married yet?"

"Yes," she admitted. It was a lie but it was the easiest way to explain away many things. "That is I was married but my husband is dead. You know I eloped. Well, my poor husband only lived a few months."

"Why didn't you go home?"

"I hated to go back home in disgrace," she explained. "I couldn't bear to have everyone pointing at me, shaking their heads like mourners and feeling sorry for me behind my back."

"It isn't a disgrace to a woman because her husband dies," said Templeton shrewdly.

She saw her mistake immediately. "I mean that folks would feel sorry for me," she repeated lamely.

But Templeton was much too clever a business man to be taken in by such a weak story.

"The rat didn't marry you," he said curtly.

"How do you know?" she gasped.

"Because you are all fussed up about it," he said. "You show no real sorrow and you act as guilty as though you had just swindled a bank. But don't worry, little sister, I've knocked around a good bit and I know life. You're good enough for any man, even though your first lover deceived you. There aren't many men who are not clever deceptionists and without a doubt you'll be as worthy as any man who marries you."

"That is if I ever get married," she said thoughtfully. "I'm not very keen about men."

The statement was an absolute lie, but this time she succeeded in deceiving the astute Templeton.

Yekial Meigs sat listening. He drew his tongue over his dry