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mother's bed； giving her promise to remain true to the Christian teachings of
her childhood。
And virtue is rewarded； lavishly； as virtue should be； in dollars and cents； in
stocks and bonds； in pearls and diamonds。 Popular fancy takes kindly to rough
but honest westerners who have begun life in flannel shirts； who have struck
gold and come to New York with a fortune but despising effeteness； such a one；
tanned by the mountain sun； embarrassed in raiment supplied by a Fifth Avenue
tailor； takes a table one evening at Hawtrey's and of course falls desperately
in love。 He means marriage from the first； and his faith in Leila is great
enough to survive what appears to be an almost total eclipse of her virtue。
Through the machinations of the influential villain； and lured by the false
pretence that one of her girl friends is ill； she is enticed into a mysterious
house of a sinister elegance； and apparently irretrievably compromised。 The
westerner follows； forces his way through the portals； engages the villain； and
vanquishes him。 Leila becomes a Bride。 We behold her； at the end； mistress of
one of those magnificent stone mansions with grilled vestibules and negro
butlers into whose sacred precincts we are occasionally； in the movies；
somewhat breathlessly ushereda long way from Hawtrey's restaurant and a hall…
bedroom。 A long way； too； from the Bagatelle and Fillmore Streetbut to Lise
a way not impossible； nor even improbable。
This work of art； conveying the moral that virtue is an economic asset； made a
great impression on Lise。 Good Old Testament doctrine； set forth in the Book
of Job itself。 And Leila； pictured as holding out for a higher price and
getting it； encouraged Lise to hold out also。 Mr。 Wiley； in whose company she
had seen this play； and whose likeness filled the plush and silver…plated frame
on her bureau； remained ironically ignorant of the fact that he had paid out
his money to make definite an ambition； an ideal hitherto nebulous in the mind
of the lady whom he adored。 Nor did Lise enlighten him； being gifted with a
certain inserutableness。 As a matter of fact it had never been her intention
to accept him； but now that she was able concretely to visualize her Lochinvar
of the future； Mr。 Whey's lack of qualifications became the more apparent。 In
the first place； he had been born in Lowell and had never been west of
Worcester； in the second； his salary was sixteen dollars a week： it is true she
had once fancied the Scottish terrier style of hair…cut abruptly ending in the
rounded line of the shaven neck； but Lochinvar had been close…cropped。 Mr。
Wiley； close…cropped； would have resembled a convict。
Mr。 Wiley was in love； there could be no doubt about that； and if he had not
always meant marriage； he meant it now； having reached a state where no folly
seems preposterous。 The manner of their meeting had had just the adventurous
and romantic touch that Lise liked； one of her favourite amusements in the
intervals between 〃steadies〃 being to walk up and down Faber Street of an
evening after supper； arm in arm with two or three other young ladies； all
chewing gum； wheeling into store windows and wheeling out again； pretending the
utmost indifference to melting glances cast in their direction。 An exciting
sport； though incomprehensible to masculine intelligence。 It was a principle
with Lise to pay no attention to any young man who was not 〃presented；〃 those
venturing to approach her with the ready formula 〃Haven't we met before？〃 being
instantly congealed。 She was strict as to etiquette。 But Mr。 Wiley； it
seemed； could claim acquaintance with Miss Schuler； one of the ladies to whose
arm Lise's was linked； and he had the further advantage of appearing in a large
and seductive touring car； painted green； with an eagle poised above the hood
and its name； Wizard； in a handwriting rounded and bold； written in nickel
across the radiator。 He greeted Miss Schuler effusively； but his eye was on
Lise from the first； and it was she he took with； him in the front seat；
indifferent to the giggling behind。 Ever since then Lise had had a motor at
her disposal； and on Sundays they took long 〃joy rides〃 beyond the borders of
the state。 But it must not be imagined that Mr。 Whey was the proprietor of the
vehicle； nor was he a chauffeur；her American pride would not have permitted
her to keep company with a chauffeur： he was the demonstrator for the Wizard；
something of a wizard himself； as Lise had to admit when they whizzed over the
tarvia of the Riverside Boulevard at fifty or sixty miles an hour with the
miner cut outa favourite diversion of Mr。 Whey's； who did not feel he was
going unless he was accompanied by a noise like that of a mitrailleuse in
action。 Lise； experiencing a ravishing terror； hung on to her hat with one
hand and to Mr。 Wiley with the other； her code permitting this； permitting him
also； occasionally； when they found themselves in tenebrous portions of
Slattery's Riverside Park； to put his arm around her waist and kiss her。 So
much did Lise's virtue allow； and no more； the result being that he existed in
a tantalizing state of hope and excitement most detrimental to the nerves。
He never lost； however；in public at least； or before Lise's family；the fine
careless； jaunty air of the demonstrator； of the free…lance for whom seventy
miles an hour has no terrors； the automobile； apparently； like the ship； sets a
stamp upon its votaries。 No Elizabethan buccaneer swooping down on defenceless
coasts ever exceeded in audacity Mr。 Wiley's invasion of quiet Fillmore Street。
He would draw up with an ear…splitting screaming of brakes in front of the
clay…yellow house； and sometimes the muffler； as though unable to repress its
approval of the performance； would let out a belated pop that never failed to
jar the innermost being of Auermann； who had been shot at； or rather shot past；
by an Italian； and knew what it was。 He hated automobiles； he hated Mr。 Wiley。
〃Vat you do？〃 he would demand； glaring。
And Mr。 Wiley would laugh insolently。
〃You think I done it； do you； Dutchiehuh！〃
He would saunter past； up the stairs； and into the Bumpus dining…room； often
before the family had finished their evening meal。 Lise alone made him
welcome； albeit demurely； but Mr。 Wiley； not having sensibilities； was proof
against Hannah's coldness and Janet's hostility。 With unerring instinct he
singled out Edward as his victim。
〃How's Mr。 Bumpus this evening？〃 he would genially inquire。
Edward invariably assured Mr。 Wiley that he was well； invariably took a drink
of coffee to emphasize the fact； as though the act of lifting his cup had in it
some magic to ward off the contempt of his wife and elder daughter。
〃Well； I've got it pretty straight that the Arundel's going to run nights；
starting next week；〃 Lise's suitor would continue。
And to save his soul Edward could not refrain from answering； 〃You don't say
so！〃 He feigned interest in the information that the Hampton Ball Team； owing
to an unsatisfactory season； was to change managers next year。 Mr。 Wiley
possessed the gift of gathering recondite bits of news； he