because I find such interesting things to do here."

He was admiring the splendor of her arms and hair. What need had
beautiful woman to be intellectual, anyhow, he was saying to
himself, sensing that Aileen might be deficient in ultimate
refinement.

Once more an announcement from the butler, and now Mr. and Mrs.
Addison entered. Addison was not at all concerned over coming
here--liked the idea of it; his own position and that of his wife
in Chicago was secure. "How are you, Cowperwood?" he beamed,
laying one hand on the latter's shoulder. "This is fine of you
to have us in to-night. Mrs. Cowperwood, I've been telling your
husband for nearly a year now that he should bring you out here.
Did he tell you?" (Addison had not as yet confided to his wife the
true history of Cowperwood and Aileen.)

"Yes, indeed," replied Aileen, gaily, feeling that Addison was
charmed by her beauty. "I've been wanting to come, too. It's his
fault that I wasn't here sooner."

Addison, looking circumspectly at Aileen, said to himself that she
was certainly a stunning-looking woman. So she was the cause of
the first wife's suit. No wonder. What a splendid creature! He
contrasted her with Mrs. Addison, and to his wife's disadvantage.
She had never been as striking, as stand-upish as Aileen, though
possibly she might have more sense. Jove! if he could find a woman
like Aileen to-day. Life would take on a new luster. And yet he
had women--very carefully, very subterraneously. But he had them.