Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-02

George. And bring her home directly, vol
know; and shall tell Fred 10 suppress all
about the dentist to morrly."
1t sounds very deceitfal, 1esnt iJ?n SAYS
poor Brenda
1t is nothing Wien you are used to It," re-
plies the married sister.
"AndI am safe to be found out; ] always
am" gays Brenda
We'll, tits ali grandnammas own fault On
her head be II, says jose, who seems to enjoy
the situation far more than the other two
'.Never be bugbear Brenda; you see what ay-
1ul mischief accrues from making on3's self a
DOGGY. Oh shall go out of my mind II this hate
full pain continues much longer Go away. do.
And come and see me tomorrow, and tell me
all about it."
The opera is charming. and Patti excels her
self; but time flies, and bright things fade and
soon Tie curtain drops, and spanish castles
1all: ana brenda, With sigh, places her hand
upon her Cousins arm. aud soon they have
n.ade their way through the fashiOnabie thron2,
ana are speeding hOmeward through the de-
serted streets
AS they arrive at number seven, some clock
In the distance chimes twelve. They run up me
steps, and Brenda puts her haud In her pocket
10 draw ont the laton Key.
Be sure YOU doa't commit yourself ab )ut
JOse'S detection says WHding: and then h
stops short, struck by the change in het face.
George, did give you the key?" she ASH, ia
frightened tone.
out l told you TO remember it. Have you not
got it?"
81 have not never brought 1t at all must
have given it to you" desperately.
II am sure you did not
Nevertheless try. Try your poke $. Try
every pocket you have" says Brenda IntSeraois.
but In vain, no key betrays Itself anywhere
well, never mind S'y5 George. I've ,nust
only put good face on the matter, and ring up
the servants"
.Ring! You might ring until morning. Ton
might ring until you We're &c la tn, ta"e.'
eXclaimS Brenda with The imp ttien2e or DIS
pair. land nobody could hear you. Why, thaT
ali sleep at the very top OF the house, beyond all
hearing: and graHdmamma never will get bel
put to their rooms. WHAT Is 10 be done!'
Gene TO Jose"
Jose has no servants bell either, and they all
so to bed early" replies Miss M0lyneux on the
verge of tears.
Good gracious" says Mr.. Widlng, at Last
thoroughly reused TO sense Of the. a@fullesS
CT the situation; ''what on earth shall We d ~
lt Is dark and gloomy night The "Cna5te
Diana" has sutked ami gOue 10 b ii; the stars
are nowhere. Net a sound DIS u:55 the silence
that envelopS the quiet road; except an Oc1a-
sional cough from Fenmore. the coachmln, who
is waiting with the Droughtm 20 convey Will
iLg home. and who sits upon the box tue very
model OF propriety. and never 50 nu;h as
glaIces in their direction. Perhaps he Is wfapT
liz fond dreams or days gone by when he aud
Mrs. Kenmore were ACQUIRING" and he has
secret sympathy for the two on the door SteJ.
huge black cat. hideous as gnome springs
from some dark corner, and with weird yell
PUSHES across the Toai, and disappears d1sn
some area at the opposite side.
This al comes OF doing what knew was
wrong" says Brenda presently, finding her
companion silent. Il wish" ungratefuliy, "yoI
had never asked me to go TO that horrible
Opera"
II thought she sang very we'll" allu1inr to
Patti. land l certainly couldn't be expected TO
know how things were going to turn OUT" says
Mi. W1lding, somewhat aggrieved
You shouldn't have listened 10 Jose: You
shou have brought me straight home. IL is
all your fault, says Brenda most unfairly.
We'll, 1t wasn't | forgot the latch-key, any
how" says Mr.. Wildlny, unwi5ely incensed.
last a good opening, gives way to bitter re-
proach
'Yes, that Is just like you," she says, large
tears gathering In her Lovely eyes. 40 40.
braid me now, when am most unhappy IF
you were In trouble, George, would n0G treat
you So.'
:. Don't speak to me like that" says WIldlug
miserably. Il am far more upset about this un-
fortunate matter than you can be-"
THAT Is Impossible. Grandmamma can't look
at you as though she meant to deVOur you in
If i had anywhere to take YOU" goes on
George, ''any home OF my own with some old
aunt at the head OF it, for instance. Lots OF fel-
lows have auntS who live with them" grud gtng-
IL. But l never Saw the aunt that would live
With me; and, OF course a bachelors rooms
wouldn't do. Lot IL paced the streets all night
Why on earth am not married. says Mr.. Wild
Ing di> tractedly.
us this time to talk nonsense asks Brenda
with sudden veheLnence. "Of course, II you were
married, | should not be here at all, and that
would end the whole matter"
She Is looking up at him from under the be-
Witch1ng EoOd, with two angry eyes, thai say
far more than their owner is aware OF. Her lips
rounded cheek. Wild1Gg, gazing at her extreme
beauty, loses his head.
~ am not sure Of that" he says, unsteady.
~ ,hln * II were married. you, and you only,
George! George! have you forgotten?" en-
treats she, shrinking from him
81 have forgotten nothing. not even Disney"
LOT that CHASTITY old corpse, laid out by Poole;
how could you? And l love you, darling
darling. Forgive me, Brenda; 1 should not
speak to you like this now, and here, but iC has
been on my heart for SO long and-I can't
help 1t. But, If you will give me even the
faintest encouragement, you shall never marry
Disney, sW ear"
Perhaps he might have said even more but
Miss Molly neuX has burst into tears and has
covered her face with her hands and is SOB.
biIg quietly but bitterly.
Don't do that. Brenda, eXclaims he passion
ately. Il can stand anything but that. LOOK
here, desperately, something must be done,
you know; you can't stay here all night Walt
one moment.
Running down the steps he touches the de-
voted Kenmore elbow, and says something to
him In low tone. An earnest conversation
follows Then comes faint sound as OF Silver
falling upon silver, and then Wiiding returns to
his cousins side.
Come" he says, quietly, taking her hand 81
have arranged for you. There is no help for It.
Brenda; you must do as tell you"
Brenda, still crying silently, suffers hersei- to
be led to the carriage, and together they enter
1t again, and drive away.
At luncheon, next day, Brenda, Is sIngularly
silent. Lady Molyneux has fortunately asked
few questions about last nights proceedings
and Lord DlsDey-who Is with them-iISdatnS
to seek information about anything In which
Wilding has had part Theodore, Brendas
brother, IS also present.
Grandmamma's indifference Is all that can be
desired; DiSneys sullen silence equally happy;
and, in fact, all Is going merry as a marriage
bell, until Theodore uncon5ciou5ly, but fatally
lets fall bOmbshen that blows the blessed calm
10 atoms.
Il say, Brenda. 1t was well you forgot your
latch-hey last night. says this misguided youth
with the utmost GOnhOntie Il found tt on the
sidebOard after you had left; and but for 1t
could Lot have let myself in, as have lost my
own
His sister turns very white
"BTenda'S-my latch-key, you mean" says
grandmamma quickly. "But you DIRE. n Theo-
core. Brenda had 1t with her at the Opera; she
herself could not have get In without iL"
Brenda casts an anguiShed glance at Theo-
dore. who sand, what Is worse, looks-dis-
tiBctly puzzled.
Explain, Brenda You surely had it, SAYS
grandmamma In a voice that admits OF no eva
sion. Disney, laying down his knife and fork
gazes with half-closed eyes at the embarrassed
Girl.