Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-05

courage. ana he 10fbldS himself to dwell upon
the hope that few minutes since had made his
pulses throb with only half-concealed delight
Parklane," Vera is murmurng In low
voice. She Ia still somewhat lost in wonder at
this change that has come over her. Only yea
terday she had believed in her love for this man.
who. now holding her hand in close clasp and
looking into her eyes with an imprisoned gaze
iails TO wake in her the poorest spark of feel
ing. Come Tomorrow at three" she SAYS
suspicion Of pity In her lingering glance
1T ) O'Clock the next day Major Staner puts
in an appearance in the charming drawing room
in Park lane that calls Lady Vynor mistress.
He finds there awaiting him not OILY Vera
Wriothesly. bat the former pretty little lady
likewise
To her cousin on her return from the opera
last night Vera had cOnlded all her story-con-
ceaiiag nOthing-aud coniessinr to feeling a dis
agreeable amount Of nervousness about the
interview impending between her and her for
mcF lover.
Go to bed and don't let that trouble you,"
said Lady Nynor. Il have not come to my age,
hope without being able to outwit a man
Tnele. leave ali that to me-
Now, seated in her favorite loung;ng chair,
WTeathed in smiles. Laura VynOr betrays fire
determination to ou.sit her visitor, with a sm-
Ing ohtuscness to any desire tor her departure
beyond all praise.
She is almost efIusiyely amfaJ.e to Stainer-
welcoming him as an old friend of Yera's And
so he has been at Berlin for q whole year How
delightful. He can now tell her (wilat she has
been ali her life 50 longing to Know whether
Kaiser Wilhelm is as popular as one has been
led 10 believe. And SO 81.
Stainer. bending in sullly silence answers all
her questions somewhat at random. His eyes
are fixed upon the perfect profilc OF the Girl sit
ting half inside The lace curtains Of the window,
and his mind is wandering 10 days now past and
gone when her love had been his own bpyond all
doubt. Her eyes never once seek the room but
are turned upon the busy wCrid Of carriages
4 Il, ~, a., :. =.
other is laZily iurling and unturiing a huge
black ian. The curtains 50 far conceal her that
Stainer cannot see her expression. and so is I'M
able to jud-re whether she Is or is not as anxious
to he rid of her talkative cousin as he IS.
The moments, stealing all too swiftly by tell
him it is drawing very hear to O'Clock. and that
even an ''Oli friend must not intict himself
upon anybody for mere than an hour at time
He has consigned Lady Nynor to regions i'm
polite, and has half risen to take his departure.
when an interruption occurs that compeis Lady
NynOr, bon gre, NAL Gre to leave him alone with
Vera. The mission on which the servant sum
mons her admits of no delay.
When he has closed the door behind her he
goes quickly to where Vera has been sitting
She has come out from the curtains, however
and is now advancing toward him.
AT last | can speak to you alone" he saws.
with passion in his voice she had never heard
there in the old days. What fortunes have
been enduring ever since that moment, last
night. when once again my eyes looked into
yours. And you, Nera-you cannot have for
gotten ali'
Il have forgotten nothing" says the girl
gravcly.
''Ah, it is not so easy to forget" cries he
triumphantly: And you-you have heart.
Iou must still feel"
She interrupts him by 81 ght but eloquent
gesture.
Il am not heaItless indeed" she says "and |
have iet-tOo much" There is a culver in her
sweet voice that misleads him. In truth, the
emotion Ii expresses is not for him. but for the
memory Of those past dark hours when she had
mourned so truly for love, now known to be
worthless.
'All may still be well with US" eyclaims he.
eagerly II love YOU now as never loved you
then: My silence during this past year can ex-
Can you:" says Vera. not severely but with
q steady glance from her great violet eyes
II cam WILL" declares he. wildly. Il was
mad then-blind But surely the love you once
bore me will help you to foreiyeness:''
The love You killed? DO you appeal to
that"
/ Il swear
NAY no more false oaths,' Interrupts she
again with weary movement. "IheY will he
useless now The love you speak Of il dead.
slain by your own hand-if, indeed" dreamily,
lit ever existed"
Not dead" entrcats he with extreme aci.a-
ton, DO not say that. Give NE Il fresh trial
one last Chance
Too late." returns she in a low. but iirm
voice. Outside she can hear step upon the
stairs that Of late has crown very familiar to
her. The color rushes back to her pale face, as
she turns toward the door. 1t is flung open
rather impetuousy. and Digby enters the room
Their eyes meet; but seeing her standing close
to Stainer in apparently agitatea converse, Dig
by comes to astandstill. and looks at her with a
terrible reproach in his beautiful eyes. This look
ladies', however. and gives place to one of &C.
stasy. as she goes quickly up to him and frankly
holds out to him both her hands
Leaving them still in his warm clasp. she
chances back to where Stainer is standing. as if
rooted to the ground.
Major Stainer. she gays, with an odd little
thrill in her soft voice, .'et me Introduce you
toto my future husband Lord Digby.'
Training enables stainer to acknowledge the
rather distant bow made him by D!gby. but the
sense OF utter defeat is crushing him. He has
grown haggard and aged in these last few min
utes. He mutters something about an engage
ment. sezes his hat, and bows himself out
without permitting himself to look into her
face. even once again.
Vera, you meant it," says Dgby when they
are alone. He is scarcely less agitated than the
man who has Just left tine room
IL did. returns she. TREMENDOUSLY. at is but
poor gift but if you want me, give myself
to you gladly"
with this gift that you call poor. what man
on earth shall be SO rich so plest as Il"
Best hear me first" whispers She "Do not
take me until have told you all. Last night"
in falterng accents. 81 met"
Not another word" says Dgby gently. ~
know everything. That man who has Just
gone-you-you-"
Il was engaged to him." says Vera simply
though with very troubled eyes ''And he
went away and forgot me. II thought I
loved him then; but last night, when saw him
again
She breaks down here and bursts into tears
Digby. taking her into his arms, presses her
head teEderly against his breast
Don't cry. sweetheart,' he says. with pas
sionate fondness. eff you tell me you have
discovered that your love for-for hf>n-is
still alive. I'-bravel y-'shall try to bear it,
''Oh. no! not that" exclaims she, shudderine
slightly. 81 felt then nothing but wonder that
should ever have known even childish affec-
ton for him. l knew that old silly story was
at an end forever; and shyly, II know some
thing else, too"
'What Vera?"
She can feel the tender arms around her
tremble Leaning back from him, she looks
softly into his eyes.
THAT loved you" she says. pressing her
pretty flushed cheek against his.-The Arqosu
How to Make Burnt Cork.
49,. 1.