Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-16

low" said Mrs. Huntington once. HE feels
too deeply that silence Is better. How few
men there are who would mot feel tempted to
confide I'm us and tell the whole story. 1t is
most delicate and generous. One Is forced to
admire and respect him."
It was impossible 10 keep intact the rule of
not referring to Mr.. Jack Hamilton. 1t was
impossible To ignore him-to rid the atrnos-
phers of him, as 1t were. They could not
drive without meeting him driving also, using
his cousins superb horses with an air of entire
proprietorshfp. They could not go to church
without finding themselves either before, be-
hind or beside him He seemed to be invited
occupy q seat in every pew within . few
yards Of them. They could not accept an invi-
tstton without being sure Of seeing him loom
pabove the guests Of ordinary size and make
Imself a sort Of focus for all wandering eyes.
al suppose" Mrs. Huntingdon said, "people
eeeive him for his cousins sake And 1t is
more than probable that they do not know
L."
She did not herself "know all" Nell did
OF tell her "all." Since there seemed no
clip for 1t, why should she tell her that she
3 thrown With Mr.. Jack Hamilton con-
.nually and that she had gradually learned
understand that his apparently accidental
nearness to her on all occasions was the result
Of deliberate intention on his part and that he
manuvered with as much forethought, dexter.
ity and determination as If he had been a gen.
eral advancing upon q citadel. 1t was this de-
termined air which had first startled her into
realizing the situation He was so daring and
% clever, and showed such an unfailinR
resource that 1t was impossible not to recognize
his power. She had never seen a man so bold
and 80 ready, and yet so capable of concealing
his tactics from all but the one they we're meant
TO reach. Scarcely day passed In which she
did not ind that IN spite of herself
he had managed to perform some trifling SER
vice for her. II she dropped her glove or fan
&c was he who bent to pick IL up. If she played
tennis 1t was he. twice out of thrice, who played
with her, and when he was within twenty
yards of her she knew that his eyes watched
her, and that II she looked up she should meet
them aDd that they would have the half
pathetic, half angry appeal OF question in their
depths, which always 50 disturbed and amazed
her. There was one habit of his which affected
her more strongly than anything csc. Some
times she would find him standing within a
few feet of her, neither speaking nor looking at
her. He would stand so, knitting his black
brows and bending his eyes on the ground
with some fierce question, and the very air
about him was full of silent speech. She eX-
pected this question daily. and yet when at
length IL came she was as much perturbed as if
abe had not anticipated 1t at ALL
She had been playing tennis on the Beverly
grounds one day, and he had joined them with
bis cousin. and in a pause of the game he stood
near her for some seconds in this manner. He
looked down at the grass and frowned and
pulled his mustache and then suddenly turned
and looked at her.
.win you tell me why you hate me9" he
IL. Nell could not steady her voice as she
answered him. She could not steady her eyes
pass over her, and felt that he must see it.
NO" she said
She knew that he had seen the tremor and
she was for the moment thoroughly unhappy.
His glance as IL rested upon her the next two
seconds was at once wondering and reflective
But you do hate me? he said.
She did not speak.
ayes" he said, his temper manifestly rising
you hate me just as much as if-as If mad
donef You won't tell me; but you will hate
me: You may call that justice, If you like, but
He ended abruptly. For a few seconds he
vas silent He dragged at his mustache and
Nv his big chest rise and fall tumuitnously.
She actually had the awful feeling that he had
been obliged To stop speaking to gain time to
Presently he turned to her again.
''If you think win let it rest there" he said,
'4you are wrong Ii you won't tell me, some one
else WILL
4 never speak Of you," said Nell, warming
Am such a fellow as thatr' he exclaimed.
nane?'
Nell turned rather pale
Yes" she said.
It cost her a tremendous effort to say it. but
sill 10 face him after she had said it.. He
looked quite white. He met her eyes an in
slant as III he had been struck dumb.
81 don't thlnk-I believed-it was quite so bad
~ that. be said, and walked away, with his
head dropping.
As she watched him GO she felt utter misery
He looked so unhappy, so crushed, somehow.
as II she had gwen him a blow too cruel to be
OF him to DE wretched that it seemed As If he
must De more unhappy than smaller man.
1t was like seeing giant tremble.
resent anythIng-to feel anything? He is a
coward TO speak To me of it. How dare herr
Sut ne dared great deal. All the rest of the
nation on bis face. She saw il when he
plunged into the game again, and it did not die
out she knew that he must have made some
desperate resolve. She found out what II was
when she LETT the party TO go home After she
had hidden Marian and Hester good afternoon
and passed through the gate st heard autck
footsteps behind the hedge, and the next mo-
ment Mr.. Jack Hamilton cleared IL with a
bound and was at her side.
II know what you think" he said, obstinate
ly. You think that man who has been told
he held bis tongue and kept out of the wav
Perhaps you think he would be more OF a man
bat don't agree with you on that point It
may not be clever or conventional, but a man
would be a fool beg your pardon-be wouIa
not be much OF fellow if he would give up
everything without struggle. won't tel
you fairly. never was Conventional as i
ought 10 be. They always told me So This is
the best can do. 1t would be more delicate
ana heroic 10 go away from the place and leave
you and stand II as best could-but I WON'T
You IKE my cousin, why should you hate mepi'
Nell. Aioin 'ou' SAID
De stopped short and stared at her.
80 ne Is, by JOve!' he said, "but that has
never been boarded up against me- "A fel.
how Ike that In an outbursc
Nell stopped him.
1T - worthy oil you" she cried .tbat von
should feei 80 secure in that-in the differ
does not SPEAK you" $4,000 ~ NC
He looked abashed little
wen, ne said, almost humbly ssperhaps n
wasn't the thlng-but-but," with a sudden
access OF heat, Iii he is worthy of your nOtica =
AM oy George. That know"
Ihey mad nearly reached the gate n vas
the most beautiful aiternoon-the little hine
waves iappe1 the sand with a soft, caressing
sound; the sun, on setting, threw deem eoIde5
lights and deep purple shadows across the
lawn, the air was full of the perfume of flowers
Nell felf IL all intensely without KNOWING wby
Sne even thought 1t strange that she shonid
notice the beauty of the hour, when She was 80
overweight by other things.
II were 10 say 10 you,' she began "tha,
not matter 10 you." " "O0
mo, ne said hercely, at wouIdn't-no, in
.ne least A man always likes a woman 10 saw
things like that 70 him" " soy
II were 10 say 10 yOu,' she went on .fbat
ayes. gentleman tcoutd go away
Wouldnt CO., he said. II would prove
h ser ru,lan oy staying. am ruffian, per
AaRS al me one III you like
saio Nell, holding her pretty throat very
straight Nv hat are you TO meYs 'o"' very
-NOtnlng. ne cried. That's The rors, OF,
1nere Is where you have me al a disadvan,aass
A nao the shaoow OF a right To expect Won
even 10 LOOK AT me could go TO some one Ind
sPeeA ABOUT you, or get help. But am NOT
such rufhan a. To talk you over even n uus |