Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18


which he excused himself BY saying that he bad
hurt his hand % show the poor girl with cruel dis
Inctness that she was virtually forsaken-
nay. 1t destroyed even the past that had worn 30
laise sweetness, for IL proved his heart 70 have
oesn unsound, his mind wavering all through.
succeeded Indifferently. Dragging herself to the
task sne wrote TO free him from the engagement,
anu read the answer which came BY return Of post
with bitter contempt that only added more cut
ting pain TO the wound.
Doubtless he had fallen in with some woman
VINO nad mad so strong fascination that his old,
dear, admiring love Tor her had shrunk into a
passing fancy. And yet, how could any sudden
attractlon have 50 deep and true an existence as
thAt gradually developed affection In which all
the oest part OF his nature had been called out!
slowly covering her incurablo wound she looked
wrongs and transformatIons: sne wondered She
had never noticed II before and ceasing to wonder
at her own share In them she resolved TO guard
LOttie from such treacheries. Lottie should be
hardhearted ana give ali her love TO learning for
books oetray not, knowledge certainly rewards its
lovers; and she would rather see her In spectaces
with SNORT unkempt hair, than wasting her heart
on man, who is unstable as water.
And so, with gallant strivings 10 I'LL up the rent
made by falsehood, with wisdom OF practice and
learning, Tasia learned to creep through three
long months with iron yoke instead OF wings upon
ner shoulders. Neither tue first, nor the last In
very truth-0ut It taxes courage, and that Of no
While Lottle was at school she spent her time at
the British Museum, and wrote a lew little arti-
eles, and made charming translations, some Of
which found their way into a magazine.
AT the very end OF July, when only those who
could not get away were still in town, she and
Lotue dined with friends and went after dinner
into the horticultural Gardens Lottie had been
promised 10 see the fountains playing, and the
party was chiefly on her account
Among the two or three other guests was Dick
Sherrien, cousin OF the family VINO had gone on
the stage, ana was so far successful that now and
then he got an engagement for leading part in a
touring company. lie was quiet, pleasant EEL
low, with good-lookiIg, disappointed face. He
and Anastasa, who were old acquaintance, found
themselves together when they entered the gar
Gens, and he fell into somewh hat confidential talk
nndlng her sympathetic Lottie roamed about In
with the colored beads OF light In strings
Aladdins garden, with the fairy buildings starred
out against the indigo sky, above all with the
loany fountains dancing on high like so many OF
Dndlnes relations, mantled superbly In colored
lights.
Anastasia and Sherren found quiet seat at
comfortable distance from the band People were
walking and sitting all around them, and they
amused themselves by watching the groups.
shall we move away from the smoke OF that
cigar" Mr.. Sherrten asked presently ~ am afraid
It comes across your face. BY Jove!" This last
exclamation was TO himself he distinctly caught
the profile % the smoker.
Anastasia followed his gaze and turned CHASTITY
pale. Osmund Questtn's face, his clean-cut aQuil-
Inc profile, his marked eyebrows, his crisp NOUS
tache some shades lighter than his hair-worn
tritie longer than fOrmerly-even the heavy tntag.
Ito ring on the hand now raised to his cigar-all
were before her. The beating OF her heart almost
CnOkeU neri she was AFRAID her companion might
hear her sobblng breath, and see that she trem-
bled from head 10 foot She must get the better
OF the Icy pain somehow. Loye-the heartlessness
Of his last letter had killed that-but oh! the
anguish! There had even been limited reproach to
her for not having broken OFF the engagement be-
fore; she writhed as she thought OF It. "And how
deceived myself IN my blindness she thought
bitterly. al see now In his face what ought TO
have seen before-cold self-seeking. He must have
Cracted by the look of goodness fancied could
see."
'.You know that mann" she asked young sher-
ref.
80 far that once he tried his fortunes on the
stage at Manchester in the company with which
was acting. His name Is Questin; pretty good on
the stage, no good on, imagine. He seems pretty
happy now. Come back from the road TO ruin by
the looks OF HIM. with the heavy reconciled"
No doubt the old gentleman with red face and
double eyeglasses, W no was speaking emphattcally
at that moment, was Mr. Questin, senior.
cant go on, tell you What / want to know
is what does IT mean? l know. know, it's all
trick TO get my consent 10 your marrying that lit
tie huSsy."
Anastasia made strong effort and rose.
ave do not want to be taken into family con.
dences," she said with face so pale and strained
that DICK Sherrien was startled.
But II Was not so easy TO eXtricate themselves
all at once FROM the second row or seats in which
they were, for other persons had come In after
them. Tdsia dreaded TO hear Osmund's voice in
answer, and her own head was swimming her
ears thrObbing, so that when he spoke the words
were partly mufied, yet she could not help listen
ing with passionate eagerness. Perhaps some
thing he SAID might make his conduct appear less
black III SO, 1t might save shred OF her torn
~ TOLD you, my dear father, that regretted ex-
tremely having been such a fool as TO allow that
young lady to stand between you and me. Twas
In her. / have good reasons to know
that you wers right, ana I was wrong. and the
affair Is wholly at an end"
He happened 10 turn, as Anastasa passed out, to
knock OF the end OF his cigar. The ash touched
her dress; ne begged pardon, lifted his hat and
looked her In the lace. For an instant-such in
StdnlS are comprehensiye-their eyes met. each
gazing into the others. The pause on Anastasia's
part was percepJlbie TO her companion,
"Mr. Sherrien," she said, 81 feel rather giddy I
thlnk-shall we md another seat7 / cannot walk
just at this moment"
That something was more than a little wrong he
did not doubt; he quietly steered her to a chair
out OF the lamphght, and waited for further
orders. She remained profoundly silent In that
sun silence suggestive OF strong underworkings.
honor, Mr.. Sherrieff?" she asked, at length.
Il WILL, he answered: IL am sure you will not
"No-1ust this. Have you observed ANYTHING
about me which would lead you TO doubt my per
feet sanity? Am like a person who could be the
suo)eet Oh halincination-or anything temper
'.If that is all can honestly assure Won. Miss
Garnham, that l feel the utmost confidence In
struck me In you at once.u
She heaved deep sigh. "rhank you. Now
tell me me all you remember about that-Mr: Ques-
tin, please; IL Is OF great Importance to me-
"Really, hardly exchanged two words with
him, though was in company with him more or
less, for three weeks, but we did not play In the
same piece. and did not fancy him particularly,
to say the truth"
''Should you have considered him good kind of
man, one who would probably interest himself In
philanthropic work? or at all sclentinc-who had
studied medicine for the sake OF being useful?n
Sherrien looked unIeignedly astonished "Why
no. rather the reverse OF all tha-an idler pure Ell
simple, or only laboring for his own ends.r
"And yet" she said, II knew Mr.. Questin's son
for more than four years well, for two years very
well-and that was the sort OF man he was"
DICK looked embarrassed. 81 dare say You
thought So Miss Garnham. Some men are such
awful nars-l OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES women are
concerned. But, really, perhaps you might have
idealizsd him without being aware OF II, you
know"
Yes" she answered, sit is possible, and human
nature Is Inconsistent, know that, And yet Mr.
Sherrten. Will you be so kind as TO take me as
close 10 that man as possible; and may ask you
as favor TO IND out for me where he is stopping?
IL Is OF immeasurable Importance"
Il am quite at your service-if you want to
know more Will find out"
whatever you can" she said, earnestly. can
no, yet tell you why but later on
NEVER mlnd-l have faith In you and you shall
see oy my acquittance OF this trust how far you
can depend upon me. IL Is pact"
Ihey went back, and seated themselves where
and son.
Next to the stage, give me a bit OF detective
WORK, DICK said 10 himself. He really had faith
That he was not being made use OF TO crafty some
hysterica freak: AnastasiaS lace and manner were
his warrant against that
In two days Dick brought his note hook To Miss
Garnham. w ~
stopping with old father at the Iangham
Lately came from abroad Spends money like wa
IeILrich peopie, Win some sort OF place In War