Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-15
THE JUSTICE OF THE GODS.
CHAPTER I.

Il wish YOU weren't going away, Ada" said
Captain Walton Why on earth should you
80 TO Irkham for Christmas, instead of spend
ing it in London?"
He was engaged TO Ada Bennett. and was a
masterful lover, passiOnate-indeed, almost
too passionate for the shy-eyed. timid girl at
his side-but masterful and accustomed to
have his own way with men and women. Yet,
in spite of his strength OF Will. little Ada
might have had the frmness TO withstand his
wishes and decline his love il it had not been
backed up by the aunt who so often assured
her she had been more than a mother ID
her"-yes. far more-and by her sister Helen.
Helen BeDnett-no one ever thought of cali
ing her Nellle-was what IS generally termed
mice. sensible sort of girl; the sort of girl
who does not let romance or caprice or thin
sEInnedness of any sort interfere with her adj
yancement in life. When the Benefits father
died and left them nearly pennies as
twenty pounds a year each could make them,
no foolish pride. no dreams Of Independence,
made Helen refuss the home which hef aunt,
Mrs. Penrhyn. offered them. Helen and Mrs.
Penrhyn came To terms at once. without even
expressing the terms IN 80 many words. The
girls were TO make themselves a-reeable-that
Is. dust the drawing room. arrange flowers, en-
terrain dull visitors, make up for any de-
hClencles OF ll-tralned servants, and look al
ways smiling. grateful and well dressed on
twenty pounds year.
And some day. If all goes we'll" added Mrs.
Penrhyn. Il ii see You III gUOd homes OF your
own. l hope"
girls were to accept the first eligible men who
sought them. Helen SAW this, and did her
duty nObly. Irkham-black, smoky Irkham,
where the jansle Of machinery was heard con-
tinBally. and the air WAS thick with smoke and
cotton hue-miGht not be her ideal of city:
nor was John Baggallay-Tich in factories and
vested funds, but not Oyerburdened with either
aspirateS or aSpiratlOus-her ideal of hus-
band. But she accepted both. and was as
happy as a woman OF her nature needs to be.
Ada, though tar the mider of the two
proved the more rebelliOus Perhaps it was
the fault of Laurie Penrhyn-hcr cousin Lau-
Tie, who fell IN love with her without consult
ing the wishes of either his mother or his cou-
SIN Helen. H seemed to think that consult
ing Ada's was enough. Herein he erred. for
though last Christmas, just year ago. when
he was home from Glasgow on a brief holiday.
he had asked Ada If she loved him. and she
had whispered YES" that did not secure her
for his wife. When he had gone Helen treated
Ada to much common sense. to which Mrs.
Penrhyn added a little uncommon GOODNESS.
and finally Helen herself wrote the letter which
released him from "a hasty and ill-cOnsilered
engagement. the impulse of youth and thought
lessness, as she put II. being herself five years
younger than Laurie PeHThyn. though GER
tainiy more given than he To taking thought
for the morrow and the days succeeding.
'1Ou little goose she said 10 her sister
Laurie has only two hundred a year. and if
you get engaged 10 him auntie will turn YOU
out OF doors. She means her handsome son 10
catch an heiress. And there's Captain Walton
evidently attracted by you. 1 wish l had such
a chance
For Helen had accepted her Baggalay by this
time. and. though prepared TO swallow him.
could not refrain rom wry face or two
Laurie Is getting on very We'll. protested
Ada
Perhaps he is. but Captain Walton has got
On. which Is much more to the point What on
earth do vOu want. Ada? He l. a gentleman:
he has that look which man who has once
been IN the army never loses; and if it is true,
Us people say, that he made his money i'll India
by dabbling IN Opium-why he's made his
money. and that's the chief point l don't see
what fault You can find with him."
Hes too Old"
Old. Forty-ive or so; that isn't old. You're
a romantic little donkey Ada: but If Won re-
fuse George Walton I'll never forgive vou."
Ada dld not risk ancering her sister. Capt.
Walton proposed i'll July. and was dulv ac-
eepted. which made Laurie Pe-nrhyn exclaim
when IN the beginning of December he was
offered a good post in an American shipbuild-
ing yard. that a fellow never got ANYTHING he
wanted TIL 1t vas too late TO profit him.
Capt. Walton did not think so. He seemed
10 think that Ada Bennetts love. or at least
her promise 10 be his wife, would profit him
very much. though he was impatient and
thought 1t hard that he must wait till spring
before he w allowed to claim his bride.
Il shall be a new man when have YOU with
me. darling. he said. with that feryOr Of mas
sion which f'ightened Ada more than il pleased
her You are everything to me-strength
purity. happiness. | believe in Heaven. when
iooh IN your eyes, even II 1 never do at any
other time"
Poor Ada might be forgiven for THINKING
such woolng slightly blasphemous. and very
much too fervent TO be comfortable
AZ present Captain Walton felt deeply ag-
Grleyed that his betr0thed was determined. in
that mild. obstinate way of hers to sDend
Christmas a. lrkham with her sister Helen.
now Mrs. --allay
1t wOult -eem strange not to 90 to Helen
the hrst { stmas after her marriage" she
Salu anu sides Laurie Is coming home, SO
What h' fthat to do with it," cried the ir
ritable lOveE
Ada looks nervous. and equivocated;
ne Is ng abroad almost Immediately
anu ne andklls mother won't want any third
person WltS them during his last few DAYS at
Hin. Nll, 1 wish Won weren't going 10
Irhham, tbs all Its beasty hole
DO you snow- IL at all, George" asked the
glrl. brInglSg out her lovers name with an
effort. as sr; always did
the question: -"' 'AAo
was IN re once, fftet Years ago, and had
L.
Fifteen ears ago, All. that Was inst when
you came b-'me from India. wasn't it, WeII II
may have improved since then. And Helen
says her ho>lSe Is charmlng-an old house with
large gaTden. once in the country which the
Town mas come up and surrounded. Its not
the sort of SOuse the Irkhamites like she tells
me; Ihey Prefer brand new plaster and stucco:
anu can understand her being SO fond of Gore
House" "a "0io
Gore ho1sei Its an ugly name"
1es. isn't II! | must ask Helen IL anv ona
was ever killed there. Or I'll let eon ask her.
Tor you re coming up for Christmas dav. aren't
you: Really, you needn't gruInbIe SO at NV
going" " 90 NY
wouldn't If YOU weren't going FORTNIGHT
before me- However, l must submit for the
present But, after the iirst week I'm March
your DAYS OF liberty are numbered INV net
Then 1 must make the most of those left
me, she said. with nervous Httl, smile 80
u 80 on TO lrkham and be free of YOUR chains
I'LL lhe gay before Christmas eve"
We'll. see that YOU write to me often and
tell me,everything. Nothing that YOU do. moth
ing that YOU see or feel. Is too trivial 10 inter
est me- Remember that. Ada; remember that
you are all the world to me- that new life will
begin for me when YOU are NV wife
Ada sighed. thinking, not gladly of tho r.yv
hfe that would then begin for her but sbe W.
thankful 10 be released by her imperiOus lover
at the price Of a hiss or two and still mora
thankful next day to leave smoky London for