Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03

that. II she showed him no preference he could
certainty point to no one more favored than
And now, here was Doris blushing like the
morn! Was it wonderful that he felt he should
never forget the name-Wilfrid Lyle?
ne DID not hear it again at Underclif, but
some months later he was dining at Parkhurst
ana the name smote his ear at mess. There
was little deaf, but he caught Mr.. Lyle's
name, and it seemed to him that il was we'd
ding they we're talking of,
DID understand you that Mr. Lyle is mar
ried! he asked his neighbor, a very unfiedged
lieutenant who seemed to have almost lost
ms normal shyness in speaking of the event
holm.
Yes, last week" answered the boy readily.
ne married cousin of mine. an awfully Jolly
Fiji ga ana I've just come back from the wedding.
iney met on the steamer coming home"
was his name Wilfrid2' asked Sir Philip
very anxiously.
him Mr.. Lyle"
You're not sure about the Wilfrid. then: ]
should very much like to know. II fancy he
may turn out an old friend of mine" said the
colonel, mendaciously.
de looked so anxious and disturbed that the
young man said he believed he had one OF
Lyies cards in his room and would look for il
after dinner, and Sir Philip took care that the
promise was kept.
Before he rode home that NIGHT he had seen
the card and the name upon it was "wilfrid c.
Lyle"
Sir Philip Chisholm felt that the oblong little
bit OF pasteboard was a trump card for him
ana played 1t the next time he went to Under
chn; but he knew very little of Doris if he ex.
pected her to show an outward wound. Just
Tor moment her lips were white, or he fancieG
SO; the color was in them again so quickly he
couid not be sure. Perhaps he did not wish to
be. To pain Doris was not his desire; only tc
let her know that the man at whose name she
mad blushed year ago could be nothing to hel
now; And as he looked at her he began tc
think that it was all mistake; that the blush
at which he had so disquieted himself haC
meant nothing. If it had meant all he fanciet
could she have looked as she did now?
II wonder Wilfrid did not tell us?" said Lord
Carew. But l have not heard from him for g
think"
Yes" said his wife, glancing little anx.
lously at Doris and looking as quickly away
Are You sure, Sir Philip, that it is the same
Mr.. Lyle?"
1T is Wilfid c. Lyle; that is all know,
said Sir Philip, and Doris said in a voice that
was only little clearer and sharper than
usual;
know"
"You know more than do" laughed her ia.
forgotten all about it,
And then the talk fell on other matters and
Doris joined gaily in it. Whatever she might
think OF the news Sir Philip had brought
sshe heard it and made no sign. Other wo.
men might have betrayed themselves in so
sharp and sudden a shock, but "Noblesse
oblige," and Doris Carew only smiled in her
pain.
Sir Philip went home walking on air, and
before Wilfrid Lyle's honeymoon had we'll run
out he had asked Doris to be his wife and
Doris had consented.
Il know l am not worthy Of you," the chiv.
alrous soldier said, ''but if you could try to like
me. Doris! Could you learn to like me-in time
do you Think"
How can you tell" said Doris, with sad
little smile; 'how can / tell?'
1t seemed to Doris that she had done with
love forever. Once she had thought, whisper
ing 1t shyly to herself among the summer
flowers, that she loved Wilfrid Lyle; but if she
was sure of anything now it was that this was
no longer true. She, Doris Carew, love a man
who had trihed with her ana welded another
woman! The wild pain that tore her heart at
the thought was indignation, contempt, hatred
anything but love.
Il cannot tell if shall ever love you" she
said to Sir Philip. 'now. Ionly know that do
not love any other man and that never shall. "
Then l am not afraid" said Sir Philip, and
he bent and kissed the fair, proud face that
turned so pale at his touch.
When he looked at her again there was a
strange somber scorn in the sweet, dark eyes;
but 1t was for herself not for him. For in the
second in which Philip Chisholm held her in
his arms and pressed his lips to hers she knew
and hated herself for the knowledge-that
she would gladly have given all the years of
her life if it could have been, not Philip CHS
holm, but Wilfrid Lyle. And so she stood
leaning against the heavily mullioned window,
curiously agitated and disturbed, and Sir Philip
thrilled with pleasant sense of power.
She would not have trembled in his arms
and been 80 agitated by his kiss, he told him
self. If she had not been much nearer loving
him than she knew
Suddenly Doris lifted her head and spoke:
There is something 1 ought to tell you,"
she said, in tones that were low and faint with
effort; land perhaps you will not care for me
when you know"
Perhaps not! he said, smiling. But his
smiles died out under Doris strange looks
Il did not tell you quite all the truth Just
now" she whispered, and her eyes were SO
full of pain that he caught her hand and held
it as one holds the hand of friend under the
surgeons knife. IL did care for some one
else-once."
Sir Philip drew long breath Of relief.
''Is that alp he said, kindly, with the
serene acquiescence OF age in the inevitable
follies of youth. my dear Doris, men of my
age do not expect to be a girls first love"
an unnecessary humiliation. Her face GRIM
soned as she answered rather coldly-
Perhaps need not have told you. But
was advised good while ago to take 'Noblesse
oblige' for my motto, aud have"
''You have done all that is noble and right"
said Sir Philip, land, believe me, appreciate
your confidence. But if you can assure me
that you care for no one else now it is all
ask. You do not love this other man-whoever
he is-still?"
"shll?" she flashed cut, Indignantly. ''stilI?
Am not Doris Carew?"
But when Sir Philip had gone Doris crept
away to the grassy verge of the cliff and threw
herself on the soft turf in passion of shame
and pain. 1t might be true, it was true, she
told herself vehemently, that she did not love
Wiifrid Lyle now-her marriage would prove
that to every one, even to him. even to her
self; but not the less was earth desolate and
heaven far.
CHAPTER III.
'Dorisr' called Lord Carew, 'Doris, where
are you?" There were disturbance and sort
of excitement in his tone, and as Doris opened
the library door and came into the wide sunlit
hall he looked at her with almost comical con-
sternation. 1t was the day before her wedding,
and Doris had been writing farewell letters all
the morning and looked tired and pale, but
Lord Carew was too perturbed to notice his
daughters looks.
"The strangest thing has happenedr' he said
"You remember Wilfrid-Wilfrid Lyle?"
''Yes." said Doris steadying herself against
a marble table, and feeling that she could not
have uttered another word to save her life.
HE has come into a fortune it seems. His
father died lately and an uncle and cousin
since, 80 Wilfrid has come in for the Deerhurst