Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19
"You turned the dagger in my heart, boy"
he said, SOFTLY
After a few hours interval Dick drove to
Ethel Mainwaring's home.

| While he stood looking at the clock, which
| told him it was the precise moment when
| Ethel had promised to receive him. and from it
looking at the mass of roses which he had sent
her during the morning, he heard her steps on
the staircase falling slowly. like the echo of an
4 echo. He could have heard ghost, 1t seemed
| to him. He turned. She entered.
| Drama-mere drama. She pale; she
| faltered as their eyes met she held out her
| hand. with lowered eyelids and plaintive
| smile.
| He seized her hand and crushed the fingers
at his lips. and looked again upon her intoxi-
eating Guinness of perfection. He would have
kissed her, but she held away from him aud
slipped from him.
| as musicalIy low a brooks trip among ferns.
/ She bent over the tail red flowers, which
! seemed growing up from the floor. and laid
her cheek on them. her face away from him. In
| an instant she had got TO little distance from
| him, always avoiding his eyes, which studied
| her.
Ethel hate them They were for you
while was not here and you gave them what
| you prevent me from taking--a touch upon
your cheek" He drew her to pretty bench
| beside some Japanese bronzes and palms. and
she alighted beside him upon it. He took the
| ring from his breast pocket 1.-THE roses
pleased you What do you say to this other
| choice!"
The diamond flashed in the mellow light like
III
her. He was raising her left hand, when she
whispered:
"Gorgeousi Is it not wonderful? Let me
hold 1t. Sor' She took the gem from him.
| and, Withdrawing her hand. laid it on one deli
cate palm. and then on the other, if it we're
! giowworm. The most beautiful diamond i
ever saw she murmured.
81 am eager to put it on your finger, Ethel"
he urged her. 1t will help me to realize.
| when l see it there, that 1 have won the most
enchanting girl in America
She clasped the ring In one hand and let the
other hand fall over it, too, In her lap; and she
looked up, if thought had arrested her
glance and she hardly saw him, with her
solemn girlish gaze.
Dick kissed her and from that moment
worshipped her.
Her face changed; she was overcome with
bushes and bewilderment. and she drew her
self as far as possible away from his arm.
Why is this?' he asked his hand trembling
on his knee
She opened her lips to answer. held up the
ring without a word and gave it back to him.
Il cannot take it," she said, in a moment.
Dick watched her intently. She WAS appar-
emily afraid that any motion on her part might
cause him to touch her again, and She gazed
down at her lap as though in trance.
Ethel, did you not say that you loved me?"
Yes"
why do YOU nut this affront upou nv
lover
She looked off from the nook where they
were sitting. and the clear magnolia white of
her profile put him in awe. Her lips and un-
even breathing showed that she ionged to sob.
SHOULD have brought you a simpler riugy"
Dick asked her. Have misunderstood YOU?
Would you prefer less ostentatIous thing
something purer and tenderer than fiery dia-
mond?''
She turned her lovely face to him and smiled
but did not meet his eyes.
Il should not have presumed to bring you
less than this jewel" he exclaimed. rs if re-
membering. And what would you have
thought-re1ect moment - unless / had
chosen the most splendid l could ind!'
She sighed and spoke brokeniy: II should
have liked the simple ring" She rose, proudly.
But oh, Mr.. Patterson. it does not matter: it
was all wrong. break my word TO you abso-
lutelyr'
Dick started got to his feet. his face gray
acknowledgement"
Il will not marry you"
Presently he asked: ''This is Just a little
game? To make me as frightened as you know
how? To see me suffer Ike famed dog2 Look
at me; your WORK is successful.
She did not deiyn to respond; but she said. rs
II he had not spoken: 'You cannot understand
just now. But You will understand. Do not
think i'll of me- it is VINO right
She was Fastening away, but Dick caught
her about the waist passionately pleading
that she would tell HIM what had happened
He turned her face to the light Never was q
more piteous countenaHce seen.
Who has dared to interfere in this, Ethel?"
he cried at last releasing her to make ges
ture of rage.
No one" she sobbed, gaining the door.
THAT is a lie,''
Ethel stopped short, confronted him as il
appalled,, stepped nearer to him and said,
sternly. You forget yourself.'
by the answer You gave me know that
you are a liarr' he declared. Your beauty
your heavenly glances, your white flesh, are
all stained with deception! thought it would
prove so-but not so soon"
The girl stood as if spellbound by such
audacity.
How much did my father offer to paw you
for throwing me over?" he sneered his face
drawn, savage, crimson.
Ethel quailed as she stared She left him
slowly. As he rushed to the hall to leave the
house he saw her leaning against tho wall at the
foot OF the staircase. faint
He slammed the hall door, mumbled an order
to has coaohman and jumped into his carriage.
Not long after he had gone his fathers Larger
coupe, with his ideal horses. drew gradually to
the sidewalk in front OF the Mainwarings'
house.
The footman was obliged to run up and down
the steps several times. Mr.. Mainwarlng was
not IN. His wife was not in. Miss Ethel could
not see Mr. Patterson, senior
The latter then wrote on his card:
my DEAR Miss MAISwARISG: beg you will
see me. am most anxious to speak with Won
about the engagement between you and my
son."
In few moments an answer was handed in
at the carriage window which ran:
mr. PATTERSON: l shall never be engaged
to your son. r
He drove off rather puzzled. But he con-
Guided that Dick had not lost an hour in break
ing his troth. He was thoroughly ashamed of
him for IL.
Dick meanwhile went to Will Marston,s
bachelor quarters. which he was almost as
familiar with ii he owned them himself. He
found his best friend sitting smoking and
reading before the fire. He walked round the
table, stood before Marston with his hands
thrust into his pockets and mis- eyes bIoodshot
and bright. and remarked:
You swindierr'
Msrston got up, quietly laid his book on the
table and giared at Dick He instantly re-
ceiyed blow in the face from the back of
Dicks hand
Marston shook like a feather, but bore il He
believed that the rascal had been drinking
heavily, and WAS crazed by it.
You went to her and told her what had
said in your hearing this morning You are a
dishonorabie man. l will fight You, il Won will
fight. IL you will not l shall thrash Won !"
These words Dick hammered out as if he were
speaking under torture
Il did not go to her, old fellow. / did not
tell her."
'&Cowardr'
Great powers, dear boy, what's the row."
Coward
"why thaty' Narston's nostrils painted, bu,
he spoke coolly.
simply because you are afraid Of me. But