Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19

quiverlng fingers. toItered aside with a great
effort. and threw himself upon the ioor.
"How could you, father" he sobbed.
Ill.
Mr.. Pattersons powerful will subdued his
sons paroxysm, although he was in the mad
denlng throes of his first great grief. Dicks
rev Questions were repeated over and over
again, but they were answered patiently, and
the young man was soothed by hearing gentle
tones In voice harsh as fate to most people.
You've said nothing nothing to her or
ner famlIyy' Dick asked, for the hundredth
time.
Have not communicated with them in any
way more than have told you" Mr.. Patterson
replied as II he had not said this before.
Then how did it happen?' Dick pressed.
Il can't think for the life OF me, his father
earnestly responded
You see. L did not know what love was But
now we'll loved herr" appealed Dick.
anyway, 1t will all be clear tomorrow" the
melancholy faced elder man assured him.
DO you imagine she thought did not care
enough for her?"
Great Scott! / don't see how she could have
thought that!' answered Mr.. Patterson, archly
smiling.
''She must have realized that was a ninny
or fright or anything else of tho Sort" cried
Dick, Indignantly
Lets ask her what she realized" suggested
the other CALMLY
Dick confided to his father that he hoped
Ethel was breaking his heart by her goodness
and not by perfidiousness.
And his father replied. Il am with YOU there
Bub, and leaned his forehead on his hands
with shudder. He spoke soon again. cheer
luily. II never was more mystified. Just YOU
cail back your nerve and ind out the riddle
You're the one to get yourself out of this mess
like man--po longer a boy-your own master
| OF frnD
sltion. One reads of fine women equal to all
sacrifice and use. Your Ethel NAV be like
them. You had no bu mess 10 fell N love vet.
put la stand by You and her till you are mar
ried. Its borne in on my mind that she Is your
destiny or you would not have behaved lust
like this. Do you act from now on like one OF
US fellows who have great obligations and
grasp every possibility as unerrngiy as we rec
ognlze lmpossibility. And begin by going to
sleep"
When Dick awoke in the morning his father
was sitting near him, il he had watched be-
side him for some time. Dick was generous
enough TO bear his crowding regrets without a
sign.
When he was ready to go to Marston and
take whatever that young person chose to give
him as the paramount duty. note arrived for
Mr. Patterson which delayed him. 1t was from
Mrs. Alainwaring. asking them both to give
her brlef interview as soon as convenient.
They looked at each other questioningly.
thing we want, isn't It?"
MIR. Patterson and MIR. Mainwarng had been
hostile on business grounds for decade. They
were supposed TO dcJest each other, but Mr.
Patterson Was judged to be the more tolerant
OF the two, because he was invincibiv the
stronger. All this did not prevent Mrs. Main
warnings manner from becoming straight
forward and gracious.
She seemed great wreck at forty-fve, be-
cause she was stlli so beautiful that she proved
IA fol,
for 1t. Her simple, profoundly subtle charm
OF bearing was an inexhaustlble pleasure to
every one
Il am to repeat what my daughter has said
to me, she began. Yesterday morning.
she addressed Dick--.'she told me that she had
promised to marry you. You had paid her at
tentions for some time but your offer was made
IN an lmpromptu way, at that little party of
the Alnsworths, and you had but few words
together She was entirely happy After
speaking with me your flowers came. planted
like veritabie garden in their silver vase.
She says that as her ewes fell upon
them shock passed over her, for
the sight OF your mammoth roses
reminded her of your mammoth wealth. which
she had forgotten for longer time than YOU
would be likely to imagine. Ny daughter has
never been much contaminated by precepts of
personal greed. but she knows very well what
Is said of people who marry great fortunes
She asked herself if even you could think that
your means had attracted hor. She determined
that the engagement should not be formally
entered into until you had learned to know her
thoroughly. 1t is not very often that young
girl stops TO reject when her heart is glad with
the gladness she felt; but girl who will reflect
like this makes very good wife. She tells me
that the instant she looked into your eyes,
when You called to see her. she knew that you
did not trust her as you should. Your words
seemed to you to express the utmost earnest
ness and respect, no doubt. We women some
times have strange power in our weakness;
We can almost see when hoodwinked, and hear
unspoken thoughts which make us cringe
although they are overiaid with very nice
speeches. The ring. it was found on the floor
she handed il to Dlck-''seemed to YOU entirely
worthy Of her love. 1t was not wild flower
plucked at the risk of your life would have
been. When you became angry, your terrible
words were more than she should have been
made to bear. But they confirmed her intui-
ton. She hopes that you and your father
she turned to Dicks father-''will believe at
last that she had no mercenary motives in fall
ing in love. | must say for my part, that,
without being tickle, | am sure my daughter is
young enough to forget this overwhelmingly
Dick remained silent, looking at the floor.
MIR. Patterson expostui ated: You cannot be
SO mercilcss as to make tragedy of my sons
life by letting your daughter act upon notions
wofully aside from the truth. There are very
grave questions of rights when a young man
has surrendered his affections and a young
lady has accepted the fealty.''
Dick glanced up. His distinguished and re-
fined face seemed to have matured astonish-
ingly since he had last encountered his fathers
gaze squarely.
AT the hour when she was receiving nv
roses, said he, meeting the gaze now. Il was
telling some of my friends ut the club of our
engagement and saying hardly knew what to
do with it, and wondering if she had taken me
for my money. l am not worthy of her; not in
the least. A nature like Ethers could detect
my unworthiness fast enough l am pun
ished." He got up and walked off little
way.
MRS. Mainwaring," said his father, "before
he met your daughter he had never known an
exquisite and high-mnded woman. / have
emblttered hun against your sex all his life
Ny wife-my history Is generally known
This was my mistake. and am punished for it,
as you see But do not let me be the means of
utterly destroying Dicks happiness. As a
parent, beg you to help me to avoid that other
ruin, which, You know, must touch me more
deeply than my own. / implore you to let my
child meet yours, and make amends for folly
which was caused by his youth and my want of
conscience. He can love. Let him prove he
can love-"
Mrs. Mainwaring rose immtigably, smiling
her marvellous slight smile. Certainly not"
she replied.
Dick heard her and came to her, and his
glance thrilled her. 'Give Ethel my love-" he
said, but he could not raise his voice above q
whisper. He left the ROOM
He walked far up the city to the park and
through it, and along the river until he gaspeN
with fatigue. 1t was dusk when he got home
The servants were SO glad at his putting in an
appearance that he knew his father had been