Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-05

roll cigarette between
his fingers. Not to-
day. I'm going TO try those crags over there
a good scramble with my sketch book, you
know and he pointed across the loch where
the mists curied about the jagged peaks of
Bath Bhein.
.'Ohi but it's a shame to waste q ripping day
like this incoming about with an old sketch
book
Waste the dayl' repeated Clifford: "a mat
ter of opinion, Frank. a matter of opinion"
Well. you seem bit out of sorts this morn
ing: what's up?"
Clifford did not answer. but smoked on
thoughtfully for few minutes and Riley
took sights" at the gulls with boat hook
which he had picked up from a seat near.
Presently the latter remarked:
Lady Helen Desbrooke said last might she
wanted TO try and fish today. | suppose they'll
go and trawl bit heard old Macdonald say
there were lot of fish just round those rocks
out there" and he pointed toward the mouth
of the loch. "rve no doubt Wharton wouldn't
mind going. too, )" be added. but he's booked
for the moors. He rather likes Lady Helen,
believe" And he laughed carelessly.
'Indeed?' replied Rex. and a curious ex-
preston came into his gray eyes as he threw his
cigarette overheard. Wharton be damned. "
Breakfast is ready. sir" announced a
steward coming up at this moment, and Sir
Charles and tine ladies is in.
There will be only Wharton, Dudley and
ravself, ther.' said Riley, they turned to go
below. Something was said about the ladies
! bringing lunch round 10 Us. You'd far better
change your mind, old chap, and come along
| too"
But Clifford did not change his mind. May
borrow the dingy, Sir Charles be asked his
host after breakfast Il should like TO get a
sketch or two here for my picture, the fore
ground is SO good, and the effects are very fine
| today"
Certainly, Clifford, certainly. So you don't
mean to shoot? By-the-by. do you want a
MANI
No. thanks; I'll paddle myself and keep the
boat if you don't want her today"
alone at last?' cried Clifford as his boat s
keel ran up on the seaweed-strewn grass. Why
on earth did | come on this trip? Mv good
resolutions fated to be bowled over. Well
the matter must be thrashed out somehow and
now seems the best time" So saving. he pro-
| ceeded to make the dingy secure BY fastening
the long rope to a rock high on the shore, and
with resoiute look on his handsome face
started along the road leading TO the head of
the loch. Three o'clock found him living on his
back, with pipe in his mouth. Beside him lay
his sketch book, with the color wet on its open
page The lonely nature of the scene accorded
well with his mood. His brain in a whirl.
his heart on fire; he needed the stiffness of the
hills about him for his mind to work freely.
Iils thoughts wandered DaCh 10 tle DreNiChS
summer when all old college chum who was up
in town for fortnight in May introduced him
TO Lady Helen Desbrooke.
Il have lived in dream since that evening"
Clifford told her some weeks afterward. lone
long, strange dream; or rather it would be
truer to say that only dreamed before l met
You" Yes. he well remembered saying that.
and how beautiful she had looked as he bent
over her chair. All could he but sleep once
more,
Lady Helen had been attracted in spite of
herself by the clever artist with the strange
gray eyes. She had never met any one Just
like him before His restless energy disturbed,
while at the same time the power of his per-
sonality subdued and dominated her even more
than she WAS herself aware. The world per-
haps hardly guessed his devotion. for he did
not forsake his old haunts or metaphorica!ly
speaking lay his mantle on the pavement of
Piccadlly for her to walk over and for society to
laugh al. She did not love him. she assured
herself; no. but her soul was free no longer.
This man had come and troubled the deep
waters of her being, and the consciousness of
this was gall to her proud spirit.
She refused him almost point blank. but with
n look in her beautiful ewes at which he
wondered without understanding it for many
long day. When he pleaded as he had never
pleaded before her face had grown white to the
lips. but she remained firm. Il cannot-it is
no good" she whispered. Il must not think
should change her mind within two years time
she would let him know Of it IN some way; but
she shook her head as she turned away.
He. on the contrary. was hopeful 1t was
something that he would see her again. that be
was not banished forever from her presence.
Meanwhile the world specialized little-for
Lady Helen's preoccupatiop had not passed
quite unnoticed-but il knew nothing. and for
want of food for gossip in that direction ceased
to talk. And the months went by and took with
them Rex Giffords hopes.
They met AZ one or two country houses but
this fact remained unalrered and unalterable
she Lady Helen Desbrooke. a peers
daughter, and he only Rex Clifford, a poor
artist
The conviction slowly forcing itself upon
his brain that Lady Helen was not for him:
their social spheres were not the same. He
began to realize that the verdict of society
would undoubtedly be against him if he mar
ried her; and though personally he CARED little
for the praise or blame of the small clique
which. with supreme egotism, calls itself by
such an imposing title. Yet he understood it
must necessarily mean more to her than it
could to him. But all the time he could not
forget the look that was in her eyes when he
had gone from her presence the summer before.
So matters stood when, meeting his old
friend Sir Charles Mackenzie one dav in Inver-
ness, he had accepted an often-repeated invita-
ton to come for ten DAYS yachting cruise
And why on earth he didn't tell me who his
party were, and why was such a fool as not
TO ask, heaven only knows!' he muttered as
he savagely pulled the ends of his mus:ache be-
tween his teeth. Il shouldn't have come il /
had known she was on bc3rd-no, by Jove. l
wonld not! ANY fool can see she doesn't want
me. / say any fool can tell that. Her face
shows it, in every line; her eyes-her eyes
Wait a bit. Do her eyes say it?' He began
to breathe harder. mo, as | am a living man,
her eyes do not repel me- There is something
INT l,air fhs I
stand it-but it isn't aversion. Stop-could it
be"
He sprang half up. About him was the still
ness of the mountains, the ''sleep that is among
the lonely bills" like the silence of beautiful
dream, and through it, as some deep thought,
sounded the murmur of the burns in the hills
He pushed his cap back from his brows. Can
it be that she loves me? All God, what could
life not be worth if it were sor' And he Law
back in the heather. and fell again to thinking
For Rex Clifford had made up his mind to a
mighty sacrifice, even to relinquish the hope of
winning Lady Helen for his wife, Loving her
with passion and intensity Of which his friends
would have deemed his apparently cold, indif-
ferent nature incapable, and which had even
surprised himself, he could yet think of what
might be best for her. Not once or twice. but
often lately had the question presented itself
before him-Would a marriage with him be for
this girls ultimate happiness? He thrust the
idea away at first. but il required again and
again. till reluctantly he was forced to give it
attention. But here was the difficulty. From
society's point of view he was not her equal in
position. ITO be a gentleman is not enough"