The Press., 1892-05-05

Left alone Evvy was torn with conflict ing emotions; she really feared fol Ralphs reason, from what she had wit messed of his manner in the conservatory. and then Tom had presumed to do what she had not wished him to do. < She sat there, angry with Ralph, pity. ing him; angry with Tom, and not pity. ing him.
 And thus Tom found her. He raised the door curtains and regarded her trou- bled face.
 s'Evvyl" he called softly.
 Her face froze at once.
 'sSirv she said.
 He entered the room, swishing' the cur tain after him.
 '.At least, :" he said, '.you might re- member who am."
 With elevated brows she answered that there was small danger of her for getting his identity. He was somewhat meeker as he said that he had done noth- ing:
 ''Nothing," she echoed. "You went de- iberately against my expressed wishes. "
 "May ask in what way" asked he.
 "Where is the marquis" she inquired.
 'In the garden" was the answer, "ex- tolling to nature the beauties of the American language, and contracting the grip"
 She turned her face little toward him. Ea s-E
 .'Then you have not told himY
 "Did you not say l must notY' he de- manded aggressively.
 'Oh, Tom!" she said; "dear Tomr' and slid into his arms.
 What could he do then2
 "But, Evvy," he complained with clouded brow, "my silence does not make the matter any the less outrageous. Rather more so."
 "Yet," she said, raising her face to his, ''you respected my wishes.
 He patted her hand.
 But what is to be done?" he asked We cannot let these people go on in this way imagine them at Mrs. Mont. gomery's ball this evening"
 We. will not go to the ball." said Evvy
 .sBut," he persisted, ..the old man is wild to go, that he may see an assem biy of polite Americans"
 Evvy thought moment.
 Il might faint" she unused.
 Would mere faint keep your guests at home" he asked quickly. Ralph could take them-cards have come for them f.
 Then" said Evvy with determina- tion and breaking from him, "Ralph must do something-he must have hy- drophobia, or something g-Fido shall be forced to bite him Ralph!" she called 'tRalphl"
 Ralph had not been far off, and here he was, as crushed a specimen of the genus homo as any fragrant scientist would care to see. He threw himself upon sofa.
 'Evvy," he said, what have done!'
 1t is not what you have already done" she responded with some asperity' ''it is what you have. yet to do. You must have fit or commit suicide, a something that we may have an excuse for staying away from the ball"
 Let it be suicide" he said sepulchral- ly, and they both looked at him-even Jardine felt a little less hard. He would have read Ralph an improving lecture had not Marie put her pretty face into the room But her face was frightened too, :
 "Ralph!" she said, looking helplessly at Evvy and Jardine. Madame say Ralph. is not kind. and say 'Ratsr when she cry out and ze femme de cha1nbre say madame have ze hystrike, and fire me out"
 "Oh," cried Evvy. poor mammal" and agitatedly left the room
 Then Marie saw Ralph on the sofa She flew to him.
 "Ce pauvre. Raiphr
 "Oh, Marie!'' he groaned.
 She kneeled beside him. laying her hand on his hot head
 "You are not weIl," she said.
 "No," he answered.; "oh, no."
 She stripped off her gloves.
 ''Zen go not to ze bal, she said, ito sit on ze dudes" She turned to Jardine. My festive friend" she saAli: please tell papa remain in ze hosise tonight his nobs is not we'll"
 Jardine frightened a little.
 "That makes four at home, he said, "Evvy, her mother and these two. May be can frighten the old man with tales of the Indians that may swoop down upon us, !" and he made for the garden.
 "Ah," said Marie to Ralph. ''it is ze large head. will baze tive will get ze bulge on ze headache and going to jar filled with roses she dipped her handkerchief into the water there and