Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12
CHAPTER I.

| CHAP1Eh l.
. overhead the moon was shining in all its
glorious radiance. as it slowly sailed across the
8 cloudless blue-black arc of heaven, while here
and there a tiny star tried to match its twink
ling light against the long silver beams.
The sea- lined and streaked with the silver
light. Tapped softly. lazily, against the stone
/ built pier. which stretched far out into its
peaceful waters.
Not breath stirred the air, not a wave broke
! on the beach; only from afar. mellowed and
soitened by the distance, came the murmur of
the breakers on those dangerous rocks that
gave Cragsleigh such an unenviabie reputa-
ton.
Half way up the pier q band was playing
anu around the gas-lit pavilion stood the
crowd of seaside holiday makers who in
finitely preferred listening to the latest waltz
from comic opera or to q cornet solo with
variations on music hall ditty to the contem-
platlon OF the sea in its glorious majesty, with
the mantle OF night drawing around it.
So the two figures leaning over the wooden
railing which was fixed above the granite
masonry at the far end were alone-quite alone.
They talked little: sometimes one hazarded a
remark, sometimes the other, but more often
tney were silent, and since silence il only pos
sible between near friends and strangers, and
they had met every day for the last fort
night, they must have been near friends
HOW still the sea is tonight" the girl said
asenSth. One can hardly fancy 1t storm
tossed and tempest-driven."
There was nothing in the words, there was
everything In the soft low voice. everything to
him who has ears to hear; but mostly We walk
through life with wax-stopped ears. lest, per-
cnance, we might. hearing, understand and be
as the gods for wisdom.
YES" he answered with auiet, unmoved
matter-of-factness, ''but if you had seen it
raging and dashing against these very stones
as though 1t would tear them out of their bed, :"
and ne struck his stick against the granite wall
around them, ''you would know that the sea is
very lion to roar, after ALL
True. she answered, absentlv. Her ewes
looked wistiully out to where the light rose and
feii across the heaving sea- Yet" and she
spoke with dreamy intonation as one tired
with the subtitle tiredness of contentment, 81
shall always remember the Cragsleigh sea as
the emblem Of peace and rest"
Il think shall. too" he acquiesced I'VE
workers, Miss Boyle. need little peace some
times Don't you find that you always link
your holiday "reminiscences with cloudless skies
and a suspicion of the land where it is always
afternoon?'
"1es," she answered, simply, while a faint
hush came and went on her cheek, as he
acknowledged their comradeship, ''but tina.
was perhaps because l enjoyed them best
"You prove nay sase." he eeriea, aqaictiy,
pleased with q mans love OF power. that, even
in small things, the strength Of the argument
should be on his side.
DO II"
She was content to have 1t so. She turned
her face to him. Once more the moon threw
Its bright light upon it. 1t was open page
to read, but he saw nothing. Surely the dust
must have been i'll his eyes as well as the wax
in his ears or he must have understood.
Up the pier the band was playing the last
item on the program. There was final crash,
final shrek of the violins-then silence.
"Where is Hilda?'
with Mr.. Carlmore at the head of the pier. ="
cat last!''
There was something decidedly unpleasant
about the speakers words; something unpleas-
ant. too. about the voice; harsh it was in sound,
Earring in ring.
in milder accents. Come. let US look them
up. she added.
Wouldn't it be wiser"
"No, no" interrupted Mrs. Slingsby; ''such
things always come to a head more quickly
with little judicious obstruction. man
makes up his mind all the more quickly for
having the girl taken out Of his hands time Or
two"
Very we'll"
Mother and daughter sauntered slowly up to
Hilda was still gazing out to sea, while George
Carlmore was specializing idly what manner OF
= future might be in store for the woman before
, him.
1t did not concern him: no, not in the very
least He was particularly certain of that But
she interested him much in the same fashion
as rare beetle interests collector, but hardly
as keenly.
He was a student of men and women. As he
! In his half-mocking manner would have said
1T was his stock in trade" and he was per.
. fectly aware that he had CHANGED upon an I'M
, usual specimen. He fully admitted her indi
, vldualty; nay. more-he appreciated it. and in
dim way had an inkling that three were under
currents Of exceeding depth and strength in her
nature That there more OF shadow than
OF sunshine in her life, with its uncongenia
surroundings and its soul isolation, he shrewdly
q suspected. She carried something of this IN
2 her face. More than once he had been
! prompted to perform little acts Of thoughtful
! ness by the pain in her eyes, but it was from
very much the same feeling as that which
caused him to relieve an animal in pain, and
quite as impersonal.
Love and Hilda Boyle in conjunction had
, hitherto never crossed his mind.
well. have you two finished star gazing?
. Kate Slinsby's high-pitched voice broke in Oh
the stiffness as false note breaks in upon an
, exquisite harmony.
Hilda WINGED. Something more than the
: mere words JAGGED upon her, and George, too
i felt himself ruled without being conscious OF
: the reason.
/ 1aiways have been accused of day dream
: ing" the girl said, and she made a nervous
: little gesture OF apology, as though to proven,
his dwelling upon the ill-timed remark.
Have you9" he answered in his most benign
: manner.
= planned Kate, shrilly. "Hida would be great
deal better II she were more like other people. "
4 Carlmore looked down at the forid face and
n at the mass OF untidy hair which were visible
q enough in the moonlight. and "God forbid
!. rose to his lips, as his eyes wandered back tc
!. the wis;fua eyes and the intellectual profile o.
. | the girl BY his side.
r ''Hilda has her style. my DEAR" put In Mrs
y Slingsby, mindful of the main chance.
''Oh, of course, of coursew amended Kate
Selling her cue.
=. The moonlight was mercifui-it left the fusl
u that rose to the girls face invisible; but TO-
. the moment she stood motonless and silent i,
b Q very agony of shame. understanding tn
v maneuyer, hardly daring to hope that he has
" not understood IL, too.
j He did nothing Of the sort He was bus,
!. with something else. He was speculatini
= again. How was IL that this girl came to be q
,. different from her surroundings? 1t presente,
d q nice little problem TO him. and he would YER
r much have liked to unravel 1t. 1t was clea
" that she owed neither her refinement nor he
a intellect to them. Then 1t struck him, a.
" kind OF side light, what exceedingly unplsasan
q connections they would be.
Enough to make fellow think twice." b
1t unused. But his solioituds vas all for SOM
III other fellow.
:. He looked at her again. So calm, 20 still. Wit
!. her great gray eyes and her cold manners. Ye
Il had he not seen tho icicle thaw7 II she ooui
V warm into such life under Q little coussnia