Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-05-15

II wonder ii could wound Hendrick
as no wounds meg' saba unused one
evening, aud then and there resolved 60
put the matter % the test with the first
attractive newcomer at the Springs. The
necessary victim arrived in the person
of Frederic West, one OF Hendricks old
and tried friends
West was an Adonis. and admiration
was lavished on him everywhere. but
he fell into the trap saba laid for him.
powers Of fascination The Springs saw
the other side of it Tho gossips said
that 'sMiss Banks was caught at last "
Hendrick looked ON for some time in
silence. Then he gave his one sign.
With his eyes calmly fixed on Sada's he
said:
you are only playing with Fred,
but he is in earnest And Sada's
heart grew heavy and hopeless West
was no longer encouraged. Stung by
the change in her manner, he loved her
more wildly than ever.
One evening Sada slipped quietly into
the music hall. Ii was apart from the
hotel and cottages place Hendriok
frequented of late when the rest of the
company were busy with their own
amusements elsewhere. He loved to seat
himself at the piano and let his fingers
wander over the keys as they would in
the gathering darkness. 81 must hear
him play when he fancies he is all
alone Perhaps ! may find out some
thing heis hiding from me. she whis'
pered as she stole into the room and con-
cealed herself in dark corner.
Soon Hendriok came in All, how he
| played And as Sada listened and lis
tened her soul thrilled In response TO the
music. The small cares of life fell from
her shoulders Every lofty ambition she
had ever cherished came back and pos
sessed her. She was filed with beau
tiful new JOY. She longed to go to Hen
driok, to put her arms around his neck,
to say 81 know knowr
Some one came into the hall. and
Sada shrank farther back into her dark
corner. The intruder was Frederic West
"Old fellow, Iwant to ask you some
thing" West said to his friend. lyon
know how | love saba Banks. Why
| has she changed so suddenly? What
makes her hold me at such a distance
now?"
| At the sound of his voice saba was
stirred with deep shame for what she
had done Ii had been so cruelty I'M
necessary, so unworthy of her better
self Then she listened, with every
nerve on edge. What would Hendrick
say? Was this to be the hour of her tri-
umph? Would Hendrick frankly explain
that he was hers, and she was his?
Fred" Hendrick answered gently,
forgive me for what am about to tell
you. cannot say the same things to
any other man, but you will understand
me. saba Banks has led you on, think
ing to avenge herself upon me. She
would do anything to make me suffer.
She loves me. She will wreck her whole
life one day because she loves meP'
| A fierce anger took the place Of shame
in Sada's heart. Oh, what would she
not give if she could strike down this
man who had laid bare the weakness of
her soul to another. As West left the
hall she went quickly to Hendrick.
~ heard all that you told that man
about me. )" she said in voice so frigid
that she shivered as she spoke. "It may
be Just as we'll for your self love to tell
you now that you are in error; that do
not care for you in the least l never
did. Ihave only amused myself playing
at friends with You, just as / have
amused myself making your friend love
mel Why" and she forced a laugh,
with only mockery of merriment in
it, 81 have been for years the promised
wife of my cousin, good man, man
of honor. The day for our wedding is
already fixed"
Perhaps it was her laugh that be.
trayed her, or perhaps it was the better
view Of her face which the first beams
Of the rising moon gave him at that mo-
ment, but Hendrick knew that she had
lied.
The next day she stood before him to
say farewell He looked intently into
her face as though reading it She car
ried his look with her until she died.
"What did he mean to say to me?'
she sobbed as the train hurried her away
from him. "What did he mean?" sh,
asked herself again when, two day.
later, she stood beside Tom and called
heaven to witness that she would love
honor and obey him till death should
part them one from another.
Foolish, happy Toni She said to hin
the moment they met, IF you viii
marry me tomorrow, you may, and h'
had taken her Mt her word.
"What did he mean?" she asked her
self again and again as the years wen
by. She is asking it yet. One day, wbel
she is born into that other life, wher
souls know as they are known, she ma.
cease to ask it, but not till then.
Meanwhile she is not unhappy. Good
faithful Tom walks beside her an,
smooths her way. Tiny arms twin
themselves about her neck Prosperit.
attends her. 1t is only the ever presen
question that keeps her just a little shor
of satisfaction. Kate Fields Washing
ton.
II I.aaE