Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21

never have reached the door alive, but she
passed unscathed out Of his sight; and
Muncaster, throwing the drapery over his
ruined painting, with a smothered cry of
Beth! Beth!' sank nerveless on the va
Gated chair.
Brandt was at the street door as Mrs.
Drayton passed out. Her rich gown touch
ed him, the faint odor of heliotrope came
to his nostrils, he saw her face distinctly
under its thin veil. AS the door Of the
coupe closed, he turned slowly and went
up to his little hall room, his wrinkled
face puckered with bewilderment.
Closing both doors, he drew from be-
meath the bed an ancient valise, plastered
three deep with baggage labels in all known
Languages. This he opened, and from the
inner chaos selected a small pack
age. Having lit his pipe and seated
himself, Brandt unfolded the package and
drew out small old-fashioned photograph.
1t was of very young girl, with much dark
hair, wonderful black eyes and beautiful
imperious mouth. Upon this face Brandt
gazed long, then with muttered ''Merk-
wurdig!' laid 1t aside. There were letters,
too in the package yellow and faded. One
of these Brandt opened, glancing at the sig
nature. Then restoring the package to the
valise, the old man fell into brown study.
Mrs. Drayton did not go directly home af-
ter leaving MCncaster's studio. She made
number of brief but effective calls. When
she at last mounted the steps of her own
stately residence, a triumphant smile lit up
Tor a moment her handsome, haggard face.
nave uOne a S0Cd days work. she re-
Hected, as she rang the bell
Brown she said to her maid, when seat
ed by the open fire in her own sitting room,
send my daughter to me-"
The triumphant smile had faded; her face
showed deep traces of that days work,
ana there was an uneasy look in the eyes
that turned toward the door az her daugh-
ter came in.
Beth was very unlike her mother, being
falr and delicately nodded with gentle
race, and eyes whose glance went straight
70 the neart. She gave her mother timid
LOOK, but did not offer to approach her.
so you have not been out?' Mrs Dray-
ton said, seeing the girls loose gown. why
not?'
Il did not care to-" Beth answered. oui-
city N' MA
Mrs. Drayton scowled at the fire some mo-
ments ]? silence. Then:
come here and sit DOWN. she said i'm
perlousiy, and Beth obeyed like a we'll
trained child.
There was another pause.
How would you like to spend the summer
IN Norway, where we were last year," Mrs
Drayton asked, suddenly, without looking
around.
the girl, in a life.ess voice
Then the mother turned
Do you mean to say. my dear" she be-
gan, half coaxingly. half angrily, that you
posal is made of you?"
AS lar IS place goes-yes! Absolutely!'
Beth answered in the same tone
Her mother moved impulsively, Selling
the girls hands and caressing them ten
derby. playfuly.
Come, little girl she said, in the deep.
sweet voice that few could resist this will
rot do! You are taking yourself too sert-
ously. Ths-this affair will pass. 1t must
pass. l should be a bad mother to let YOU
put these dear little hands in the fire be-
cause you are crying after the pretty
flames! l seem cruel. 1 know. 1 must be
cruel to be kind, dear! Some day you will
bless me- the brilliant eyes wavered here
before the dumb anguish in her child's
race; some day you will bless and thank
me Tor having saved you from yourself.
AND when 1t is over, when you have come
to your senses"
An unexpected fire blazed up in Beth's
childish eyes. She drew her hands hastily
away from her mothers clasp.
If you mean that I shall ever stop low
Ing Philip" she said. passionately, Il know
that you are mistaken. l have given him
up because you demanded it of me, and l
have never disobeyed you, but you cannot
forbid me to love him. l glory in my love,
and will love him to the day of my death!''
Mrs. Drayton's face darkened; she drew
back, biting her lip sharply
To the day of her DEATH"
The millions of times these words had
been spoken with the same passionate sin