New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY lTwENTYEIGIr FACES

cause he was deaf nor because his thoughts
were far away among his beloved Chinese pam
phlets. but because he was. during tnat
hour he regularly passed in the Lloyds mouse.
no longer a responsible being. he was u.,ell.
absorbed, to the exclusion of all outside iueas
In the ecstatic contemplation of that little nirt'
that naughty little quiz Eva Joyce
l think what first drew his attention 10 her
was her beautiful handwriting. Eva wrote
diviney Uhere is a divine hand, as wen as a
damnabe one), and not only English, but chi
nese characters too. She had picked up-ho one
knew how-that art OF reproducing those eN-
Quisite turns Of the writing brush which Is PICK
up-able by so few. Mr.. Freke. though he had
labored in vain and sweated much, still wrote
Chinese abominably. Eva Joyce came along
copied few pages for Mr.. Lloyd on one occa-
sion when he was hard pressed for time, ana 10;
no European expert could nave distlngulsiheu
her characters from those traced by native
Those few pages Of copy for Mr.. Lloyd turned
Mr. Freke's ancient head They were so utter
ly exquisite that he secretly possessed himself
of them and sat up for whole nights copy
ing them again, which Inferior copy or Eva
copy he managed to substitute In the oiiicial
archives. Eva's work he kept for himself
And So as he daily sat and watched her, and
saw her pretty little hands-Eva was justly
proud Of them-moving about the tea-tray, or
the handle Of her fan tracing strokes and curves
everywhere and anywhere for Eva fancied her.
self on a foreign habit of gesticulating. and had
rather cultivated what nervous folk call ndSet-
ing). sober Mr.. Freke completely lost command
o.
whether Eva was suitable wife Tor hm
whether he was a suitable husband for her,
whether marriage would entail upon him more
of sacrifice than of satisfaction; the marriage
part did not enter into his calculations at all
He was like a book-maniac, who sees before
him inestimably precious folio. into which ne
will probably never look. but TO possess which
for the mere pleasure of possession, he is ready
IL need be to sell his soul. He is conscious OF
naught beside this. his hearts desire, nor does
he realize that the having 1t may send ieanhess
into his soul
But how to get it? Here indeed was the rub
How is a man who has set and stared steadily
before him for an hour daily during six calendar
Notwithstanding at nothing for the most part
apparently-how is such a man to suddenly
change his skin and appear as sutton? Ana
how find a chance to say anything suitor-like
a girl who had no eyes and no ears for any
one but that great out Archie Urquhart?
Love-fOr in his way he was genuinely
in love--made Mr.. Freke a very wde-awake
looker-on at the game that poor little Eva Joyce
was trying to play. One did not need TO be very
wide-awake to see that Iva was In love with
Archie. Mr. Freke did not mind that; Jealousy
not part of his mental composition. But II
took a great many weeks, even months. TO he
quite sure where Archie was in the matter AS
has been previously stated that imprudent
young man was constantly skirting the border
line between jest and earnest with Eva MT
Freke in two minds concerning his junior 3
intentions for some five weeks. Then he de-
cded that incomprehensible to him though 1t
was. Archie was not his rival though there was
certainly no ''forrarder'' with Miss Joyce at the
end of another fortnight. though during that
time Eva had been the victim OF two scenes
wherein Archie had gallant, pa, cd the part or
rescuer And then arioi the fortnight. by the
merest chance. owing In fact 80 the trivial cir
cumstance that his watch dnstlgatcd no doubt
by the EVIL One himeoln suddenly gained han
hour in single uny Nj rrckc found HIM
self in the Lloyds' drawing room nj 33o instead
Of at 4, and in possession of Archie Vrduhart -
secret.
thara he tbnt nc q e 90
hulk, as Mr. Freke. Checking Arches ""rk with
its maddening slips. often had dupDed nm
with his eyes fixed ON Lima Allen ana ms ears
drinking in the sound Of her voice. Ihere was
mirror opposite the Win low outside Ak when MI.
Freke in his usual eat like way had fingered
an instant before making his presence SHOWN
by tapping on the open woodwork' ~ vas III
this mirror thai Mr.. Frckc saw Archies race
as neither of the women could see H. Lima was
reading aloud her eyes were on the po"K. MIS-
Lloyd was busy counting stitches IN her KNIT
ting And Archie was gazing his I'll at the girl,
with that look in his eyes when one need not
be lover oneself TO rccognize-that looK OF an
infinite longing which, for the time being, sets
an Individual apart from his fellow-men
Mr.. Freke raped, not discreetly as usual.
His fingers were trembling unaccountably-with !,
JOY. Then he stepped into the room and greeted
the ladies with an effhsvouoss and flow OF spirits
which even the discovery that he was half an
hour too failed to damp
1t mattered not now tho least to him mat
when Eva came in with rcddonod cyelidS Archie
devoted himself to her aud carried on brisk
conversation in an undcr,ono Of concern. Mr..
Freke saw that Archio'a heart and cycs were
both far away; he followed them MS they
watched Lima slip away. he snw them grow
sombre as the sound OF Mir Ilnyd's voice came
to their ears nquring in ha most offensive
manner after the progress 81 "hor converts"
More Mr. Freke imagined h, saw Archie slightly
raise himself In his chair ne though 10 fol
low and stand by Lima. But MI Iloyd cnnc
into the room. Linas steps dlod AWAY. and
Archie, numbering across the room with Mira
1iovds tea and cakes nearly came n ,rorror
over Mr. Freke's stick, which The owner nl nm
consciously was twrling around and around In
his hands in a fashion absolutely juvenile