Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17

before IL o'clock. There was a gate giving
entrance to an avenue that wound away to-
ward the house, which was invisible from
that point. A grove, bright with autumn
tints, growing beside the main road tempted
me to make the circuit Of the grounds, and
l entered them eventually on the side to-
ward Greenv1lle. a town In which I should
have left the railroad. but for the rcputa-
ton OF the lockwood inn, since Greenville
Is nearer New York and only about a mile
further from Dyer's home.
On approaching the house I perceived Mrs.
Elizabeth Graves-mother of Mrs. Dyer
standing on the steps that led Up to the
Veranda. had met her in Ne:T York, and
1 liked her even less than her unamiabla
daughter. Her surprise at the sight Of me
made me aware that my letter announcing
my intended visit had not arrived Indeed
! had given 1t an insufficient start, consider
Ing the irregularity of the malls in that
region.
Mrs. Graves was not moro cod In her well
come than had expected her to he.
You rode over from Greenville. I sup
pose" she said. Its pity you didn't
come the other way, for If YOU had you'd
have met Bertram. He drove over to Rock
wood this afternoon"
Indeed" said l. What time did he
start?'
Between . and o. sho answered
or course, l knew perfectly well that
Bertram had not been on the road to Rock
wood at the time specified. but am not one
who would betray man to his mother-ln-
law. If 1t suited my friends convenience
to leave lie behind hin: at home. that was
matter with which his own conscience
might DEAL So let 1t be understood that
had come from Greenville.
Mrs Dyer came out of the house almost
Immediately. She was somewhat more
cordial than her mother had been. The
hungry, but the younger invited me to
lunch, though with no great excess of hos
pitality. However, my mission was Of a
character to make one patient under any
provocatiOn. No poor relation in real life
or in fiction was ever less particular than
about the flavor Of the invitation. If there
had been any possibility Of finding out
where Bertram had gone, 1 would have fol-
lowed him, but since he had taken pains to
lie about his destination, 1 thought it best
TO wait for him. His wife seemed doubtful
when he would return, and she regretted
that my time was SO short. ETC., etc. had
said nothing about being in q hurry; and
when the words were thus put into my
mouth 1 repudiated them.
My business with him Is very urgent
said !. IF he does not return In the course
OF the day, l shall make an effort to find
him.
Mrs. Dyer looked at her mother as one
who would say: This Is q very disagree
able person. and the mother answered
with her eyes: Il wish he were in Pata-
gonia." Nevertheless, l remained for lunch
con, and conversed as amicably as possible
with the two ladies already mentioned, and
also with two sisters of Mrs Dyer with
her aunt. and with her grandfather on the
maternal side. The table was set for two
other persons, but they did not appear
while was present.
In the afternoon a sudden and violent
rainstorm swept down from the western
hills, and 1 blessed it. for not even the peo-
pie with whom l was guest dared turn
nue. from their doors in such weather. l
stayed to dinner, and when the mournful
meal was done, Grandfather Graves went
forth to view the lowering clouds and re-
turned with an aspect as gloomy as their
own. Then Mrs. Dyer asked me 20 r.main
over night, and / accepted the invita- ton
with cheerful alacrity.
1t was not much after o'clock when I
retired to my room. Midnight is my crdi-
nary bedtime. and felt no desire to sleep
waited an hour or more till the no Use be-
came quiet. and then stole forth to smoke
on the veranda.
The moon was just breaking through the
clouds and the night was fun of beauty
and wonderfully warm. For long time /
sat there, smoking and thinking OF Emily
Dyer. l had good hope that she would
profit by my secret intercession with her
cousin. and when that was over I; ere
might be something else that 1 could do
for her. At least 1 could help the lanky
boy whom she had hon0red by her prefer
eEce to make profitable use of such talent
as he had.
Suddenly I was startled by something
Falling beside me. 1t was my cigar, which
bad slipped from my fingers. / had been
hills upon the west. 1t was nearly 3
o'clock
I re-entered the house and softly closed
and locked the door. At that moment I
heard noise from the other end of the
hall. Some one was coming
ting room. A slender, dark young man