Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30

cause. although we have quarreled several
times, and l have been very rude to you
once or twice. still" and a smile brought
Mrs. Arkwright's face to perfection I'VE
are friends Also"
You have been angry with me -
said Egerton, when I could not understand
the reason, but 1 never doubted your
friendship. If I were in serious trouble /
would come tc you rather than to any
man."
Would you reallyo" Then her tone
changed Il don't believe you, for you
would go to some snuffy, Numbering old
"And you are good,' he insisted, taking
no notice of her petulance "You are hon
est. and brave. and high-minded, and loyal,
''Pious. with a gift of prayer, you had
better bette add add; How low blind you are for all
tiles. You forgot to add sweet tempered,
but perhaps you were coming to that"
NO, would not say that, and 1 am
rather glad you are not gentle"-the min
be yourself"
You had your suspicious. then, and are
not sure that I an. ready for canonizing ?
Do you know I feel immensely relieved; ;
tom"
There Is something want to talk about.
and as it's rather important, would YOU
iiiiho' MIS- AfkWrlSnt, giving me few
minutes first? Tea is rather distracting"
Composing, find it-but as you pleas
is 1t the District Visitors, or the Nurses
Home. or the Children's Holiday, and is it
money!! Mrs: Arkwright for some reason
was very gracious.
NO, 1t Is nothing to do with the chapel.
wish to speak about YOURSELF
"Yes?" and she looked curiously at him.
You remember that day when Mr.. Ark
wright committed you to my care, and 1
gave my word to -
DO your best to look after very
troublesome woman" Mrs. Arkwright in
terposed' hurriedly; 'it was a . ..
risky task, and 1 thought you were far
TOO nasty In undertaking it. but you've
been very lenient guardian for your age
Have l done anything wrong?"
NO, and you could not at any time in my
eyes'-Mrs Arkwright made as though
she would curtsy-"but others might do
wrong to you, and l have been anxious
for some time.
Mr.. Arkwright was afraid lest some nm
worthy man should admire you or desire
your life be miserable. And he wished me
to save you from this, and 1 promised to
dc my best"
"Weil?. and her voice had begun to
freeze Il remember all that
1T is difficult to speak about such things
thing to save you pain -
Go on" and now her eyes were fixed on
the minister.
1T came to my ears and 1 saw for NV
self that one whom I knew slightly and
did not like was paying you attentions, and
Il might be, as l also heard, was favored
by you. So it seemed my duty to make in
quiries about Mr. Crashaw."
"And?"
There is nothing against him. and 1
have heard much good of him; personally
we could never be friends for various rea-
sons. but he is not unworthy to
good
That is all have to say" and the saving
of 1t was plainly very hard to the min
lister.
You recommend me to marry Mr.. Cra-
shaw, If that gentleman should do me
the honor to ask my hand, or do you pro-
pose 10 suggest this step to him, so as to
complete your duty as guardian?" Mrs.
Arkwright was now standing and regard
ing Egerton with fierce scorn
My information seemed to me relable''-
he was also standing, white and panied
and l thought 1t would help you in that
you came to decide
If / knew who told you such falsehoods
L would never speak to them again. and
would make them suffer for their words
Mr.. Crashaw! and 1t was to that CYNICAL.
worldly tailor's block you were to marry
me What i'll have 1 done your
God knows 1 did not desire
mean do you not see that tried to
do what was right at a cost? Why
be SO angry with me?"
Because / do not care what any per-
son in this town or all Yorkshire saws
about me, but do care and cannot endure
that you should turn against me- and be
content to see me Crashaw's wife or any
other mans" And she drove the minis
ter across the room in her wrath-he had
never seen her SO beautiful-til he stood
with his back to the door, and she be-
fore him as lioness robbed of her cubs
1T has been my mistake, for I under
stand not women he said with proud
1 humility iS.a u II beg your pardon. and am
She looked at him stormil se. 'for ten ser.
onds; then she turned away. 'If that is
a'l you have to say. you need not come
again to this house."
You Will excuse me sending verbal
message by the doctor, for, as you see.
1 am past writing, and the time is
short. I wanted to speak with you. Mrs.
Arkwright once before 4 died -
And Egerton thought of the day she had
stood by her husbands deathbed as now
she stood by his, only that the nurse had
left the room and there was no third per-
son to be an embarrassment.
do you suppose l forget your words tn
me the last time We met in private" he
continued, as she did not speak nor look a +
him, beyond one swift glance as she came
into the room: ''and believe me, would not
have forced myself on you. nor would
have asked this favor, had 1t not been
that have something of which I
must believer my SOUL"
You are not dying; you were a strong
man. and few days illness couldn't
be fatal" she burs. out and it SEEM
ed as II Mrs. Arkwright for once was going
to lose control and fall a-weeping. Then
she mastered herself and said almost cold
ly. Had known you were SO Ill would
have called to inquire: but nothing was
said Of pneumonia, only bad cold"
you forgive me. then. that iH-1udged
interference. Mrs. Arkwright. and anything
in my brothers part?'
do not speak like that to me unless
] You wish to take revenge; It y who ask