Evening star., 1897-05-01

\ meeting MS honest eyes. She felt the shame
fierce JOY at the idea of climax that
| might separate him from his wife forever.
Luckily he did not notice 1t. but with a
4 continued sense Of relief threw himself back
in his chair and. giancing familiarly round
the walls, broke into his youthful laugh.
| Lord! how I remember this room in the
old days. It was Kitty's own private SIT
| it locked just as fresh and pretty as she.
4 I used to think her crayon drawing won
| derful. and still more wonderful that she
| should have that unnecessary talent when
| 1t was quite enough for her to be just
Kitty You know, don't you, how you
feel at those times, when you're quite
| happy in being Inferior He stopped a
moment with sudden recollection that
| Mrs. Horncastles marriage had been notort-
| ously unhappy. Il mean," he went on
| with shy little laugh and an innocent at
| tempt at gallantry which the very direct
| ness of his ample nature made atrociousiy
| obvious. mean what you have made lots
| of young fellows feel. There used to be a
| picture of Colonel Brisg on the mantel-
self for Kitty and, Lord. how jealous 1
| was of it, for Kitty never took presents
from gentlemen and nobdy. even, was
| allowed in here, though she helped her
father all over the hotel. She was aw-
| fully strict in those days." he interpolated,
| with thoughtful look and a half sigh.
but then she wasn't married. 1 proposed
| to her in this very roomi Lord! 1. re-
| member how frightened was He stopped
for an instant and then said with certain
| timidity, DO you mind my telling you
| something about it?'
| Mrs. Horncastle was hardly prepared to
| hear these. ingenious domestic details, but
she smiled vaguely, although she could
| not suppress somewhat impatient move
ment with her hands. Even Barker noticed
| 1T, but to her surprise moved little near
| er to her, and in half-entreating way
said: 'I hope 1 don't bore you, but it's
something confidential. Do you know that
oh frs raflcad rneT'
Mrs Horncastle smiled but could not
resist a slight toss of her head. Il be-
| lieve they all do when they are sure of
| man."
mo" said Barker, eagerly, you don't
understand. 1 proposed to her because /
thought 1 was rich. In foolish moment
thought had discovered that some old
stocks I had had acquired fabulous
value. She believed it. too but because
she thought 1 was now rich man and
she only a poor grl-a mere servant to
her fathers guests-she refused me. Re-
fused me because she thought 1 might re-
gret it in the future, because she would
not have it said tina. she had taken ad-
vantage of my proposal only when was
rich enough to make 1t.
''Well" said Mrs. Horncastle, incredulous-
ly, looking straight before her, 'and them"
In about an hour 1 discovered my error,
that my stocks were worthless; that was
still a poor man. 1 thought 1t only honest
to return to her and tell her, even though
1 had no hope. Then she pitied me and
cried and accepted me. tel 1t to you as
quite fraternally laid his hand upon her
own. Il know you won't bctray me- though
you may think it wrong for me to have
told it; but wanted you to know how good
she was and true
For moment Mrs. HorncaStle was
amazed and discounted. although she saw,
with the inscrutable instinct of her sex,
TO Inconsistency between the Kitty of those
days and the Kitty now shamefully hiding
from her husband in the same hotel No
doubt Kitty had some good reason for her
chivalrous act. But she could the un-
mistakable effect of that act upon the more
logically reasoning husband, and that it
might lead him to be more merciful to the
later wrong. And there was keener irony
that his first movement of unconscious
kindliness toward her was the outcome Of
his affection for his undeserving wife.
You said just now she was more prac-
tical than you," she said dryly. Apart
from this evidence Of it, what other rea-
sons have you for thinking SO? Do you re-
fer to her independence or her dealings in
the stock market?'' she added with laugh.
not think her quite practical there-indeed,
I'm afraid she is about as bad as 1 am.
But I'm glad you have spoken, for now I
can talk conf1dentially with you, and as
perhaps she will feel less compunction in
hearing from you-as your own opinion
what have to tell you than if 1. spoke to
her my: elf 1 am afraid she trusts i'm
plicitly to Van Loo's judgment as her brok-
'er. believe he is strictly honorable, but
the general opinion Of his business insight
he-have been at least SO unlucky that they
might have learned prudence. The loss of
$4,000 In three months"
Twenty thousaTd! echoed Mrs Horn
castle.
Yes: why, you knew that; 1t was in the
mine you and she visited; or. perhaps" he
added hastily, as he flushed at his indis-
cretion. 'she didn't tell you that"
CT 10 ocfi i1x- caf6
-yes-of course, only / had forgotten the
amount" and he continued:
That loss would have frightened any
man; but you women are more daring
Only Van Loo ought to have withdrawn.
Don't you think SO? OF course l couldn't
say anything to him without seeming to
condemn my own wife; couldn't say any
thing to her because it's her own money"
Il did not know that Mrs. Barker had
any money of her own," said Mrs. Horn
castle.
with sublime simplicity. land that would
make 1t all the worse for me to speak
about it."
Mrs Horncastle was silent. new theory
flashed upon her which seemed to reconcile
all the previous inconsistencies of the situ-
alton. Van Loo under the guise of lover,
was really possessing himself of Mrs. Bar
kers money This accounted for the risks
ne was running In this eScapade which
We're so incongruous to the rascals nature
He was calculating that the scandal of an
intrigue would relieve him of the perils of
criminal defalcation. 1t was COMBAT tible
with kitty's innocence. though it did not
relieve her vanity of the part it played in
this despicable comedy of passion. All that
Mrs. Horncastle thought of now was the
erect OF its eventual revelation upon the
man before her. OF course, he would over
look his wife's trustfulness and business ig-
ncrance-it would seem SO like his own un-
selfish faith. That was the fault of all un-
seif1sh goodness; 1t even took the color of
ac)acent evil, without altering the nature
OF either. Mrs. Horncastle set her teeth
tightly together, but her beautiful mouth
smiled upon Barker, though her eyes were
bent upon the tablecloth before her
i shall do all can to impress your views
upon her" she said at last, though 1 fear
they will have little weight if given as INV
own. And you overrate my general infiu-
ence with her."
Her handsome head dropped in such a
thoughtful humility that Barker instinc-
lively drew nearer to her. Besides she had
not lifted her dark lashes for some mo-
ments. and he had the still youthful habit
OF looking frankly into the eyes of those
he addressed.
No." he said eagerly; "how could 1?
She could not help but love You and do as
you would wish. can't tell you how glad
and relieved l am to find that you and
she have become such friends You knouy