Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

| Say nothing. 1 beg. SIR
| He opened the door softly, and passed
| out and got down into the street feeling
| beaten and sobered and humbled. He was
| in mood to curse the fate which had
| taken him to the place; to curse his weak
| ness in being so easily put to stammering
| flight by a girl. But after much tramping
| OF the streets and many vain endeavors to
| dismiss the whole stupid business from his
| mind he found that his chief feeling in the
| matter remained that of humiliation.
Mr. Bailey Roughton was sullenly
| covering the next morning when he re-
celVed call from his friend of the pre-
| vious night His remembrance of events
| was Sc hazy that he failed to recognize the
name of Richard Felgate when it was pre-
| sented to him by the servant. or the person
| Of the visitor when he entered the room.
| Felgate had quite recovered his usual de-
| meanor: only in daylight the lines of his
face and the horrible WEAKNESS Of his eyes
| were more marked than in the light by
| which men generally saw him
| Il see you don't remember me-" he said,
with a smile, as he pulled off his gloves.
ana yet was your guest here last night,
| MIR. Bailey Roughton."
by Jove!'' exclaimed the young gentle
| nan, nervously. Il have a dim recollec-
| ten that brought some fellow home with
| me- Yes. of course; you got me out
| of scrape at that beastly club and
then"
And then you insisted on bringing ME
| here" supplemented Richard Felgate.
lIcWsllIS. To-Day nave called to lpOlO-
| gize for my conduct"
| Apologize! exclaimed Bailey Roughton
oh, I'm sure there's nothing to APOLOGIZE
| for. Mr.-Mr. Felgate'-he glanced at the
card-"hothing at all. l daresay we kicked
| up a bit of row, but"
You mistake my meaning" replied Fell
| gate, coolly. Il do not suggest that an
apology is due to you, but to your sister,
Here, what are you driving att" cried
the other roughly. Il suppose 1 can man.
age my own affairs; what's my sister got
to do with the matter?''
speak plainly. my young friend. You
brought mean utter stranger, picked nm
IN one OF the worst haunts in London
nome with YOU last night. We were both
I suppose, intoxicated; you certainly were
SIi!lce 1t that We disturbed a lady whom I
accidentally discovered to be your sister
ana VINO came out here after you had
fallen asleep.
Game out here! gasped Bailey
Certainly responded Richard FeIsate
NOW, my dear Mr. Bailey Roughton. Won
are very young: life-as l know it-,s a
sealed book to you; pray the gods you NAV
never open 1t, boy. Motives are usually in
eAphcabie, save to those in whose breas
tney spring; l shall not attempt to explain
mine to you. Suffice it that you placed me
In a false position last night todav oon,a
to set myself right"
ON. you can't do that you know" broke
in Bailey Roughton. Last nights affair is
done with: we all have a spree sometimes.
BUT last night isn't this morning: Won can't
expect to push yourself in in this fashion
Mr.-Mr. Felgate." He got up as he smoke
ana spread his legs and shook his head ap-
excessively. 20
Felgate's face had flushed for a mome,t
and he made an involuntary movement To-
Ward the younger man: then his arms fell
TO his side and he turned away.
m AFRAID It's useless to try to make YOU
understand he said slowly; for that rea-
son won't make the attempt However
am here to see Miss Roughton"
:. ana say you can't see her. Confound
IT, sir who are your
THAT is a matter Won should have doo;a
ca last night L might be the greatest vii
lain unhung. and yet you brought me here
ana lett 1t to your sister to turn me out of
you would understand that one cannot slip
GUT of things so easily as you desire to do.
l am: am here to see Miss Roughton.'
But-but what is your object?"
Purely that of courtesy, a necessary
apology-a desire to set myself right in the
eyes OF lady who probably, at this mo-
ment; regards me as blackguard.''
Il don't see that it's necessary"
Il insist"
He was so cool and determined about the
matter that he gained his point, even to the
extent of interviewing the lady alone. But
1t was remarkable, after he had entered her
presence. how completely his manner
changed. The easy insolence was gone, al |
most before the door had closed upon them.
MY brother tells me there is something
you have to say to me, SIR she began, /
standing-a small, slim figure full of dig
nity-before him.
II ask but moment" he replied grayely.
You would not let me speak last night: 1 !
am grateful that you should give so grace |
less fellow the opportunity now / was |
brought here last night under a wrong i'm :
preston; l have come to crave your for ]
gtveness.''
Why should your" she asked coldly |
You told me you came as a chance ac-
quaintance of my brother-a stranger. L |
had hoped you would go asa stranger"
The words were more deliberately cruel
than she had intended. After all she had
seen this man only in an hour when he had
stood as the companion Of her absolute I
brother; the leader Of that brother, in the
sense that he was a much older man; to
that conclusion her wornan's mind leaped.
Here was clearly the wolf. she thought;
her brother stood as the injured lamb.
Richard Felgate bowed and moved toward1
the door; there was almost sigh on his
lips.
IL am sorry he said. You cannot, OF
course, understand that such a man as 1
am should feel any contrition-any shame |
Well it doesn't matter; I was trou-
bled about it a little. that's all. There was
a mad feeling in my heart that you-who
Oh! What does 1t matter what I |
hoped? Once again. am sorry. Good
Bye
He was gone. It was only when she fully |
realized that she had cast him out second
time that her dignity relaxed. She ran to
the window and peered out. with something
of anxiety; he was strolling idly away, with
his hands thrust deep In his pockets.
With that small event began the curious
change of feeling in her which ultimately
place. she rocked her gentle bosom with
accusations for her unjust treatment Of ! z