Evening star., 1897-03-13

sofa. Byers rose slowly. almost unsteadlly,
to his feet. MY God"' he whispered to
himself. as he stood for moment and
locked at her. Then he walked over to
where she lay, her head buried IN the
cushions.
ut doesn't make all that difference to
you." he said roughly. You wouldn't
have gone with him.
She turned her face to him for a mo-
ment. She did not look her best: how
could she? But Mr.. Byers did not notice
that.
Il love him! and I wanted to do it
Byers had wanted to do it," too. and
sire there had been no alloy of love; it
was all true metal. true metal of self. He
stood over her for a minute without speak
ing strange feeling seized him then;
he had felt it once before with regard TO
this woman.
"If it had been for you I'd have damned
the money and gone ahead he biurted
out in indistinct, impetuous utterance.
Again she looked up: there was no sur
prise no resentment in her face, only a
heart-breaking plaintiveness oh why
couldn't you be honest with me?" she
moaned But she stopped sobbing and
sat straight on the sofa again. you'll
think me still more of a fool for doing
this she said.
Was the abuse never coming? Mr. Byers
hegan to long for it. If he were abused
enough he thought that he might be able
to find something to say for himself.
You think that because-because l live
as 1 do. 1 know the world and-and so on.
1 don't. bit. 1t doesn't follow really. you
know. Fancy my thinking l could do any
thing for Julian! What do l know of busi
ness? Well, you've told me now,''
IF it had been for you I'd have rislsed
it, and gone ahead said Byers again.
Il don't know what you mean by that
she murmured. vaguely. Byers did not try
to describe to her the odd strong impulse
which had inspired his speech. Il must
go and tell the prince about it, she said.
What are you going to do?'' he de-
manded.
DO? What is there to do? Nothing,
l suppose. What can do?"
II wish to God Td-I'd met a woman
like you. Shall you marry him now?'
She looked up; faint smile appeared
on her face
Yes" she said 'It doesn't matter now;
and he'll like it. Yes. I'll marry him
now"
Two visions-one was OF Mrs. Byers and
the abieS in Portland pl-roSe before By
ers' thoughts.
He hasn't lost much then" he said.
"And you? You'll be just as happy"
ut was the whole world to me- said
she and for the last time she put her
handkerchief to her eyes. Then She stow
ed it away in her pocket and looked eX-
pectantly at her visitor; here was the per-
mission to go.
'Will you take the money!" said he.
What money!"
What I've made My share of it,
"Oh. don't be silly. What do care what
money you We nlaQe.
He spoke lower as he put his second
question.
'Will you forgive me-" he asked.
Forgive you?" She laughed a little, yet
like that" she explained. You're not 4
man to me-
You're woman to me. What am 1
to you. then?'
world-business-the truth about myself.
Yes, you're the truth about myself to me-"
She laughed again, nervously, tentatively,
almost appealinsly though she wanted
him to understand how he seemed to her.
He drew In his breath and buttoned his
coat
And you're the truth about myself to
me- he said. And the truth is that I'm
a damned scoundrel.'
Are you?" she asked, as it seemed half
In surprise. half in Indifference. "Oh. l
Only l such a fool. Goodbye, Mr..
Byers. She held out her hanl He had
not meant to offer his. But he took hers
and pressed it. He had a vague desire TO
tell her that he was not a type of all
humanity, that other men were better than
he was. that there were unselfish men, true
men, men who did not make fools for
moneys sake of women: yes. of women
whose shoes they were not worthy TO black.
But he could not say anything of all this.
ard he left her without another word. And
the next morning he bought the cali Of
a big block of the stock: for the news of
Prince Julians marriage with Mrs. Rivers
would send 1T up point or two. Habit is
very strong.
When he was gone Mrs. Rivers went up
stairs to her room and bathed her face.
Then she rejoined Prince Julian in the Ii
brary Weary of waiting, he had gone to
sleep: but he woke up and rejoiced
to her. He listened to her story called
Mr.. Byers an internal rogue, and with an
expression of relief on his face, said:
There's the end Of that! And now
darling-?'
Yes. I'll marry you now,'' she said. TT
doesn't matter now
Thus has been said. the whole affair
had only three obvious effects-the removal
tion of Lady Craigennochs town house. a
bsronetcy for Sir Henry Shum (services TO
the party are recognized claim on the
favor of her majesty and the marriage CT
Prince Julian. But from II both Mrs. Riv-
ers and Mr.. Byers derived some new ideas
of the world and of themselves. Snail wo-
men weep and hard men curse their own
work without result? The temple of truth
is not national institution. So. of course
one pays to go in. Even when you are in
1t Is difficult to look at more than one side
of it at once. Perhaps Mrs Rivers ala no.
realize this; and Mr.. Byers could not while
he seemed still to hear her crying; he heard
the sobs for SO many evenings. minsIing
oddly with the click of his wife's knitting
needles.