Evening star., 1897-05-01
100 an idiot He has the reputation of be-

Loo an idiot. He has the reputation of be-
ing cautious business man."
Mrs. Barker bit her lip. Her companion
had been recognized. She rose with a slight
h.rt of her skirt. Il suppose must 20 ana
get room; there was nobody in the office
when l came. Everything Is badly man
lest servants to Hymettus." She moved
with affected carelessness toward the door,
when Mrs. Horncastle without rising from
her seat. said:
Why not stay here?"
Mrs. Barker frightened for a moment.
Oh she said, with polite depreciation, IT
couldn't think of turning you out"
Il DON'T intend you shall,'' said Mrs.
HorncaStle. I'VE will stay here together
until YOU go with me to Hymettus, or until
Mr.. Van Loo leaves the hotel He will
hardly attempt to come in here again If l
remain"
irresolutely. Mrs. Horncastle gazed at her
curfousiy. She was evidently q novice in
this sort of thing. But, strange to say-and
l leave the ethics of this for the sex to set
ties heart, nor in the least qualify her at
utude toward the younger woman. After
an awkward pause Mrs. Barker rose again.
wen. It's very good of you. and-and-Pl
Just run out and wash my hands and get
the dust off me and come back"
No, Mrs Barker" said Mrs Horncastle
rising and approaching her, you will first
wash your hands of this Mr.. Van Loo and
you before you do anything else You
can do 1t by simply telling him, should YOU
meet him in the hall, that ! was sitting
here when he came in and heard every
you again"
But Mrs. Barker though inexperienced
IN love, was good fighter The best OF
the sex are. She dropped into the rocking
chalr, and began rocking backward and
forward while still tugging at her gloves
and said. in q gradually warming voice
Il certainly shall not magnify Mr. Var
Loos Stiffness to that Importance. And
nave yet to learn what you mean by talk
Ing about a rendezvous. And I want tc
KNOW she continued, suddenly stoppine
her rocking and fitting the rockers i'm.
pertinently behind her, as. with her elbows
squared on the chair arms. she tilted her
own face defiantly up into Mrs. Horn
castles. how a woman in your position
who don't live with her husband-dares tc
tai. to me-"
There was lull before the storm. Mrs
Horncastle approached nearer, and, laying
her hand on the back of the chair, leaned
over her, and. with q white face and q
metallic ring In her voice, said: ut is jus,
because 1 am woman in my position tina,
! do! 1t Is because I don't live with nv
husband that can tell you what II will be
when you no longer live with yours-whicf
VIII De the inevitable result Of what yor
are now doing. 1t Is because / was in this
| position that the very man who is pursu.
| ing you because he thinks you are discon
tented with your husband once thought hs
could pursue me because 1 had left mine
/, You are here with him alone without Tho
knowledge OF your husband; call It folIv
caprice, vanity or what you like, II car
have but one end-to put you In my placs
| at last, to be considered the fair gam,
afterward for any man who may succeed
\ him. You can test him and the truth a
| ALL" 'o"A'
| Suppose he doesn't care what you hay,
heardr said Mrs. Barker, sharply. Sup
pose he says nobody would believe YOU 4
telling Ii your game. Suppose he is [
| friend of my husband and ne thinks hin
a much better guardian of my Reputation
| than woman like you. Suppose he shout,
be the first one to tell my husband of tn
foul slander invented by your
| For an instant Mrs Horncastle was take]
| aback by the audacity Of the woman be
fore her. She knew the simple confidenc
and boyish trust Of Barker in his wife. /,
spite OF their sometimes strained relations
ana she knew how difficult 1t would be 4
snake II. And she had no idea Of betray
ing MRS. Barker's secret to him. thougl
sne had made this scene In his interest
compromising situation. even II ther
was certain vindictiveness in her ex
poeing her to herself. Yet she knew
Mas quite possible now. II Mrs. Barker ha
immediate access to her husband. that A
would convince him Of her perfect limo
| cence. Nevertheless, she had attn 1rea
confidence In Van Loo's fear OF scsf1de
ana his tier unmanliness. She knew
vas not In love with Mrs Barker. An
this puxxled her when she considered IA
evident risk he was running now. he