Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-24

"On . life. madam" Smith answered,
slowly letting fan each word As II 1t were
"Har' she said. sitting up and looking
straight before her. "sits the wind In that
quarter? Well. l thought So
"And therefore time presses"
-Stirl, man." she said ''our family has
done much for the throne, and his gracious
majesty has"
HAS many virtues. but he Is not forgiv-
Ing" quoth the tempter. coolly.
On that she sighed and deeply. and /.
hearing the sigh. and seeing how uneasily
she moved in her chair, comprehended that
in old age the passions, however strong
they may have been. become slaves to help
others to their aims: ay. and comprehended
also that, sharply rs she had just rated
both the man and the woman. and great
lady as she was and arrogant as had been
her life, whereof evidence more than enough
was to be found in every glance of her eye
and tone of her voice, she was now peing
pushed and pushed into that to which she
was but half inclined. But half Inclined l
repeat; and yet, the battle was over, and
she persuaded, think. but I am not quite
sure that some asserting word had actually
fallen from her. at least she was In the act
of speaking one, when soft knock at the
door clrt short our conference. Mr.. smith
raised his hand in warning. and the wo-
man, gliding to the door. opened II. ana
after speaking a word to some one without,
returned
my lord is below" said she.
1t was strange tc see how madam race
changed at that, and how on the tnStan.
eagerness took the place OF fatigue, ana
hope Of ennui. There was no question now
of withstanding her, or of any other CIV
ing orders. The parrot must be removed
because he did not like it, and We Jared no
better. Let him up" she cried peremp-
torily, striking her stick on the moor Let
him up, And do you. Montiret, she con-
tinued to the woman, BE gone. ana QUICK
ly. 1t inks him to see you. Ard, Smith, TO-
morrow! Do you hear me? Come tomor-
row and l will talk. And take away that
oaf! Ugh, out with him. My lord must not
be kept waiting for such canailie. lomof-
row! Tomorrow!
Chapter XVII.
Desiring nothing so much as to be gone
and be out of this imbroglio, and the wo-
man, whom madam had called Montiret.
twitching my sleeve and whispering to me,
l followed her. and slipped out as quickly
as could through the door by which We
had entered. Nor even were We a mo-
ment too soon, if l was to retreat unseen,
for the curtain dropped behind me l
heard a mans voice IN the room had Just
left, and the woman with me CHANGING to
have the lamp. which she had lifted from
the table, in her hand at the instant-so
that the light fell brightly on her FACET
was witness to an extraordinary change
which passed over her features. She grew
rigid with rage-rage 1 took 1t to be-and
stood listening with GistcnGed eyes. in per-
feet forgetfulness of my presence until.
seeming to remember me suddenly, she
glanced from me to the curtain. and from
the curtain to me. in a kind Of frantic I'M
certainty, being manifestly torn In two be-
tween the desire to hear what passed and
the desire to see me out. that 1 might not
hear. But, as to effect the latter she must
sacrifice the former. it did rot require a
sage to predict which impulse, curiosity
melted by hatred, mere prudence, would
prevail with a woman. And. as the sage
would have predicted, SO il happened. After
making an abortive movement, as if to
place the lamp in my hands. she laid it
stealthily on the table beside her. and
making me a sign to wait and be silent
bent eagerly to listen.
l take 1t, 1t was the mention of her own
name turned the scale, for that was the
first word that caught my ear ard who
that was a woman would not listen being
mentioned? The speaker was her mistress,
whose words. What, Montret?" uttered
in voice little sharp and raised. were
clearly heard as If We had been in the
room.
Yes. madam" came the answer.
Well she replied with a chuckle. Il
do hot think that you are the person who
ought to
object? Perhaps not. my lady mother"
came the answer. The speakers tone was
one of grave yet kindly remonstrance; the
voice quite strange to me. But that Is
precisely why 1 do he continued. Il can
not think 1t wise or fitting that you should
keep her about you
on kept nCr long enough ABOUT you.
madam answered, in a tone between veXa-
ton and rai1lerv.
II own it. and am not proud of it, the
newcomer rejoined. Whereat, though L
was careful not to look at the woman lis
tening beside me, saw the veins in one of
her hands which was under my eyes swell
with rage in her, and the nail of the thumb
grow white with the pressure she was
placing on the table to keep herself still.
Il am very far from proud of it, the
speaker continued, land for the matter Of
that"
you were always a bit of a Puritan,
Charles" my lady cried
TT may be-
II am sure do not know where you get
it from" madam continued, irritably. stir
ring in her cnair-I heard it crack and her
voice told the rest. Not from me, I'll
swear"
Il never accused you. madam
That answer seemed to please her, for on
the instant she went into such fit Of
laughter as fairly choked her. When she
had a little recovered from the fit of cough
ing that followed this, You can be more
amusing than you think Charles, she
said. IF your father had had a spark of
your humor-
Il thought that II was agreed between us
that we should not talk of him.. the man
said gravely, and with slight suspicion
OF sternness in his voice.
''Oh, if you are on your high horse,
madam answered, "the devil take you!
But there. am sure. do not want to talk
thing livelier. Let talk of Montiret in
stead: what Is amiss with herr"
Il do not think that she is a At person to
be about you.
why not? She is married now my
lady retorted. Dye know that?'
Yes, l heard some time ago that she
married; to Mr.. Bridges steward at
Kingston"
Matthew Smith,"
Yes"
And who recommended him TO my hus-
band. I should like to krow?" madam an
swered in 4 tone of malice. why you, my
friend"
1T is possible I remember something of
the kind
And who recommended him to you?
Why. she did. in the days when you did not
warn people against her.
1T Is possible" he answered, but the
matter is twelve years old, and more; and
do not want to"
Go back to it," madam cried sharply
Nor to have Montfret about. to remind
you of it. and Of your wild oats"
Perhaps"
Perhaps, Mr.. Squaretoes? You know 1t
Is the easel" was the vivid answer. For
otherwise, as 1 like the woman, and now
at all events she is married, what is
against her?'
Il do not trust her." was the answer.