Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-29
Written for The Evening Star.
Chapter AXIII-Continued

0hupfef AAlIl-COnt1nue0s
The matter was thus decided. Yet now,
IN quiet blood and in the scenery of my
own soul, shall 1 ask wherefore the letter
came from Mistress Gwyn, to whom the
shortest letter was no light matter, and to
let even a humble man go, some small sac
rifice? And why did it come to Barbara
and not to me? And why did it not say,
simon. she loves you," rather than the
words that 1 now read, Barbara permitting
me: Pretty fool, ne loves you" Let me
not ask, not even now would Barbara bear
to think it was written in pity for her.
Yes, she pitied you, and SO she wrote,
and she loves you," said Barbara.
1 let it pass. Shall man never learn
wisdom?
Tell me now" said /. why may 1 not
see Carford?"
Her lips curved in smile; she held her
head high and her eyes ware triumphant.
You may see Lord CarfOrd as soon as
you will, SIMON said she.
But d few minutes ago l began,
much puzzled
"a few minutesr' cried Barbara. re-
prcachfully.
"A whore lifetime ago, sweetheart
And shall that make no changeS?
"A whole lifetime ago you were ready TO
die sooI.er than let me see him.
simon, you're vsry-ne knew, told
him.
You told him. cried. Before you
told me?''
He asked me before" said Barbara
/ did not srudge her that retort; every
jot of her Joy was JOY TO me, anu ner
triumph my delight.
How did 1 dare to tell him." she asked
herself softly. "Ah. but how have con-
tri,e ed not to tell all the world! How
wasn't it plain in my facet?
1t was most profoundly hidden, as
sured her. Indeed, from me 1t mad Deeh'
but Barbara's wit had yet another answer;
You wers looking in another face, SAID
she. Then. as the movement OF my hanus
protested. remorse seized on her, anu
catching my hand, she cried impulslvely,
I'll never speak Of it again, simon;
Now, i was not much ashamed OF the
affair as TO demand that utter silence ON
it in which point lies difference between
men and women. To have wandered
troubles our conscience little, wnen we
have come to the right path again Ihelr
pride stands SO strong In constancy as
sometimes Il speak in trembling) even 70
beget an oblivion of its gatherings ana make
what should not have been as II 1t mad not.
But now was not the moment Tor excuse
and / took my pardon with all gratitude.
and with full allowance of my onenses
enCrmity.
Then we determined that Carford must
Immediately be sought, and set out for the
house with intent to find him. Yet our
progress was very slow and the moon rose
in the skies before we stepped out onto
the avenue and came in sight OF the mousse
and terrace There was so much TO teil
so much that had to slough on us olo
seeming and take on new and radiant ap-
parel, things that she had understood and
not l. that I had caught and she missed.
wherein both of US had gone aStray most
lamentably. and now stood aghast at our
own slghtlessness. Therefore never were
our feet fairly in movement toward the
house but a sudden, DO you remember
gave them pause again. Then came shame
that i had forgotten or Indignation that
Barbara should be thought to have for
gotten and in both of these cases the
need for expiation, and so forth The moon
was high in heaven when We stepped into
the avenue and came in sight Of the ter
race.
On the instant, with a low cry of sur
prise and alarm, Barbara caught me by the
arm, while she pointed to the terrace.
The sight might well turn us. even from
our engrossing interchange of memories.
There were four men on the terrace, their
figures standing out dense and black
against the old gray walls that seemed
white in the moonlight. Two stood i'm
passive and mOtionless, with hands at
their sides. At their feet lay what SEEM
ed bundles of clothes. The other two were
In their shirts. They were opposite one
another, and their swords were in their
hands | could not doubt the meaning.
While love held me idle anger had lent
Fontelles speed; while sought to perfect
my joy. he had been hot to avenge his
HOufluSu ncuOr- ulu not KNOW VINO were
the two that watched. unless they were
servants Eontelles' fierce mood would
not stand for the niceties of etiquette.
Now could recognize the Frenchmans
bearing, and even see Carford's face, al
though distance hid its expression. | was
amazed and at loss what to do. How
could l stop them and by what right? But
then Barbara gave little sob and whis-
pered:
My mother lies sick in the house,
1t was enough to loose my bound limbs
i sprang forward and set out at a run
1 had not far to go. and lost no time
but | would not cry out lest / might put
one off his guard and yet not arrest the
others stroke. For the steel flashed and
they fought under the eyes of the quiet
servants. L was near now to them and
already wondering how best to interpose
when. in an instant. the Frenchman lung
ed, Carford cried out his sword dropped
from his hand and he fell heavily on the
gravel of the terrace The servants rush
ed forward and knelt down beside him.
NJ. de Fontelles Gid not leave his place.
but STOOD, with the point Of his naked
sword on the ground, looking at the man
who had put an affront on him and whom
he had now chastised. The sudden change
that took me from loves pastime to a
scene so stern deprived me of speech for a
moment / ran to Fontelles and faced
him, painting, but saying nothing. He
turned his eyes on me. They were calm
but shone still with the heat of contest
and the sternness of resentment. He rails
ed his sword and pointed with it toward
where Carford lay. .-
My lord there" said he knew a thing
that hurt my honor. and did not warn me
of It, He knew that l was made a tool
and did not tell me- He knew that / was
used for base purposes and sought to use
me for his own also. He has his recon-
pense-"
Then he stepped across to where the
green bank sloped down to the terrace
and. falling on one knee, wiped his blade
on the grass.
CHAPTER XIV.
A Comedy Before the King.
On the next day but one NJ. de Fontelles