The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-08-18

! necessarily upon her act Of imprudence,
she recalled The pride with which Wal
ter had quoted the Russian dipiCm II
lists fiatteTing epithet. and cOngratu-
lated herself that she had made an
effort"
When Prince Ksrskof met her again.
five months later, be was less lavish Of
admiration.
That the lovely Mrs. Allonby Of last
winter ne queried. shaking his bald
head mournfully. You surprise me.
On my homer | should not have known
the lady again
It seems that. given a heart and lungs
| which had been touched by the in
! fiuenzs-fend. a regimen Of par,y-giving
and partygoing. Of gOlf-p,aying over
| wind-swept links and stOne-layings in
! driving sleet. may work as sorrowful
/ havoc with the patients good looks as
! that sofa-and- brougham course so IN
| COMPROMISING condemned by Walter
| Allonby
Walter AlIonby's wife recognized this
| truth, yet she continued the regimen.
| She continued it, because she burst not,
/ for her life, flag in that arduOus bust
ness OF keeping step. lest her husband
| should remember that she was six
years older than he.
Remembering that miserable fact al
ways herself. having ii continually be-
fore her mind. she watched her beauty
fade with daily-increasing terror-ter-
ror of the fatal moment when Walter,
in whose eyes she could already dis
Germ puzzled disapproyal OF her changed
appearance should read in the eyes Of
others that his wife was become
los frl~ ri
ton, as an embryo politician without
great wealth or great connections. was
not such as 10 compel social cOlsidera-
ton for her.
Such modest success as she had won
in the great world was due (she knew
IL 10 her own fair face and bright Wit.
Now both these weapons Of attraction
had failed her at once iii was 50 diff
cult 70 be amusing when all ones ener-
ges are absorbed 2 doing battle with
physical weakness }, and society, care
lessly cruel, was beginning 10 show its
consciousness OF aer losses.
When al 2 certain great ball. three
successive blank spaces confronted her
On the program. she knew that the
hour Of doom was ready TO strike.
Desperate she turned from those sig
a tall. sold.erly man standing near. de-
handing in her mos. winning manner:
How is it that you haven't invited
me 10 tread measure with you to-
night. kinsman?"
/ Major Eyerard started. and his grave
face psled under its layer Of suuburn.
4 OF late years he had grown chary Of
( asking his cousin Eve 70 dance with
him. She had never. even in girlhoOd.
/ suspected the nature Of his feelings for
her. never OWNED the existence Of that
silent selfish devotion which he kept
50 carefully hidden in me most secret
recesses Of his chiyalrous soul Yet
was he scrupuloGs in the matter Of Of
ftring her attentions which ne would
have paid without thought 70 any other
woman.
Il didn't suppose you would con-
descend 20 far" ne stammer'd. I'm
not first-class performer, you know"
IT'S 81 long since We danced to-
gether. l really cant place you" Eve
smiled back. Lets have a trial now"
Once on twice they fea.ed around the
great ballroom. Then Eyer4rd felt his
partners fingers close conyulsively up
J on his sleeve, and heard ler whisper
hoarsely.
Get me ont Of this ylace-quck!
/ Somewhere quiet-where people won't
| see"
Mech inically-feeling her weight
grow every moment heavier on his arm
-Everard made his way out Of the
crowd.d dancing-room and through a
short gallery into the conservatory be-
yond. There Eve fell into a chair, pant
ing ard speechess.
Terrified by her ashen face and the
ominous blue line around her drawn
mouth, the man looked about him dis
tractedly-d divided between fear Of
leaving her and anxiety for help. She
beckOned to him reassuring with a
iuttering hand.
It's nothing. I'm little oyertired;
shall be better presently. Some
"ater-from the fountain."
He espied an empty lemonade glass
on neighboring table, brought the
water in it, and wetted her forehead
literally with dripping handkerchief.
Sull the piteous struggle for breath
went on. "I'll call someone" he NUT
tered; and would have started off but
for her eager cry of:
Don't do anything of the kind, I
want no one. If you bring anybody
here I'll never speak to you again!
See, I'm nearly we'll already"
He paused, afraid to stay, still more
afraid to 90 in the face of that pas
sionate appeal And gradually her
breathing became less labored. her
pallor less CHASTITY. At the end of five
minutes she sat up, saying quite cheer
fully:
That's over. Poor Tom! What q
nuisance for youi | do hope"-with q
quick frown of anxiety that Walter
didn't notice. Was he in the ballroom
when we came away?"
81 thmk-not."
With a sigh of Ie'ief she began nut
ting the little damp curls on her fore.
head into order.
my hair feels g if I'd been in the
sea. Really Tom, you might have had
more regard for my appearance"
Il never thought about you appear
ance at all, was the majors blunt an
swer And | suppose it doesn't much
matter-of course you'll go home
now?"
mot at once. I don't want to spoil
Walters evening""
The major bent his brows.
WAS it for his pleasure you came
here tonight"
Eve sprang at once to arms.
For my own, I'm afraid-principal
ly. | love dancing. I'm a perfect child
where a ball is in question. By the
way, Tom, you undervalue your pow
ers. I'll give you the third and the
fifth at Lady Holmwood's tomorrow If
you like"