The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-05-26

SA IT,
He followed his master respectfully into the
house.
yard his manner had entirely changed.
From his gestures rather than from his
words l inferred that he was intensely
nervous Il laid this to the charge of De-
metrius), and unduly irritable. Nancy,
too. seemed depressed and distracted.
She replied in monosylla bles to my few
questions.
Nancy, go to your mother" said Ger
ard, as the coffee was brought in. II
wish to talk with Mr.. Livingston"
We pushed our chairs from the table
and lighted cigars.
"Demetrius," said Gerard, "is not a
coward"
l merely bowed. having resolved, for
the future, to curb my tongue.
HE proposes" Gerard spoke slowly,
watching me narrowly between half
closed eyes-"he proposes to take en-
tire charge of-of this mailman. YOU"
He rolled up carefully the loosened
wrapper of his cigar, and |. chatting at
the delay, forgot my good resolutions
and blurted out:
what disposition does he make OF
me?''
''Pshaw!" said Gerard, frowning;
''what hot-head it is! I'-he empha-
sized the pronoun Ctwas an effective
trick of his)-"I, my lad, have pleasant
er work for you. shall send my family
TO Europe at once in your charge. Mrs,
Gerard needs complete change; the boy
must see something of the world; and
Nancy, of course, will be counted in.
What do you think of my plan?"
''Your plan," I said, dryly, takes me
by surprise"
Surprise-the word but feebly ex-
presses the condition of my feelings.
Had Demetrius dared to make this sug-
gestion, in the teeth of what had oc-
Cured in the cave? And if so, in the
name of the Sphinx, to what purpose,
knowing, as he must know, that
should refuse to become party to his
infamous scheme? Was master in col
lusion with man? No. l couldn't be-
lieve that. What then? The scoundrel
was a consummate judge of character,
and he had had abundant opportunity
to study the idiosyncrasies of Hugo
Livingston. He probably counted upon
my promise of secrecy, and-by Jupi-
ter! the truth flashed upon me-counted
further upon my opposition, and my
subsequent dismissal from the ser, ice
of Gerard. l would try and balli him.
4 ;Ob s;c
in the house, should like to talk this
over with him."
"Demetrius returned at once to
Mark"
'How far is it to the island?" l asked.
''Not more than two miles,"
rose to my feet.
"Mr. Gerard, must see Demetrius to-
your answer"
He nodded and puffed at his cigar.
''As you please" he said, indifferently.
The immortal Lincoln said that you
could fool part of the people all the
time, and all the people part of the
time, but that no man could fool all
the people all the time.
III tiiS "hiNh
existed between Mark Gerard and the
Greek, this piece of wisdom bubbled up
out of my memory and lent an agree
able etfervescence to my reflections.
Gerard was Il brilliant man in his way,
but l had come to the conclusion that
Demetrius was the stronger, mentally,
of the two, and exercised a potent in
fluence upon his master. still clung
to my theory in regard to the Greeks
cowardice; otherwise | should hardly
have trusted myself alone with him.
lie had no intention, | was convinced,
of meeting or nursing Burlington. He
was fooling Gerard. He should not,
decided, fool Hugo Livingston.
The night was perfect, an idyllic
night for lovers. The moon lolled lazily
i'll the sapphire heavens. The air was
soft and odorous, languid with the per-
fume of a million flowers. And the
voice of spring whispered her old, old
story.
where are you going?"
1t was Nancy. She fitted towards
me, a slender, Naiad-like figure, il
lumined by the silvery beams.
who would not wish to be abroad
such a night as this, Miss Nancy? I'm
oil for walk"
"I'n go with you," she replied. "Mam-
ma is asleep, and my father"-her voice
hardened-"doesn't want me-"
l hesitated.
"If you don't want me, too"
My scruples fled.
I'm going to the island, Miss Nancy.
Perhaps you would like to see Mark"
She made no reply, and we started,
side by side, not a yard between us. In
silence we paced down the path to the
sea and descended the steps which led
to the sands. | forgot Demetrius, for
got everything save the one intoxicat-
ing fact that l was walking alone, be-
peath the stars, with the woman L
loved. But what forgot Nancy bore in
mind.