Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09

mine. ooh, forgive me-" she faltered, you
have been so kind. but
But l shall not obey you now" / fin
ished for her firmly, and then 1 dropped
her hand. for l saw that the driver was
fairly feast1ng his vulgar curiosity on our
little scene. l saw something else too with
sudden sickening chill at my heart An
elegant private carriage containing two
ladies was being drawn up with a flourish
beside us. In one of those ladies | recog-
nized my sister, while in the other l dis
covered. with a sense of being caught up
in the grasp CT some horrid maelstronl the
most yielding of the fair creatures to whom
L had been paying idle court since my ar
rival at my sisters home. They had seen
me- but not my companion. for, as l had
said before, l am large, and 1 was stand
Ing before her. They had seen me, and
were hot after me, and my friend was
smiling upon me with gay Indulgence
The coachman from his elevated seat had
also seen me- and seen not only me, but
my companion, and l thought there was
pity In his glance as he reined in his horses
close besides us-so close that before my
mind could act both ladies saw 1 was not
alone, but saw it too late to draw back.
The half-reproached, half-releved greet
Ing already framed upon my sisters lips
froze into little frosty nod. while deli
cate flush of shame and outraged conf
dence spread itself over her handsome feat
ures. Her friend sat like flesh and blood
turned of a sudden into an excellent quail
ity of granite. while not the faintest trace
haughtily upon the shrinking figure beside
me.
1 had stood so much that 1 think / had
little reason left; besides. although l knew
the circumstances were against me, I was
a little indignant, which still farther blind
ed me. So, without a thought of their
amazement, indeed with scarcely con-
seriousness of the thunderbolt | was Ieyeling
at their heads, 1 took my companions hand
and led her little forward. remarking in
perfectly vacant manner: ''Oh, how do
you do. Flo? Let me make you acquainted
with my wife. And Miss Thompson also, [
should like to have you meet my Wife
Pleasant morning isn't it?'' And then ut
terly apathetic from DESPAIR, 1 stood and
stared liStlessly.
1 have always admired women. but the
conduct Of the outraged Miss Thompson at
that moment moved me to such Incorporate
won1er that. with the insane tendency one
has to grasp at trifies in moments of peril
l thought for a moment of nothing else
save the sudden glittering composure which
fell down over and staid about her as the
fatal words slipped past my babbling lips
Not the shrek of my sister in that public
place. nor the violent start and reproachful
cry of my wife had power for that moment
to rouse me.
well. really now, quite abrupt and the
atrical. do declared cried Miss Thompson,
while every other mortal on the spot was
tongue-tied with horror. And to think
Flo. that you lost nights sleep worrying
over such a refreshingly romantic creature.
1 would tear my hair just little, my dear,
If 1 were YOU OF course, 1 should recon-
mend the greatest discretion while you're
about It," y
1t had its root in the unaccountable dis
like taken to me by the young bride flung
so strangely on my care. This 1t was which
robbed me of my appetite, destroyed my
pleasing manners, made me peevish with
my sister, intolerant of the cook pettish TO
a degree with the heusemaid and down
right savage with the Sinking coachman
who privately considered himself party to
all my unwholesome notoriety. And how
they bore with me! I wondered at their
over them in my unbrfdled egotism
When one looked from the pitiful, fright
cred face of the child beside me to the
chill. white face of Flo. glazing down at
US from the carriage door, their rafting
talk sounded like profanity, and yet I did
not blame Miss Thompson. At heart 1 was
guiltless, yet covered beneath the glitter
of her eye. as though confronted with ac-
tual bIgamy. I have said before that Flo
is a good woman. She is. She is more. She
is a great woman. and at that irving mo.
ment she proved as much. After all was
said ard done. l was her brother, and INV
honor was her honor.
Il was very gid to meet your wife,
1 am sure, she at length sasped ont.
with a smile which must have come
much harder than the last defiance
of many a wel-baked martyr. "Do
get in and come with us. both of you. I YVES
on the way to the morgue to identify Won
but We will drive home now
1t sounded suspiciousy friendly. hut
was looking for floating straws, and
turned to assist my trembling charge in
beside the others.
Forgive me- I whispered as half
lifted her upon the cushions; but she would
not raise her eyes to mine When 7 mr.
INJURED in my sisters ear: FLO. be kind:
will explain" she turned her face away
with low order to the driver which set