El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-06
THE DANVEF2S JE '" Bills
By Mary Cholmondeley. Author of
RED POttage."
CONTINUED last

She is not coming down 20 dinner
either" said Evelyn. She has q bad
headache again. and is lying down. She
asked me to tell you that she wishes par
ticularly to see you this evening, as she
is going away tomorrow, and if she is
well enough she will come down to the
morning room at O.: indeed she said she
would come down anyhow"
After Ralph's natural anxiety respect
ing his lady love had been relieved, and
he had been repeatedly assured that
nothing much was amiss, we went in to
dinner, and more lugubrious repast /
never remember being present at The
meals of the day might have been CLASH
fed thus: Breakfast, dismal: luncheon,
dismaller Tor more disma); dinner, dis
mallest Tor most dismaI. There really
was no conversation. Even i, who,
without going very deep (Which 1 con-
slider Is not in good taste), have some
thing to say on almost every subject
even 1 felt myself nonplused for the
time being. Each of us in turn got out
q few constrained words and then re-
lapsed into silence.
Evelyn ate nothing, and her hand
trembled so much when she poured out
a glass of water that she split some on
the cloth. saw Charles was watching
her furtively, and 1 became more and
more certain that Aurelia was right
and that Evelyn knew something about
the mystery of the night before. L must
and would speak to her that very even
ing.
Bitterly cold" said Ralph, when at
last we had reached the dessert stage.
1T is showing still, and the wind is
getting up"
In truth the wind was moaning rC-:nd
the house ike an uneasy spirit.
That sound in the wind always
means snow" said Charles. evidently
for the sake of saying something. 1T
is easterly, l should think. Yes" after
a pause, when another silence seemed
imminent, there goes the 8 o'clock
train. 1t must be quite a quarter of an
hour late. though. for it has struck s
some time. l can hear it distinctly.
The station is three miles away, and you
never hear the train unless the wind is
in the east"
Come. Charles. not three miles-two
miles and a half" put in Ralph.
We'll. two and "a half from here down
to the station. but certainly three from
the station mp here" replied Charles;
and 50 silence was laboriously avoided
by diligent small talk, until we returned
to the drawing room. thankful there at
least we could take up a book and be ST
lent if we wished. We all did wish it. ap-
parently. Evelyn was sitting by n lamp
when we came in with Il book before
her, her elbow ON the table. shading her
face with a slender. delicate hand. She
remained motionlees, her eyes fixed upon
the page, but L noticed after some time
that she had never turned 1t over.
Charles may have read his newspaper,
but if he did it was with one eye upon
Evelyn all the time. Between watching
them both did not. "a may be imagir
ed, make much progress myself. How
was 1 TO manage 10 speak TO EVELYN
alone, and without Charles knowledge:
At last Ralph, vino had gone into the
room. opened the drawing roO-2
door. and put his head in.
''Aurelia has not come down set, ;ynd
it is quarter past .. wish YOU would
run up. Evelyn. and see if s.Ie IL com
ing"
..Shs Is sure to- GOMEZ" replied EVELYN,
without raising her eyes. she said she
must see you"
Ralph disappeared again, and the J
books and papers were studied anew I
with answering devotion. At the end 4
IF another ten minutes. however, the .
inpatient lover reappeared.
1T Is half-past g" he said. in an in
ured tone. DO pray run mp, Evelyn.
don't think she can be coming at all
I'm afraid she IL worse"
EVELYN laid down her book and left
he room. Ralph sauntered back into
he morning room, where we heard him
,eguiiin., his solitude with a few chords
m the piano.
Presently Evelyn returned. She was
al. even To- the lips. and her voice falt-
red n she said:
SHE has not gone To- bed. for there il
light In her room; but she would not
nswer when ! knocked and the door is
,cked''
''Ail Of which circumstances are not
ufficicnt :" make yon "a white as
ghost. sad Charles. II think. even
Aur,.lis has "a headache. you would
ear the occurrence with fortitude.
" dear child. Won do not act so well
n the stage ~ on II. There is some
ling ON your mind. People don't up
Il wafer at dinner and refuse all food
trcpt pellets of pinched bread for moth ,
X. What l. III?
EVELYN sank into "a chair and covered
.r face with her trembling hands.
Yes. I thought So" said Charles.
neelin2 down by her and gently with ..
-awing her hands. Come. EvelyG, !,
hat i it, ,,
Il dare not say" And she turned
WHY her face and tried TO diseugage
r hands. but Charles held them firmly. ,
lis it about what happened last 4,