The Irish standard., 1900-06-23
II guess you've heard about Ronald

Evelyn nodded; she could not trust
her voice to calm utterance just then;
besides, it behooved her to dissemble.
.He has murdered Sydney Hart"
Evelyn drew quick breath and re-
torted:
'He did it in sclf-defense-absolute-
ly in self-defense!"
II don't believe a word of it."
Evelyn bowed her head, and passed
on up the steps, realizing that even if
she could justify her lover in Caro-
lines eyes it would not benefit his
cause in the slightest, and she had
heart for nothing that could not light
en- his woe. But Miss Hasbrooke was
not satisfied. Nagging was an amuse-
ment to which every brain-cell she
possessed was adapted. She followed
Evelyn into her room and closed the
door with significant care and soft
ness.
$50 you see what you escaped" This
ranged her guns again on Evelyn, who
stood at the dresser, removing her
gloves and hat.
81 don't understand you," said Eve
Ign.
Caroline came step nearer, her sharp
eyes flashing.
"You came within an inch of falling
in love with him last summer. Capt.
Wrinkle has told me thing or two. I
intended to report it to father if you
had not changed your tactics. Suppose
you had let your silly romanticism run
on, how would you have felt now?"
This sort of goading was maddening.
Evelyn turned upon the offender. II
don't see how could be more miserable
than 1 am" she said, with sharp frank
Eess of voice and look.
The elder girl grasped the speakers
arm and her bony fingers frightened on
it. Evelyn" she said, raspingly, "you
are not in love with that MANI"
more deeply, Caroline, than you will
ever love-or ever could love anybody
with that stony heart of yours. Yes, I
love him! If it would give him one mo-
ment's relief, I'd go to his cell tonight
ard share his sufferings."
Evelyn Hasbrooke!" Caroline stood
like figure of stone. "You cannot
mean It'll"
But Evelyn simply sank into chair
in the semi-darkness of the room. Her
sisters voice sounded as if it came from
a great distance.
II shall not tell father" Caroline was
saying. SIT would humble him to the
dust. 1t would simply break his heart"
She paused. The plantation bell rang
for the last time. 1t was signal for all
loiterers in the fields to come into the
quarter, a custom which had been kept
alive since the days of slavery. The elder
sister drew up a chair and sat down
near Evelyn.
"Tell me how it came about" she
said.
For moment Evelyn seemed drawn
out of stupor of gloomy reflections.
"He had threatened to kill Ronald"
she began-"to kill him on .sight-and
Ronald's brother gave him "a
"Oh, mean how did you ever hap
pen to fall in love with such a creature
as he is?" broke in Miss Hasbrooke. al
most angrily. "How can you admit
such thing, when you remember who
and what the Hasbrookes are?"
II have never thought of them as be-
ing gods, nor even angels" Evelyn
blurted out, and then she laid a firm, de-
termined hand on her sisters arm. II
must beg you, Caroline, to leave me
alone this evening. I cannot bear to
hear you run him down for what he
cannot help. Please go!"
Caroline drew herself up from her
chair and moved to the door with step
full of dire prophecy. II shall not tell
father" she repeated. "No, shall not
tell him.
"But I SHALL" answered Evelyn. 81
am helpless to aid the man I love-the
man I'd die for willingly, but shall
not conceal the truth from single
soul. At least can do that much. I
can be true to him. shall not deny
him."
Caroline leaned on the swinging door,
her cold, yindictive face rested on her
arm. 1t was on the tip of her tongue
to make an angry retort. but she evil
IDENTIFY thought dumb silence on her
|
look of forced incredulity on her face
she turned away. 81 shall not tell ia
ther," came like a belated echo from
the hall. II shall not be the one to
break his heart"
The colonel had come in from a tire
some ride across his domain and sat in
his study looking over some legal pa
pers. The soft light of German stu
dent lamp brought his fine face out
strongly and clearly from the darkness
round him. He had spread the papers
on the top of his mahogany desk.
Only the day before he had insured his
life for another large amount, and he
was thinking of making will which
would divide his property equally be-
tween his two daughters. One Of the
servants approached with card.
"Tell Capt. Winkle," said he, as he
glanced at the card, "that cannot see
him tonight, unless it is something OF
Importance"
HE said it was very important. sub"
The old man fumbled his papers with
nervous fingers.
ut has come at last," was the thought
in his mind; "but she shall not be CO.
creed. shall never ask child of mine
to marry against her inclinations, and
Evelyn has acted strangely in regard to
him.
| SWELL send him IN hare Naho ord