Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06
svno,.i, of Preceding Chapters.

their son Harry the legitimate heir to Sir koo-
ert's estates. They learn later, however tha'
the date of Sir Roberts death has been gwen
incorrectly and Harry is not the rightful heir
They keep the matter secret, and eyentuaiy
Harry comes into possession Of the estates and
resides with his mother at Blent Hail un-
known to Lady Adelaide Madam Zabrfska ana
Mr.. JenkInson Neeld are also In possession vi
the secret and Madam Zahriska. with her UNCLE
Mai Duplay comes to reside at Merton Lodge
near Elept Hall Harry learns from his mother
that be Is not rightfui heir to Blent, but they
determine to hold the title for him at any cost.
To further his cause. he decides to marry jamie
liver heiress of Farholme but finds two rivals
in Bob BrnadIey and Maj Duplay- The latter
learns Of his unfortunate birth from Nina "a
briska He informs him that he intends to tell
liver and they quarrel Harry winning In
brisk tussle. Neeld becomes the guest OF liver
at FairhoIme. Nina Zabriska meets Neeld and
they form A compact 10 protect Harry,s inter
ests and maintain secrecy.
He sat silent thinking hard. 1t was not
his business Right and justice seemed In
some sense at least on Harry's side. But
the law is the law. And there We're his
friends the Iyers In him there was no mo-
tive of self-interest such as had swayed
Major Duplay and made his action seem
rather ugly even to himself. Neefd owed
loyalty and friendship; that was all Was
it loyal. was it friendly to utter no word
while friends were deceived? With what
face would he greet liver if the thing did
come out afterward? On the other side,
was the strong sympathy which that story
in the Journal had created in him since
first he read it and realized its perverSe
Httle tragedy: and there was the thought
of Lady Tristram dying down at Blent-
The long silence was broken by neither of
them Neeld was weighing his question;
Nina had made her appeal and waited for
an answer. The quiet of the book-lined
room there were the yellOwy-brown vol
umes from which Nina had acquired her
lOreD was broken by new voice. They
both started to hear it, and turned eager
faces To the window whence 1t came. Har-
ry Tristram. in flannels and straw hat,
stood looking in.
I've got an hour off" he explained: 80
] walk UP to thank you for the flowers.
My mother liked them and liked to have
them from you" He saw Neeld and greet
ed him coUrteOUsly. II asked her if l
should give you her love and she said yes
with her eyes, you know: she speaks most
~ that way now. Well. she always did a
good deal. | expect" His smile came on
the last word.
She sent her love TO me2
Yes. told her what you did one even
Ing; and she liked that. too"
II hope Lady Tristram is-er-going on
well?" asked Neeld-
She doesn't suffer. thank you"
Nina invited him in; there was an appo-
siltltSS III Ills COIHlilS WHICH Appealed TO
her, and she watched Neeid with covert
eagernesS.
Harry looked round the room. then
vaulted over the sill.
My uncle's playing golf with Mr.. Iver"
remarked Nina. ''Tea?"
No Too sick-roomy. I'm for nothing
but strong drink now-and I've had some"
He came to the middle of the room and
stood between them, fiinging his hat on the
table where Mr. ChOldertons journal had
so lately lain My mothers an extraor-
binary woman he went on, evidently so
full of his thought that he must speak it
out She's dying joyfuily.'
After an instant Nina asked ''Why?"
Neeld was surprised at the holiness of the
question, but Harry took 1t as natural.
Its like going off guard mean,
rather, off duty-to her. | think He made
the correction thoughtfully and with no
haste. Life has always seemed rather
like an obligation to do things you don't
want tO-nOt that she did them all And
now she's tired. She's glad to leave it to
me. Only she wishes / was bit better
looking. though she won't admit it. She
couldn't stand a downright ugly man at
Blent. YOU know. I've a sort of notion
He seemed to forget Neeld and looked at
Nina for sympathy-'that she thinks she'll
De able to come and have d look at Blent
and me in II, all the same" His smile took
a whimsical turn as he spoke of his
mothers dying fancies.
Nina glanced at Mr.. Neeld; was the MIC
ture visible TO him that rose before ner
eyes-of the poor sprite coming eagerly,
but turning sadly away when she saw a
stranger enthrOned at Blent and knew not
where to look for her homeless, landless
SOM
The parson came to see her yesterday
He's not what you'd call an unusual man
Mime. ZabrSka, and she Is an unusual
woman. you know. 1t was-yes. II was
amusing, and there's an end of it" He
paused and added, by way of excuse 90 |
know her so we'll You see She wouldn't
be left alone with him; she wanted an
other sinner there
Nina marked the change In him-the new
eXpanSiveneSS, the new appeal for sym-
pathy- He had forgotten his suspicion and
MS WatchfulneSS; she was inclined to say
that he had forgotten himself. On her
deathbed Addie Tristram had exerted her
charm once more-and over her own SON
Once more a man, whatever his own DO
sition, thought mainly of her-and that
was her son. Did Neeld see this? To
Neeld it came as the strongest reinforce
me- MT 10 those feelings which babe him hold
his peace. 1t seemed an appeal to him
straight from the deathbed in the valley
below. Harry found the old gentleman's
gaze fixed intently on him.
i beg your pardon for troubling you
with all this. Mr.. Neeld," he said, relapsing
rather into his defensive attitude. Madam
Zabriska knows my ways"
NO. l don't think know this new way
of yours at all she objected But L
like it. Mr.. Tristram. 1 feel all you do
q have seen herr She turned to Neeld 80,
how l wish you hadr' she cried.
her edrneStneSS stirred a little curious
ity in Harry He glanced with his old
warinesS at Neeld. But what could he
save a kindly. precise old gentleman
who was unimportant to him. but seemed
interested in what he said. He turned back
to Nina, asking:
"A new way of mine2"
We'll, not quite You were rather like
It once. But generally you've got veil
before your face. Or perhaps you're really
changed"
He thought for moment. Things
change man" And he added, I'm only
Twenty-Five"
Yes. l know she smiled though
constantly forget 1t all the same"
Well, twenty-three. come the Goth of
July, said he. His eyes were on hers. his
Characteristic smile on his lips 1t was a
challenge to her.
Il shan't forget the date" she answered.
answering his look. too. He sighed slight
1y; was assured that she was with him
The Goth of July, The editor of Mr..
ChoIderton's Journal sat by listening; he
raised no voice in protest.
II must get back" said Harry. Walk
with me to the dip of the HILL
With a glance of apology to Neeld, she
followed him. and stepped out of the win
dow; there were two steps at the side lead
ing up to 1t. I'll be back directly" she
cried over her shoulder. she iOtnad Har-