Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30


the date Of Sir Roberts death has been given
Incorrectly, and Harry is not the rightful heir
They keep the matter secret, and eventually
Harry comes into possession of the estates and
resides with his mother at BleBt Hall. Un-
known to Lady Adelaide q Madam Zabriska and
Mr.. Jenkinson Neeld also In possession Of
the secret and Madam Zabriska with her uncle.
Maj Dupiay. comes to reside at Merton Lodge.
Blent Hall. Harry learns from his mother
that he Is not rightful heir to BieDt, but they
determine to hold the title for him at any cost
To further his cause. he decides to marry jamie
liver. heiress of Fairhome. but finds two rivals
in Bob Broadley and Maj Duplay The latter
learns of his unfortunate birth from Nina Ia
briska He informs him that he intends to tell
liver. and they quarrel Harry winning In a
brisk tussle. Neeld becomes the guest of liver
at Pairholme.
BY the Blent the drama seemed very con-
siderately to be waiting for him. 1t says
much for Mai. Duplay that his utter and
hUmiliating defeat by the pool had not
driven him into any hasty action
shaken him In his original purpose. If he
could by any means avoid it he was de-
termined not to move while Lady Tristram
lived. Harry might force him to act
sooner; that rested with Harry, not with
him. Meanwhile he declined to explain
even to Nina what had occurred by the
pool, and treated her open incredulousness
d
snub. The major was not happy at this
time; yet his unhappiness was nothing to
the deep woe and, indeed, terror, which
had settled on Nina Zabriska. She had
guessed enough to see that for the mo-
ment, at least, Harry had succeeded in
handling Duplay roughly to delay.
If not to thwart, his operation, what would
he not do to her, whom he must know to
be the original cause of the trouble? She
used to stand on the terrace at Merton
and wonder about this; and she dared not
go to FairhOlme lest she should encounter
Harry She made many good resolutions
for the future, but there was no comfort
III the present days.
The resolutions went for nothing, even in
the moment in which they were made She
had suffered for meddling: that was bad;
IL was worse to the Imp not to NEEDLE; in
activity was the one thing uncomfortable
She, too. like old Mr. Neeld in London
town, was drawn by the interest of the
position, by the need OF seeing how Harry
Tristram fought his fight For four days
she resisted; on the evening of the fifth,
after dinner, while the major dozed, she
came out on the terrace in cloak and
looked down the hill. 1t was rather dark.
and Blent Hall doomed dimly in the valley
below She pulled the hood of her cloak
over her head and began to descend the
hill she had no special purpose she want
ed nearer look at Blent, and it was a
fine night for a stroll. She came to the
ton and stood by the gate of the little
foot bridge, which, in days before enmity
arose. Harry Tristram had told her was
never locked. Nina advanced to the middle
of the bridge and leaned on the parapet.
her eyes set on Blent Hall. There were
lights in the lower windows; one window
the upper floor was lighted too. There,
. doubtless, Lady Tristram lay slowly dying;
somewhere else in the house Harry was
keeping his guard and perfecting his de-
lenses. The absolute peace and rest of the
outward view. the sleepiess vigilance and
unceasing battle within, a battle that
death made keener and could not lull to
rest-this contrast came upon Nina with
q strange painfulness; her eyes filled with
tears she stood looking.
A man came out into the garden and lit
q cigar. She knew it was Harry; she did
not move. He sauntered toward the bridge.
She held her ground. Though he should
strike her she would have speech with him
tonight. He was by the bridge and had
his hand on the gate at the Blent end of 1t
before he saw her. He stood still mo-
ment. then came to her side and leaned as
she was leaning over the parapet. He was
bareheaded. She saw his thick haid and
his peaked forehead. He smoked steadily.
He showed no surprise at seeing her, and
he did not speak to her for long time.
At last. still without looking at her, he
began. She could just make out his smile,
or thought she could; at any rate. she was
Well, Nina de Kries," said he She
started a little. "Oh, 1 don't believe In
the late Zabriska. 1 don't believe you're
grown UP. l think you're about fifteen-a
beastly age" He put his cigar back in
his mouth.
You see that Window he resumed in
a moment And you know what's hap
there. Well. how's the major? Has he
got that trick in better order yet?'
She found her tongue with difficulty.
Does Lady Tristram know about-about
me- she stammered.
II sometimes lie to my mother" said
Harry, flicking his ash into the river.
Why do you lie to your uncle, thought"
Il didn't lie. You know i didn't lie"
He shrugged his shoulders YEARLY and
relapsed into silence. Silence there was
1ill minute or two later IL was broken by
little sob from Nina Zabriska. He turn
ed his head toward her; then he took hold
of her arm and made her face round to
him The tears were running down her
cheeks.
I'm so, so sorry" she murmured 81
didn't mean to, and i did it, And now
now can't stop it. You needn't believe me
II you don't like, bur Pm-Fm miserable
end-and frightened"
He flung his cigar into the water and put
his hands In his pockets So he stood
watching her, his body swaying a little to
and fro; his eyes were suspicious of her,
were not cruel: II was not such a look as
he had given her when they parted by the
pool.
IF 1t were true?' she asked II mean.
IF what were true? Oh, the nonsense
You told Duplay?' He laughed. IF 1t was
true. | should be a nobody and nobody's
son. suppose that would amuse you very
much. wouldn't It? You wouldn't have
come to Merton for nothing then. But as
IT isn't true. what's the use of talkng?"
He Won no belief from her when he said
that II was not true. She drew her cloak
around her and shivered.
''COld?'' he asked.
mo. wretched, wretched."
q n m n hRr7
-''You wouldn't let her see me?'
She's asleep and the nurse Is at sup
per-not that she'd matter. Come along"
He turned and began to walk quickly to-
ward the house; Nina followed him as
though in dream They entered a large
hall. 1t was dark. save for one candle, and
she could see nothing OF its furniture He
led her straight up broad oak staircase
that rose from the middle of 1t. and then
along corridor. The polished oak cleaned
here and there as they passed a candle in
brackets on the wall and was slippery un-
der her unaccustomed feet. The whole
house was very stil-still, cool and very
peaceful
Cautiously he opened n door and bact