Evening star., 1901-12-07

| for this abstinence. l am virtuous because
L be nothing else
| For my own part also the fates, as you
| say have ordered otherwise. But one can
| disObey the fates For l. the daughter Of
| a city merchant, was taught to loathe the
| gaming table. Indeed my father hated
| cards much as he abhOrred conformity with
| the Church of England and all other dead
! ly vices. So that, if 1 frequented the haz-
| ard table on Sunday l broke two of the
| commandments which my father and his
! sect have added to the other ten. Perhaps
| l was punished, for, as | may confess to
you. sir"-thus did she disguise and cover
| up the past which both Of them knew SO
| well. There was time when / was much
| straitened by debts and liabilities, due to
| losses at the card table,.
! 'As for me-" said Oliver, II presumed,
| III my folly, upon success which thought
| would come to me the moment 1 was re-
| ceived at the English bar. L was punished
| for this overweening vanity by time
! which l may describe as straitened. How
| ever. by the blessing of the Lord and the
| goodness of a person-if you encourage me
| to speak of that person at any time 1 shall
| be pleased to give you the whole of the
| amazing history" Thus did he interrupt
| himself 10 approach dangerously near the
secret.
| WAS it really amazing?" She put up
| her face, showing the interest she took in
| the subject.
Indeed, most amazing. Perhaps-an-
| other time
| hllOiIltI lIIle, litU, MI hdCndllldTd
| So she kept the secret aside.
] I could be talking always of that per-
| son. But it would fatigue you. However,
| l was assisted, being In straits, and l re-
| turned without encumbrance and with a
| good deal of experience to my chambers"
| And then-was it immediately-you be-
| gan to succeed in your profession?'
| Madam, 1t was Immediately after my
| return, and 1t was by an accident I was
| in court, looking A case was called
| which the Junior, who had been taken i'll,
I could not attend. His brief was offered to
| me simply because / was on the spot BY
| great good fortune l knew the law in the
| case and could quote precedents. l opened
| the case briefly, but I was able to show
| my knowledge, and the judge complimented
| me. Madam, that one accident was the
| second step In my fortune. The first step,
| believe me, was the unexpected and the
| astonishing goodness OF that person of
| whom we have spoken
| Sir, l would not have you repeat too
| often your statement about that person.
| we DO not care. assure you, to hear too
| much praise of unknown persons. Let 1t
| be rather said that your way has been laid
| down for you by kind Providence. You
| have been marked out, selected, and train
! ed by the act of Providence for an Illus
| trious career. Your experience, let US sup
| than yourself"
Far less fortunate, madam"
| You Will. therefore, let me point out to
| you. nourish a more than common COM
passion toward the poor and the friendless.
| Such compassion should stand in good
| stead in your profession. You must never
! forget, Mr.. Macnamara, your experience
! whatever It was-among those who are in
| misfortune" She spoke with great earnest
ness, her eyes humid. For, indeed. she was
thinking Of the man in rags-and he knew
| 1t.
| II have been fortunate" Isabel went on,
| I'm one respect For my father, who was
| displeased with ne-from whom I expected
| nothing-whose judgments knew to be as
rigid as his character was austere-either
| showed his forgiveness by his will, or for
got. despite his displeasure, to make any
change In it. He died suddenly. expected
| that he would leave the whole Of his for.
| tune to my brother, who Is more austere
even than my father, and regards me with
the same disfavor. But he died suddenly
and found myself woman of wealth. so
that / live In a house such as BELTS my
fortune and frequent such society as be-
longs TO my late husbands position, And
| now, Mr.. Mcnamara, think I have
talked to you enough about myself"
They walked on together, side by side
In silence But In silence one learns q
good deal. There was between these two
secret tea bond Of humiliation and
even OF shame This combination revealed
without the necessity Of clearer words the
reason Of the humiliation The talk lifted