Evening star., 1901-05-25

door; she was in the room before he had
done giving directions that she should be
admitted. Again that likeness which had
already worked him so powerfully
struck him with unlessened force; for rs
sake he sprang forward to greet her and
meet her outStretched hands with his. There
appearance of embarrassment about
her rather great gladness and triumph
in her own courage in coming.
You didn't come to me, so l came to
you," she explained, as though the explana-
ton We're quite sufficient.
She brought everything back to him very
strongly. and in moment banished Blink
hampton.
Does anybody know you've Gomez"
NO" she smiled. That was a part Of
the fun. Nina didn't know l was going
out. You see. everybody's been doing some
thing except me, and"
Everybody doing something? Doing
WHAT"
'Oh. never mind now. Nothing of any
real USE
There's nothing to do" said Harry, with
a smile and Shrug.
She was little disappointed to find him
looking so well so cheerful, so busy. But
the new impression was not strong enough
to upset the preconceptions with which she
had come. I've come to tell you l can't
bear it, she said.
"Oh. why did you ever do it, Harry"
"On my honor, 1 don't know" he ad-
mitted. after moments thought. won't
you sit down." He watched her seat her
self, actually hoping for the famous atti-
tude But she was too excited for it. She
sat upright her hands Clasped on her
knees. Her air was one of gravity, of tre-
| mendous Importance. She realized what she
was going to do; if she had failed to un-
derStand its very unusual character she
would probably never have done it at ALL
Il can't bear this state of things" she
began. Il can't endure it any longer
"Oh. / can. I'm all right. l hope you
| haven't been worrying?"
worrying! I've robbed you. robbed you
of pVeryt hing Oh 7 know did
self! That makes it worse. How did
come to make you do it?'
Il don't know" he said again. "Well,
you seemed so in your place at Blent Some
, how you made me feel an interloper
And" he paused moment. "Yes I'm
glad he ended.
mo. no. YOU mustn't be glad" she cried,
| quickly. Because it's uncomfortable, unen-
durable"
To you. It's not to me- I thought it
might be. 1t isn't.
Yes, to me. to me! Oh, end it for me-
Harry! End 1t for me!
She was 1mploring, she was the suppl
ant. The reversal of parts, strange i'll
itself, hardly seemed strange to Harry
TriStram; and it made him quite his old
self again. He felt that he had something
to give. But her next words shattered that
delusion.
You must take it back. Let me give it
back to YOU" she prayed.
He was silent full minute before he
| answered slowly and coldly:
From anybody else I should treat that
as an insult; with you I'm willing to think
it merely ignorance. In either case the abb
surdity's the same" He turned away from
her with look of distaste, almost of dis
gust How in the world could you do it?'
he added by the way of climax.
Il could do It. In one way could" She
| rose as he turned back to her. II want you
to have Blent. You're the proper master
Of Blent. Do you think 1 want to have it
by accident?
You have 1t by law. not by accident" !"
he answered. curtly. He was growing
angry. why do you come here and un-
settle me?" he demanded. II wasn't think
| ing of 1t. And then you come here!''
She was apologetic no longer. She faced
| him boldly.
You ought to think of it." she insisted
| And. yes I've come here because 1t was
| right for me to come: because l couldn't re-
spect myself unless I came. l want you to
| take back Blent."
What Internal nonsense!" he exclaimed.
| ''You know it's impossible"
NO she said. She was calm, but her
breath came quick. There's one way in
which it's possible"
In an instant he understood her; there
| was no need Of more words. She knew her
| self to be understood as she looked at him.
| and for a while she looked steadily, but he
| returned the gaze. so that presently, in
| spite of her efforts, she felt herself flushing
red, and her eyes fell. The room had be-
come uncomfortably quiet too. At last she
spoke.
Il suppose you remember what told you
about jamie Iver," he said, land that's how
you came to think I might do this You
must see that that was different. 1 gave
as much as l got there. She was rich. 1
was He smiled sourly-'I was Tristram
of Blent. You are Tristram Of Blent. I
am" he shrugged his shoulders.
He made no reference to the personal side