Evening star., 1901-05-04


same policeman, wearing the handouts,
too.
I'm my opinion he said nervously. but
not without his usual precision, 1--WE can
carry this matter no further. Nine. Zabris-
ka declines to speak. may say that UNI
derstand and respect the motive which l
believe inspires her. She regrets her idle
words She thinks that by repeating them
she would give them greater Importance.
She does not wish to assume responsibility.
She leaves the matter in your hands. liver.
1t is not her affair; she had no reason to
suppose that it would be yours
She's my friend, she's my daughters
friend. The question is whether my daugh-
ter narries Lord Tristram of Blent or an
impostor whether voluntary or inyolun-
tary), without name, an acre, or, so far
as l know. shilling. She can help me.
She stands aside. You think her right.
Neeld?'
Yes, I do said the old gentleman, with
the promptueSs of desperation.
Then your idea of friendship differs dia-
metrically from mine. desire no such
friends that
1t is to be hoped that the sting of Iver's
remark was somewhat mitigated by Minas
covertly. telegraphed gratitude. Yet Neeld
was no happier after his effort than before
it. A silence fell on them all. Nina
glanced from her uncle's face to 1ver's.
Both men were stern and gloomy. Her
sense of heroism barely supported her;
things were so very uncomfortable. II
Harry could know what she suffered for
him. 1t would be something. But Nina had
an idea that Harry was thinking very little
about her.
At this point-the deadlock demanded by
the canons or art having been reached by
the force Of circumstances and the clash
of wflls-enter the deus eX machina in the
shape of pretty parlor maid in a black
gown and white apron, with a bow Of pink
RIBBON at the neck: instead of the car
silver salver, and on it a single letter.
The Imp was in no mood for ceremony;
one glance at the handwriting. and she
uypS
whispering to Duplay. Neeld's eyes were
on the ceiling, because he did not know
where else he could direct them with any
sense of safety.
Nina read. A gasp of breath from Eer
brought Neeld's eyes down from their
refuge and stayed Iver and the. majors
whispered talk. She gazed from one to the
other of them. She had flushed red; her
face was very agitated and showed a great
stress of feeling Duplay, with an ex-
clamation Of surprise, put out his hand for
the letter. But Nina kept hers on it. rin-
ming 1t 1mmovably to the table. For an
other minute she sat there, facing the
three; then all composure failed ner; she
burst into tears, and. bowling her head to
letter with her hair, she sobbed violently
Il can't help it, l can't help it, the men
heard her say between her sobs.
Her apology did nothing to remove their
extreme discomfort. All three Selt brutal !;
even the majors face lost it's gloomy
derceness and relaxed into an embarrassed
solicitude. Ought we to call the maid?"
he whispered. Poor chiIdv' murmured
Neeld. The sobs dominated these timid ut
terances. Was 1t they who had brought
her to this state, or was it the letter? Iver
stirred uneasily in his chair his business
manner and uncharitable shrewdness sud
denly seeming out of place. Give her
time he said, gently. Give her time,
poor girl
Nina raised her head; tears ran down her
cheeks; she was woe personified.
Times use" she groaned. IT'S all
over now"
Neeld caught at the state of affairs by
an intuition to which his previous knowl-
edge helped him.
won't you show us the letter." be asked
gently.
"Oh yes. And I'll tell you anything you
like now 1t doesn't matter now. She
looked at Neeld: she was loyal to the erd
II was the only person who knew it, she
said to Iyer.
That was too much. Timid he might be-
even to the point of cowardice, but now
when the result of confession would be no
harm to anybody but himself, Neeld felt
chance of going thinking himself a gen
tieman-and it is an unpleasant thing for
a man to realize that he has none.
"I must correct Madame Zabriska,'' he
said. Il knew it. too"
"What?" cried Duplay. Iver turned
quick, scrutinizing eyes on his friend.
You knew, too? You knew what?" he
demanded.
'"The facts we have been endeavoring to
obtain from Madame Zabriska"
THE facts about"
"Oh. it's all in the letter." cried Nina, In
q fresh burst of impatience. There it is.
Cro be continued)