Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
CHAPTER III.
On Guard.


older. Even the externals of his youth had
differed from the common run Sent to
school like other boys. he had come home
from Harrow one Easter for the usual
short holiday. He had never returned; he
had not gone to the university; he had
been abroad a good deal, travelling and
studying, but always in his mothers COM
pany- 1t was known that she was in bad
health; it was assumed that either she was
very eXacting he very devoted, since to
separate him from her appeared impossi-
bic. ct those who observed them together
saw no imperiousness on her part and no
excess of sentiment his; friendhness
based on a thorough sympathy of mind
was his attitude if his demeanor revealed
II truly. while Lady Tristram was to her
son she was to all the world at this
time, a creature of feelings now half cold
and of moods that reflected palely the in
tense impulses of her youth. But few
years over forty, she grew faded and faint
in mind, il seemed, as well as in body and
was no longer a merry companion to the
boy who never left her. Yet he did not
wish to leave her.
His childhood at least had been happy.
Lady Iristram was then still the bewilder-
1nSly delightful companion who had got
into SO much hot water and made so many
people eager to get in after her. Joy lasted
with her as long as health did and her
health began TO fail only when her son
WIS ABOUT uIteen- Another thing happened
about then which formed the prelude to
the most vivid scene in the boys life. Lady
IrIstram was not habitualIy a religious
woman but happening to be in d mood
that lald her open TO the influence she
heard q sermon in London one day
preached by young man famous at the
time, great searcher of fashionable
hearts. She drove straight from the
church lit was Friday morning. to Pad
dlngton and took the first train home
Harry was there-back from school for his
hoIidaE-and she found him in the smoking
room weighing fish which he had caught
weir. o
There and then she fell on her knees nm
the floor and poured forth to him the story
OF that ODYSSEY of hers which had shocked
LoNuoh society, and is touched upon in Mr..
ChoideTtons Journal. He listened amazed,
embarrassed, puzzled up to point a bows
normal awkwardnesS was raised To it's
highest pitch; he did not want to hear his
mother call herself a wicked woman: and
anyhow, it was long while ago, and he
dld not understand it all very well. The
woman was caught by the luxury of con-
feSS1on, of humiliation: of Offering her hack
to the whip. She told him he was not her
helr-that he would not be Tristram of
Bient. For moment she laid her head on
the floor at his feet. She heard no sound
from him, and presently looked up at him
again His embarrassment had gone: he.
was standing rigidly still, his eyes gazing
out toward the river, his forehead wrinlled
In frown- He was thinking. She went on
hDetllnS tnere, saying no more, staring
her SON 1t was characteristic of her that
she did not risk diminishing the effective
ness or the scene or the tragedy of her
ayowal by explaining the peryerse accident
owing TO which her fault had entailf,d such
an aggregation of evil. Harry learned that
later.
Later-and in most different sort of IN
eerView- The discussion was resumed
week later Uady Tristram had spent the
interval in bed on business footing She
found in him the same careiessness of the
world and its obligations that there was in
herself, but found it carried to the point of
scorn and allied to a tenacity of purpose
and a keennesS of vision which she had
never owned Not a reproach escaped MIN
less. she thought, from any generosity tnan
because he chose to concentrate his mind
on something useful. But he told her at
once that he was not going back to Harrow
She understood; she agreed to be watched,
she abdicated her rule, she put everything
in his hands and obeyed him
Thus at sixteen Harry Tristram took up
his burden and seemed to take up his man
hood. too He never wavered: he always
assumed that right and justice were on his
side that he was not merely justified in
holding his place. but bound in duty to keep
1t. The cOnfederates set limit to their
preparations against danger and their de-
vices to avoid detection. If lies We're neces-
sary. they would lie: where Justification
was wanted, they falSifed. No security
relaxed his vigilance. but his vigilance be-
came habtual. so entered into him, that
his mother ceased to notice it. and it be-
came a second nature to himself. He
watched all mankind lest some one among
men should be seeking to take his treasure
from him Mr.. Choldertons Imp had not
used her eyes in vain, but Harrys neigh
bors, content to call him reserved, had no
idea that there was anything in particular
that he had TO hide.
There was one little point which except
for his persuasion of his own rectitude,
might have seemed to indicate an uneasy
conscience, but was in fact only evidence
of a natural dislike to having an unwel-
sf1ni aNt undo hiS hn,r
a year after the disclosure Lady Tristram
had a letter from AIR. GainsboIough. This
gentleman had married her cousin, and
the cousin. a woman of severe principles,
had put end to all acquaintances in
consequence of the Odyssey She was dead,
and her husband proposed to renew
friendly relations, saying that his daugh-
ter knew nothing of the past differences,
and was anxious to see her kipsfolk. The
latter WAS almost gushing, and Lady Iris
tram. left to herself, would have answered
II in the same kind; for while she had
pleased herself. she bore no resentment
against folk who had blamed her. More
over. Gainsborough was poor. and some
body had told her that the girl was pleas
ant; she pitied poverty and liked being kind
to pleasant people.
Shall we invite them to stay for a week
OF twO?' she had asked
Never he said. They shall never
come here. j don't want to know them I
won't see them" His face was hard an
CRY and even outraged at the notion.
His mother said no more. If the barony
and Blent departed from Harry, on Lady
Tristram's death they would so to Cecily
Galnsborough. II Harry had his way that
girl should not even see his darling Blent.
The sun had sunk behind the tower and
Lady Tristram sat in low chair by the
river. enjoying the cool of the evening
Harry leaned his elbow on great stone
vase which stood on pedestal aud held a
miniature wilderness of flowers
Il lunched at Fairholme," he was saw
ing; The paints all wet stiu, of course.
and the doors stick bit. but liked the
family. He's genuine. she's, homeiy. and
JAMES good girl They were very CIVIL
Il suppose So"
Not overwhelmed" he added as
though wishing to correct q wrong inn
preston which yet might reasonably have
arisen ~