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

40. he's only an uncle by accident"
Yes. think that's true. Shall we have
q drive soon?'
.'To Minghama Or to Blent HAIR"
Not Blent. wait my lords pleasure to
see me-"
Eyes, that's just how feel about him.
cried Nina, eagerly.
But all the same
No. won't hear word of good about
him. 1 hate him.
jamie smiled in an indulgent but rather
troubled way. Her problem was serious:
she could not afford the Imp's pettish
treatment of the world and the people in
it jamie had OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
buildings full of them-and a heart to
please into the bargain.
There Mrs. Iver to be said goodby
to, plump, peaceful proper Mrs. 1ver.
Il hope you've all enjoyed this lovely
afternoon" she said to Nina.
20, yes, we have, Mrs. Iver-not quite
equally, perhaps. but still
Mrs. liver sighed and kissed her.
Men are always the difficulty, aren't
they?' said the Imp.
Poor child, and you've lost yoursp'
yes, poor Adolf" There was a touch
of duty in Mina's sigh. She had been
| fond of Adolf but his memory was not
| constant presence. The world for the liy-
| ing was Mime. Zabriskas view.
I'm SO glad JAMES found friend In
| you-and a wise one, I'm sure"
| Nina did her best to look the part thus
charitably assigned her; her glance at
jamie was matronly, almost maternal.
Not that l know anything about it"
| thought obvious enough. II hope she'll
| act for her happiness, that's all. There's
! the dear major looking for you-don't keep
him waiting, dear. How lucky he's your
| uncle-he can always be with you"
Until he settles and makes a home for
| himself smiled Nina irrepressibly, the re-
| juvenescence-aye the unbroken youth-of
| her relative appeared to her quantity hui
cpa t,nr 70, vafa 70
him as she might to a younger brother.
There was Mr.. liver to be said goodby
Come again soon-you're always well
come; you wake us up, Madam Zabriska.
You promised to say Nina"
$50 did. but my tongues out of prac-
tice with young ladies' christian names.
Why. call my wife 'Mother'-only jamie
says 1 mustn't. Yes. come and cheer us
up. 1 shall make the uncle crack player
before long-mustn't let him get lazy and
spend half the day over o'clock tea,
though
This was hardly hint but it was an in
dfcation OF the trend of Mr.. Ivers thoughts.
So it was a dangerous ball, and that cIev-
er little cricketer, the Imp, kept her bat
away from it. She laughed; that commit
ted her to nothing-and left liver to bowl
again.
IT'S quite a change to find Harry iris
tram at tea party. though! Making
himself pleasant, too!'
Not to me- observed Nina decisively.
You chafed him, 1 expect. He stands
bit on his dignity. All, well, he's young,
you see"
No. he chaffed me. o, think II left
off even, you know
'They get bit spoilt." he seemed to
be referring to the aristocracy But
there's plenty of stuff In him, or I'm much
mistaken. He's a born fighter, I think"
Il wonder!'' said Nina. her eyes twink
ling again.
Finally there was the major to be walk
ed home Uritb-Dpt q NJ tr;r bo,,
major, but rather careWorn, undisguised-
ly irritated one. If Nina wanted somebody
to agree with her present mood about Har-
ry TriStram her longing was abundantly
grauhed. The major roundly termed him
an overbearing young cub, and professed
a desire-almost an intention-to teach him
better manners. This coincidence of views
was a sore temptation to the Imp to re-
sist it altogether would seem superhuman
Il should like to cut his comb for him."
growled Duplay.
Whatever the metaphor adopted, Nina
was in essential agreement. She launched
on an account of how Harry had treated
hef; they tanned one another's fires, and
the flames burned rnerrly.
Nina g stock of discretion was threatened
with complete consumption. From open
hintings.
Il could bring him to reason if l liked"
she said.
What, make him fall in love with you?"
cried Duplay, with a surprise not very
complimentary
"Oh, no." she laughed; ssbetter than that
by a great deal
He eyed her closely; probably this was
only another of her whimsical tricks with
which ne was very familiar; if he showed
too much interest she would laugh at him
for being taken in. But she had limited be-
fore todayS annoyances; she was limiting
again. Fle had yawned at her hints till he
became Harry Tristram's rival; he was
ready to be eager now If only he could be
sure that they pointed to anything more
than folly or delusion.
oh, my dear child" he exclaimed, you
mustn't talk nonsense We mayn't like
to him?''
Il don't want to hurt him but I should
like to make him sing SMALL
They had just reached the foot of the
hill. Dup1ay waved his arm across the
river toward the hall. BIent looked strong
and stately,
That's big task. my dear" he said.
recovering some of his good humor at the
sight of Minas waspish little face az
fancy tn need bigger man than you to
make Irlstram of Blent sing small Or
me, either, I'm afraid. We must fight him
with fair fight, that's ALL
~, He doesn't fight fair" she cried angrily
The next instant she broke into her most
malicious smile. 'Tristram of Blent,,' she
repeated. 'Oh, we'll
Nina, dear, do you know you rather
Il may mean what like without telling
you, 1 suppose?'
Certainly-but don't ask me to Ifsten.'
You think it's all nonsense?'
II do, my dear confessed the major.
No, he doesn't fight fair" she repeated
as though to herself. She glanced at her
uncle in hesitating. undecided way. "And
he's abominably rude" she went on with a
sudden return Of pettishness
The majors shrug expressed an utter ex
haustion Of patience, a scornful irritation
almost contempt for her. She could not
endure 1t; she must justify herself. re-
venge herself at a blow on Harry for his
rudeness and on her uncle for his skenti
cism. Somebody else now must look on at
Harry's humiliation, at least must see that
she had power to bring it about. with
the height of malicious eXultation she
looked up at Duplay and said:
Suppose he wasn't Tristram of Blent
at all?"
Duplay stopped short where he stood
on the slope of the hill above Blent itself
What? Is there more nonsense?'
No, it isn't nonsense"
He looked at her steadily, almost severe
ly Under his regard her smile disap-
peared; she grew uncomfortable
I or