Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-15

and stay in the very house. If you do
that 1 shall think well of you-and even
better than 1 think now of the prospects"
I've not been invited"
Poor girl. she's afraid to invite yeu.
Write and say you're coming.
Shed go away. Yes, she would. She
consents to live there only on condition
that L never come. She's told me So"
family: You upset the wisdom of ages
new"
I'm not the least surprised. If 1 were
there
Nonsense. In a month or two
IF anything's certain. it's that 1 shall
never go to Bient as long as my cousin
owns it,
II call it downright wicked"
I'VE share the crime, she and l. She
lays down the law. L willingly obey"
My reason is convinced. Maybe I'm a
little homesick. But your month or two
will serve the purpose there"
There's a great deal more In this than
you're telling me. Mr.. Tristram."
Put everything you can imagine into
it. and the results the same
She sighed and sat for a moment in.pen-
Sive silence. Harry seemed to ponder, too.
I'm going to think of nothing but my
work. he announced.
$50 many young men in their early
twenties succeed in that she murmured
mockingly. What does little Nina Zabris-
ka say?'
"Oh, everything that comes into her head
I suppose, and very volubly."
Il like her. said the old lady with en-
phasis
rs there such a thing absolute
liking, Lady Evenswood- What's pleasant
at one time is abominable at another. And
I've known Nine. Zabriska at the other
time
You We're probably at the other time
yourself"
II thought we should agree about the
RELATIVELY
There may always be substratum Of
friendship" she argued. You'll say It's
something very subj Ah we'll. you're hu-
man in the end. You're absolutely forget
ting Blent-and you spend your time with
an old woman because she can talk to you
about 1t! Go away and arrange your life.
and come back and tell me all about it.
And II you're discontinued with life. re-
member that you, too, will reach the stage
Of being just told about it some day
Things will come home to man at last,
strive he never so desperately against them
If the things are true and the man ever
honest with himself. 1t was one night, a
little while after this conversation. that
the truth came to Harry Tristram and
found acceptance, at least surrender.
His mind had wandered back to that scene
in the Long Gallery, and he had fallen to
questioning about his own action There
was a new light on it, and the new light
showed him truth. II must face it: it's
not Blent," he said aloud. If it were Blent.
it was now Blent only a scene, frame,
background. When he pictured Blent
Cecily was there: if he thought of her
| elsewhere the picture Of Blent vanished.
| He was in love with her then, and what
was the quality Lady Evenswood had
! praised in a lover? Let him cultivate it
how he woodland the culture would be
difficult-yet 1t would not serve here. If he
went to Blent against Cecilys commands
| and his own promise he could meet with
| nothing but rebuff. Yes; he was in love:
Ha i1a1 he ir,,yo ,Il1y oo
| Nina herself, although with more self-re-
! straint. But he was glad to know the
| truth: 1t strengthened him, and 1t freed
him from a scorn of himself with which he
| that man should be lovesick for house;
! 1t was some solace to find that the house.
| in order to hold his affections, must hold a
woman. too.
Now l know where I am" said Harry.
| He knew what he had to meet now; he
| thought he knew how he would treat him.
self.
An unexpected ally came to his assist
ance. He received a sudden summons
from Mr.. Disney. He found him at work,
| rather weary and disheveled. He turned to
Harry, and said, without preface:
We're going to arbtrate this Baril1land
| question, on behalf of the company, you
know, as we'll as ourselves. Another in
stance of my weakness, Lord Murchison' s
| going out for us. He starts In fortnight.
| He asked me to recommend him a secre-
! tary- And l want to have one in whose
| go?"
| Here was help In avoiding Cecily But
| what about Plinkhampton? Harry hesitat-
ed a moment.
| Il should like it. but I've contracted
| certain obligations of a business kind at
/ home" he said.
| Well, If you're bound keep your word
/ and do the work. If you find you're not I
| should advise you to take this. It's a good
| beginning. This is Tuesday. Tell me on
| Saturday. Goodbye" He rang a hand
| bell on the table, and, as his secretary
| please"
| I'm very grateful to you. anyhow"
| That's all right, Tristram. Goodbye"
| There was no doubt what would be the
| practical way of showing gratitude. Harry
| went out
He left Mr.. Disney's presence determined