Evening star., 1901-04-27

herself into Addie Tr,stram's attitude
There was the head on 7the bend of the
There srs Mas all the hs df f0a Woa out n
sensate to love, greedy to find sin duh
to see grace and beauty--blind to a wo-
mans self, while it caviled at a woman's
deeds. U,s
repeated, his eyes set op her face,
'sYes-'Per Ensem Jusditah'' - she laugh
ed But he lies, and not buying and SELL
'3My word is givsn. | must marry her
A'T Better fling Blent aaaat." she flushed
out in brilliant indignation.
And if 1 did that?'
"A woman would love, you for yourself
she cried, leaning forward to him with
hands clasped
Again he rose and paced the length of
the long gallery. The moment was come.
There was a great alliance against him.
He fought still At every step he took
he came to something that still was his,
that he priced. that he loved, that meant
much to him. that typified his position as
Tristram of Blent. A separate pang wait
ed on every step, a great agony rose in
him with the thought that he might be
walking this room as Its master for the
last time. Yes, it had come to that. For
against all, threatening to conquer all, was
the girl who sat in his mothers chair, her
very body asserting the claim that her
thoughts did not know and her mouth
fected her The upturned eyes were full
of excitement, the parted lips waited for 4
word from him.
He returned to Cecily and stood by her
The sympathy between them kept her still:
she watched, she waited. For minutes he
was silent: all thought Of time was gone.
Now she knew that he had something great
to say. Was it that he would and could
have no more to do with jamie 1ver, that
another had come, that his word must go,
and that he loved her? She could hardly
believe that. 1t was short time since
he had seen her. Yet why could it not
be true of him, if it We're true of her?
And was it not? Else why did she hang
on his words. and keep her eyes on his?
Else why was it so still in the room. as
though the world, too, waited for speech
from his lips?
Il can't do it," burst from him suddenly.
by God, 1 can't do it."
What, Harry?" The words were no
more than breathed.
He came right up to her and caught her
by the arm.
You see all that-everything here. You
love it?"
Yes"
LAS much as I do? AS much as I do?"
His self-control was gone. She made no
answer; she could not understand.
With an effort he mastered himself.
Yes, you love It," he said and a smile
came on his face. I'm glad you love 1t.
AS God lives, unless you'd loved it, I'd
have spoken not a word of this But you're
one of u.s. You're a Tristram. I don't
know the real rights of 1t, but I'll run no
risk of cheating a Tristram You love it
all?"
Yes, yes Harry. But, why, dear Harry.
why?"
why? Because it's yours"
He let go her hand and reeled back q
step.
Mine? What do you mean?" she cried.
Still the idea, the wild idea, that he Of
fered it with himself was in her mind
Its yours, not mine It's never been
mine~~ You're the owner of it. You're
Tristram of Blent''
IT Tristram of Blent2" She was ut
terly bewildered. For heswas not a lover
No lover ever spoke like that.
Yes, l say, yes His voice rose i'm
periousy as it pronounced the words that
threw away his rule. "YeaFre Lady iris
tram of Blent.'
She rose to her height ana stood facing
him. IA
and you? And youg.
"I?-Im Harry" -
Harry? Harry? Harry what?'
He smiled as he looked at her; as his
eyes met hers he smiled.
Harry what? Harry nothing" he said
Harry nothing at all" =
He turned and left her alone in the room
She sank back into the great armchair
where Addie Tristram had been wont to
sit.
(To be continued)