Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08

she asked. SOFTLY with her appealing eyes
fixed on his face.1Don't you love me any
more?'' -
-d His senses n 1ssf but he met her gaze
She smiled. bul loniy for a fiest.ng in
slant. All the youth faded from her face
and her lips whitehead. The words danced
on the page of her book as she tried to
read again His footsteps died away, and
a moment later sha heard his laugh in re-
sponse to some witty sally.
cape: At last, u6dsr pretense of returning
her book. she got into the lib airy, which,
as she-knew, was asnoecupied
There was no need to wear the mask
her book on hefable. her mouth quiverir z
pit1fully. The lights swan and hurt her
eyes. With a sudden impulse she shut Off
the current and CROPPED her way to the win
dow seat in the dark
1t had stopped raining, and two or three
timfd stars wereFto be seen among the
clouds. beyond, in the east, was white
riI5, where the moon was hidden
kerWlns stern, uncompromisirg No
sounded again In her ears. Sic knelt by
the window seat, burying her face in the
cushions and sobbed bitterly, he- se,f-con-
troll quite gone.
Shortly afterward he missed her and went
IN search of her. He entered the library,
and, finding it dark, was about to leave the
room, when the sound of womans sobs
came through the stiffness. cutting into his
heart like a knife. He had reached the
window seat before she realized that any
one was near her.
"Helenw he exclaimed. ''What are YOU
doing here?"
Playing solitaire" she answered, with a
desperate effort to be calm-"the last re-
source of vacant mind
She tried to laugh. but failed miserably.
kerWtn sat down on the window seat and
Grew her up beside him. The moon broke
through the clouds and revealed the sweet
sadness OF her face, wet with telltale tears.
q dnr -arrr, cta rnd aim n nd
he put his arm around her, but she started
from him violently.
How dare you touch mel" she cried 81
hate your
'Helent' he said, tenderly. my darling
girl"'
At the unexpected gentleness she broke
down. Like many another woman, she was
strong in the face of opposition, but weak
at the touch of sympathy. Unrebuked he
turned her lovely, tear-staned face to his
and, for the second time In his life, kissed
her
OH she sobbed, haven't you insulted
me enough?" The tears came with a rush
and she lay helpless in his arms.
Don't, darling. don't" he pleaded.
can't stand your tears"
His kisses fell unheeded on her hair
You've been-so horrid-to me-all day!
You said you wanted to be a hermit-in
little hut-and you've made me-wretched-
and you said-you didn't-love me-any
more!''
With great joy surging in his heart he
kissed her again.
you little wild bird" he whispered have
l won you at last ?'
Gradually she became calm. He was
soothing her only a lover can, gently
wiping away her tears and pleading pas
sionately for pardon-and love. She sat
with her head against his shoulder, like
tired child, in that listless peace which
comes after pain.
'"Fell me-" she said, was 1t true?"
WAS what true, dariing?"
Everything"
Don't you know, Helen. after all these
years of love and waiting?''
Tell me-dear!" she pleaded.
He laughed happily and drew her close.
crushing her lips to his. Far In the dis
lance a clock chimed twelve.
I've been lying all day, sweetheart" he
said