Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13

the engagement If so, that would well ac
count for her violent hostility toward him.
Such thoughts, with others, flashed
through my mind as 1 sat there facing her.
She was leaning back, her hands fallen idly
upon her lap, peering straight at me
through that spotted veil which, half con-
cealing her wondrous beauty, impaired to
her an additional air of mystery
You have quarreled with Sir Bernard /
presume? l hazarded.
"Quarreled"' she echoed. 1--WE were never
friends"
Truly she possessed all clever woman's
presence of mind in the evasion of a leading
question
HE was an acquaintance of yours?"
can acquaintance-yes But l have al
ways distrusted him"
Mary likes him, l believe" I remarked.
HE poor Courtenay's most intimate
| friend for many years"
"She judges him from that standpoint
alone ANY of her husbands friends were
| hers, and she was fully cognizant of Sir
Demands unceastng attention to the suf-
ferer."
eff that Is 80 1t is rather a pity that she
| was recently so neglectful,' l said.
| 81 know, Ralph--I know the reason of 1t
| ALL" she faltered. II can't explain to you,
! because 1t is not just that / should expose
my sisters secret. But l know the truth
| which when revealed, will make it clear
| 70 the world that her apparent neglect was
4 not culpable. She had motive"
| "A motive in going to town Of an even
| ing and enjoying herself!'' l exclaimed.
| "Of course, the motive was to obtain re-
| Taxation. When man Is more than twice
| the age Of his wife, the latter Is apt to
| chafe beneath the golden fetter. It's the
| same everywhere-in Mayfair as in Mile
| End; in Suburbia as In rural village. Diff
! ference of age is difference Of temperament;
| and difference Of temperament opens a
| breach which only a lover can fill."
| She silent-her eyes cast down. She
| saw that the attempt to vindicate her sis
4 tQr
| lousy failed
| Eyes, Ralph. you are right" she admitted
| at last. Judged from philosophic stand
| point, a wife ought not to be more than
ten years her husband Junior. Love which
| arises out of mere weakness Is as easily
| fixed upon one object as another; and con-
| sequently Is at all times transferable. 1t is
| so pleasant to women to be admired
| and so soothing to be loved that the grand
| trial of constancy to young woman mar
| ried to elderly man is not to add one
more conquest to her triumphs. but to earn
| the respect and esteem of the man who is
her husband. And it is difficult. OF that
| am convinced
| There was for the first time true ring
of earnestness in her voice. and 1 saw by
her manner that her heart was overbur-
dened by the sorrow that had fallen upon
her errant sister. Her character was a
| complex one which l had failed always to
| analyZe and 1t seemed just then as though
| her endeavor was to free her sister Of all the
| responsibilities of her married life. She had
| made the effort once before. prior to the
tragedy, but its motive was hidden In OBJ
| scurity
Women are often very foolish" she
| went on, half apologeticaly Having
chosen their lover for his suitability they
usually allow the natural propensity of
| their youthful minds to invest him with
every ideal of excellence That is a fatal
error committed by the majority of women
We ought to be satisfied with him as he is
rather than imagine him what he never
can be-
Yes" l said smiling at her philosophy
1T would certainly save them a world OF
disappointment in after life. 1t has al
ways struck me that the extravagant in
vestiture of fancy does not belong, as Ii
commonly supposed. to the meek, true and
abiding attachment which It is woman's
highest virture and noblest distinction &c
feel. l strongly suspect it is vanity and
not affection which leads a woman to be.
lieve her lover perfect; because 1t enhance.
her triumph to be the choice of such 6
man.
All I'm glad that we agree, Ralph" SHE
! said, with sigh and an air Of deep seri
} BUSINESS. The part Of the true-hearte6
woman is to be satisfied with her lover
slider him. with all his faults, as suf
ficiently perfect for her No after develop
ment Of character can then shake her faith
no ridicule or exposure can weaken hel
tenderness for a single moment; while OF
the other hand. she who has blindly be-
! lieyed her lover to be without fault. mus
ever be in danger of awaking to the con
viction that her love exists no longer"
las In your own case" added In an en-
deavor to obtain from her the reason of thi.
curious discourse.
My own case!' she echoed mo
Ralph. l have never believed YOU to he 8
{ perfect ideal 1 have loved you because
knew that you loved me. Our tastes ar,
In common. our admiration for each othe,
is mutual. and our affection strong ant
everiincreasing-unti /.
And faltering, she stopped abruptly
without concluding her sentence.
Until what?" asked
Tears sprang to her eyes One drop rollet
j down her white cheek until 1t reached he