Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27

cottaSS that evening. Dixon was never
anything else but taciturn, and the disap
| potntment of the day was simply revolving
| In his mind with the monotonous regularity
/ OF grindstone. They had lost, and that's
| all there was about it. Why talk it over?
1t could do good. He would nurse up
| Lucretia and work back into her by mile
| gallops fitting strength for the Brooklyn
! Derby. With incessant WEAKNESS he rocked
! back and forth. back and forth, in the big
| Boston rocker, while AlliS, at a little table
| In corner of the room. sought to compose
| the letter she wished to send home.
| With apathetic Indifference the girl heard
| a constrained knock at the cottage door,
! she barely looked up as Dixon opened to
| visitor. 1t was Crane who entered
AT almost any other time his visit would
| have been unpleasant. In his presence
| even the most trivial conversation seemed
| shrouded in a background of interested in
! tention but tonight DiXon's constrained de-
| preston weighed heavy her spirits and
| irritated her.
Luck was against you today, Dixon" ex-
claimed the visitor.
They were too strong for the little
mare" answered the trainer, CURLY. Our
cast-off won, of course, but there were
half dozen in the race that would have
beaten Lucretia, l fancy.
Allis looked inquiringly at the trainer; he
had not talked that way to her Then a
light dawned upon the girl. She had not
associated Dixon with diplomacy in her
| mind: she knew that he could maintain
golden silence when the silver of speech
was universe coin to tender but here he
! was actually throwing out to the caller
disparaging estimate of Lucretia's powers.
| This perpetual atmosphere of duplicity was
| positively distastefu. In the free galop of
| the horses there was nothing but an inspi-
ration to honest endeavor, but in this subtle
| diplomacy Alis detected the touch of de-
| Element which her mother so strongly re-
| sented Perhaps tonight she was more SEN
| sitive to depressing influences; at any rate,
| she felt great WEAKNESS OF the "hole
| business. Then a spirit of resolve rose in
| open rebellion against these queStionings;
| almost Jesuitical she became at once.
| What mattered the ways or means so that
| she did no wrong? Was not the saving of
| her fathers health and spirit and his and
| her mothers welfare above all these trivial
| questionings-did not the end Justify the
| means--might not her success, II the fates
| in pity gave her any, save her fTom-frOnl-
| she did not even formulate in thought the
| contingency. for there stood the living en-
| bodiment of it-Crane: everything seemed
| crowding her into the narrow confines OF
her sacrificial crypt.
Crane had spoken to her on his entry. AS
she was writing, he had continued his dis
cussion of the race with Dixon; perhaps,
/ event. hopeful thought born OF de-
sire-he had come to see the trainer. Cranes
next words dispelled that illusion. 1t was
in answer to an observation from Dixon
that he was forced to go to the stables that
Crane said, IF Miss Porter has objec
ton I'll remain a little longer; | want to
discuss matter concerning her father.
Allis felt quite like fleeing to the stables
going to bring up again the subject of his
a affection for her. But the trainer had pass
ed out into the night before she could mus
ter sufficient moral courage to put in exc
cuton her half-formed resolve.
Il wanted to speak about that wager on
Diablo,' began Crane.
A thrill of relief shot through the girls
heart. Why had he troubled himself to
come to her over such trifiing matter-a
pair of gloves, perhaps half dozen pairs
even.
Il put the bet on some time ago." he
continued, when Diablo was at long
price. 1t was only a trihe, as we agreed
upon Allis noticed that he laid par
ticular stress upon the agreed" But it
has netted you quite nice sum, s3,75O.'
Crane said this in a quiet voice without
JUNCTION; but 1t startled the girl-she stared
in blank amazement. Her companion was
evidently waiting for her to say something;
seemed to expect exclamation of joyous
approval. She noticed that the gray eyes
she distrusted had taken on that dis
tasteful peepng expression. as though he
were watching her walk into trap.
Il cannot take it." answered Allis decis-
lively, after pause.
Crane raised his hand in mild protest.
1T was good of you-kind, but how could
l accept large sum of money like that
when am not entitled to it?''
You are-its yours. The bet was made
in your name-I entered it at the time in nv
book, and the bookmaker Is ready to pay
the money over"
Il can't take tt won't No no nor'
Don't be foolishly sensitive Miss AlHs
Think what your father lost when he part
ed with Diablo for trivial 81 900 and it
was my fault, for l arranged the sale Your
father needs-pardon me- but | know his
position, being his banker-yes, he needs
this money badly"
MY father needs good many things, Mr.
Crane, which he would not accent as a Gift.
he would be the last man to do so We
must just go on doing the best we can, and
II we cant succeed, that's all, We can't
accept help, just yet, anyway"
She was bitter the reference to her faith
ers troubles. though meant partly In kind
ness, angered her. 1t caused her to feel the
meshes OF the net drawing closer about her
and binding her free will. The fight was
indeed on. More than ever she determined
to struggle to the bitter end Almost in
defnably she knew that to ACCEPT this
money, plausible as the Offering was meant
an advantage to Crane.
GU can't leave this large sum with the
bookmaker." he objected. He would like
nothing better, he would laugh in his sleeve.
L can't take 1t, it isn't mine"
Il won't touch It."
Perhaps 1 had better speak to vonr
father about it, said Crane. tentatively:
ne can nave no objection to accepting this
money that has been Won"
Father won't take it, either" answered
the girl Il know his ideas about such mat
ters He won't take it,
Crane brought all his fine reasoning DOW
ers to bear on Allis. but failed signaIiy in
his OBJECT. He was unaccustomed to being
baked. bat the girls firm determination
was more than match for his adaptable
sophistry. He had made no headway was
quite beaten. when Dxon's opportune re-
turn prevented absolute discontinue Crane
Ieft shortly, saying to Alis, as he babe her
goodnight: I'm sorry You look upon the
matter in this light. Ny object in coming
tonight was to give you a little hope for
brightness in your gloomy hour of bad luck
put perhaps l had better speak to your
father
I'd rather you didn't" she answered
somewhat pleadlngly. DIR. Rathbone has
cautioned us all against worrying father
ana TINS could have no other result than to
distress him. ~ ~
Allis' letter had been completed, but she
now added postscript, telling ner mother
prlefiy of Cranes insistence over the bet
ana beseeching her to devise some nlan for
keeping this new disturbing element from
her father. o--
Crane was remaining over night in Grave
send, and going back to his quarters he
reviewed mentally the evenings campaign
He had expected opposition from Allis but
had hoped to overcome the Anticipated oh
Jections. He had failed in this but is was
only check. not defeat. He smiled com
placently over his power of self-control IN
having allowed hint of his absorbing
passion to escape him.
This acceptance of money nv Allie +ba