Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12

the chair in which he had sat gripped in
one hand, lifted far from the floor. His
face quite white, jaw set, lips
straight, thin line, and his eyes burned UNI
der lowered brows. He stood so, leaning
forward a bit, staring at Mackenzies
bowed head for several seconds, l should
think. Then all at once he fell back into
his seat seemed to collapse. crumple to-
gether, and laid his arms upon the table,
and dropped his head upon them. His
shoulders twisted and heaved.
L think that for the time the minds OF
all of us were wholly with him and that
we gave little or no thought to the stricken
princess.
caught Won Altdorrs eyes, and, as 1 live,
they We're filled with tears, and his brows
were twisted and drawn in grief Per-
haps my own were like them. l take no
shame for it. He went across to the table
and bent over the man who lay there. He
slipped an arm about the bowed shoulders.
r Denis, old ladi' said he. Could that be
Won Altdorfs voice? 1t was gentle as a
woman's, why, dear old lad 1T had to
come You knew 1t had to come. Don't
let it knock you under. God knows, lad,
we're all sorry enough for the whole
wretched business; and God knows we all
wish it could end otherwise-but 1t can't
There never a chance that 1t Could.
not an honorable chance. Come, lad, you've
played mans part, play the man nows
You're losing what's all the world to you
Aye, I know, l know. but you've made
trio of friends here that'll stand by you to
the last ditch. Their hearts are sore for
you. lad. Come, buck up! There's much
to do yet. The games not over by long
time
Denis raised his head from his arms. HIS
face was quite white and very haggard.
but there was no trace of feeling upon It.
Then he drew long breath, stretching
his arms outward, and was his old self
again, save that there was smile, upon
his lips light in his eyes, but only an
utter calm.
He went over to Mackenzie. who had left
lNfarrf
the room. He took him by the shoulders
and looked into his face.
How does-how does she take it?' he
asked. Was she-badly-shocked? Too
badly?"
Old Mackenzie looked away
She s-much-incensed against we, lad"
said he gently. She's bit unreasonable
just know. She won't see that the thing
to see her-now.'
yes, yesv' said Denis, impatiently.
Yes, yes, / know all that-of course she
thinks me a blackguard-I know all that
Why. in Gods name, shouldn't sheY
But how has she taken the shock? VIII 1t
do her great i'll? VIII she bear 1t safelyf
Tell me If you think she'll get over IT."
His only thought seemed to be for-her
safety and welfare-to make sure that she
would bear the strain.
.'Why. as for that" said Mackenzie.
yves lad think she'll weather it. She's
strong and well. She's able to meet
great shock. IT'S her-her resentment an
sense O. wrong that's keeping her up now
in the worst of it. She's very angry an
her hurt pride is all in her thoughts. What
it will be when the full realization comes
to her later, only God knows. but I think
she'll weather it. She has great reserve
strength, an as I've said she's very angry.
Anger is a buffer to grief, of which no one
but a medical man appreciates the value"
Denis went back to his table and rested
his head upon his hands
That's all that matters" said he weari-
ly. "Just that she comes through 1t safely,
that she takes no lasting harm. The rest
is-why the rest is-nothing."
Go be continued tomorroW.l