Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10
SUCCEEDED AT LAST IN GRIPPING HIM By THE THROAT

Just like that evil-tongued mischief
maker! I've told you already that 1 detest
her She was my friend once-it was she
who allured me from my husbands side
Why she exercises such. an influence over
poor Ethelwyn I can't tell. 1 do hope she'll
leave their house and come back home. You
| must try and persuade her to do so.''
do you think. then, that the woman has
| lied?' I asked
II am certain of 1t. Ethelwyn has never
| a thought for any man save yourself. I'll
vouch for, that"
But what object can she have in telling
me an untruth?"
The widow smiled.
"A very deep one. probably. You don't
you would suspect all her actions Of Interior
motive"
well SAID after a pause. ito tell the
| truth, wrote to Ethelwyn last night with
| a view to reconciliation"
you did!' she cried. joyously. ''Then
you have anticipated me, and my appeal to
you has been forestalled by your own con-
science-eh?"
Exactly" I laughed ''she has my let
ter by this time. and am expecting wire
| In reply. have asked her to meet me at
the earliest possible moment"
Then you have all my Fluctuations
Ralph" she said, in voice that seemed to
culver with emotion. ''She loves you-loves
you with a fiercer and even more passionate
| poor dead husband. OF your happiness /
have no doubt, for I have seen in those
days gone past how you idolized her, and
now supreme was your mutual content
when IN each others society. Destiny that
unknown influence that shapes our ends.
has placed you together and forged a bond
between you that Is unbreakable-the bond
OF perfect love-"
There seemed such a genuine ring in her
voice. and she spoke with such solicitude
for our welfare, that in the conyers atfon I
entirely forgot that after all she was only
acting the part of mediator and was try-
ing to bring US together again in order to
prevent her remarkable secret from being
exposed.
AT some moments she seemed the perfec-
ton OF honesty and integrity without the
slightest affectation of interest or ARTIFICIAL
Hy OF manner, and 1t was this fresh COM
plexity OF her character that utterly baffIed
me. could not determine whether or NOT
she was in earnest.
IT It is really destiny I suppose that to
try and resist II is quite futile.'' remark
ed. mechanically.
Absolutely. Ethelwynn will become vour
wife, and you have all my good wishes for
prosperity and happiness"
I thanked her. but pointed out that the
mat rimoniai project was as yet immature
How foolish you are, Ralphr' She said
tomorrow II you could. =,
.. %Ah! II I could" repeated wistfuily.
UNFORTUNATELY my position is not vet suf-
ncfentiy well assured to justify my marry
ing. Welded poverty is never a pleasing
prospect"
Out you nave the world before you I've
heard Sir Bernard say 50 times without
number. He believes implicitly in you as
man who will rise to the head OF your pro-
fession."
laughed obviously. shaking my head
Il only hope that his anticipations NAV
be realized, said But I fear I'm no
more brilliant than a hundred other men
in the hospitals. 1t takes a smart man
nowadays to boom himself into notoriety
As in literature and law, so In the medical
profession, 1t Isn't the clever man who
rises to the top of the tree. More often It
Is second-rate man, who has private in
f0ence and has gauged the exact worth of
seif-advertisement. This Is an age of repu-
tations quickly made and just az rapidly
lost. In the professional world a new man
rises with every moon"
But that need not be so In your case
she pointed out. with Sir Bernard al
your chief you are surely In unique posi-
tion."
Taking her into my confidence told
her of my ideal Of snug country practice
|-one Of those In which the assistant does
the night work and attends to the club
people, while there 10 nucleus OF country
people a. patients. There are hundreds Of
such practices in England. where doctor
although scarcely known outside his own
district, 10 In position which Harley
street. with all its turmoil Of fashionabie
fads and fanciee. env5es IA the eiysiura OF
what LIE sheald be. The village doctor Of
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