Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14

and believe lies wrote while in fear of my
life. You would"
She stopped him.
THAT paper was directed to me-" she
said. LAS for force She turned to
Dawson. somewhat as a queen might turn
to her subjects. and then Of a sudden stood
still Gained and subdued by the gravity
and the patience of his face.
IT'S pref y emery cuss as would put a
lie to paper for any man." he said.
She believed him. and with just the sus-
picion of dis lain in her movements, once
more turned to Weldon.
II can guess what was on that paper"
she said. butts it true?'
A word of denial trembled on his lips, but
would not come. Then pride came to his
rescue. to submerge any real feeling he
may have felt. Drawing a cigar from his
pocket, he lit it, and then, buttoning his
coat with deliberate care. he walked to the
door.
TT is true" he said slowly; goodbye"
Very quietly Dawson lowered the trigger
of his pistol and placed the weapon in his
pocket. and all the while her warm, blue
eyes followed his every movement. Pres
emily from the hall came the stamping OF
feet and then the street door opened and
closed.
He is gomez" she whispered.
Yes he answered.
''Will-will you call some one? L feel
faint"
He caught her as she tottered toward
him, and taking her wholly in his arms, he
bore her Off to a sofa in a corner of the
| room. AS he laid her down her white face
and colorless lips frightened him, and for a
moment he was of mind to call for help.
But there would then be questions asked
that neither he nor she would care to an
swer, and after a moments consideration
he drew a chair to the side Of the sofa and
began to fan her face.
1t was a pretty face that was turned up
to him. but one in which the chin was woe
fully weak, for she was a creature of i'm
pulses. For all that, as he sat and watched
her she seemed to him perfect, and sud
den fiery passion that was more than love
rose up from the depths of his heart and
choked in his throat.
He arose to his feet. He must leave her,
but first he must tell her ALL and, going to
the table, he began to write. Once she
stirred. but he did not hear her; and when
he came to his feet again she was lying as
he had left her.
have known she was surveying him through
a waverng slit of open eyeld. For a long
while he stood over her, tall and silent;
then. laying trembling hand on her fore
head. he stopped suddenly, kissed her and
went unSteadily out of the room
She waited until she heard him climbing
the stairs: then she swung out on the floor,
and walking to the table seized the paper
| Already the corners of the room were dark
with the dusk Of night, and, taking it to the
window. she held it up to the light and
| read
Miss Madson-When your brother asked
| me to come east and visit him, 1 thought
| mine superintendent of the old school
| was just as good as the next man; now
know different. l don't want you to think
| l played dirt with Weldon or was jealous
| / only wanted to save you, for 1 knew he
| wasn't straight. And now that I've done
| it, I'm going home. / love you, and 1 al
ways will, and some day. when I'm some
! thing more than am now, I'm coming
| back here again, and If you're not married
| then, I'm going to tell it to you all over
| again.
| ROBERT DAWSON"
! The paper fell to the floor. Out in the
| darkening garden a cricket sang to a sill
| very edge of moon, but she did not hear
| it. Her mind was graphing with problem
| that was not new to her. but which was
| being solved, perhaps. for the last time
| For many minutes she stood there and
| little by little, as she pondered, a smile of
| happiness stole over her face STOPPING
| she picked the paper from the floor. For u
| moment. she stared at 1t curiously: then
| pressing 1t to her lips. she thrust it into
her bosom and went out into the hall
Like a spectre she stopped at the. stairs
! and stood there waiting. She heard him
| long before he was near her, but her
! tongue seemed suddenly glued solid in her
| mouth, and he was at the door before she
found voice to cry:
| "Robert!"
Isis 1t you. Miss Madson?" he asked
| at length.
| Yes" she said, coming toward him in
| the darkness. She was going to be calm
| and very, very shy, but her hands suddenly
| met his, and in a moment she was lost
in a sea of passion. You are going away
| to be something BETTER she cried, land
| i want to go with you and be something
better too. Won't you take me, Robert ~
| Last night" he began TREMENDOUSLY, but
| she cut him short
Last night is past. I want to go with
| you now"
But why?" he stammered, drawing her
! toward him as though he feared to lose
| her, "why?"
"Because." she said evenly-"because I
love YOU"