Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-08
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iOVe-that he knew his wife was living all
the time-and in his grief and indignation
ne told her he never again would vex her
py SO much as syllable, written or spoken
untll-or unlesS-she sent for him Premier
you Know. made him believe she had sent
he mad with him the proofs that she had
sMroneeo Mm and two or three letters Of
hers ana a portrait that he had retained
only Tor few days. These he had placed
IN one packet addressed to her Younger
sister that she might restore them-that
sv nsnt Know ne was innocent in case he
never returned-and Agatha repented of her
words. You know the rest
PUT Wnat-else-did he tell?" asked Rex,
r ne .o,o me-nothing, Rex until he saw
And you have known-r,
Ever s1nce-the summer you went back
10 washington, Rex. She wrote me late in
august. We have been writing ever since.
knew" eA eA
Slowly he arose from the bench and
stepped forth into the starlight and stood
mere, sorrow-stricken, shame-stricken. The
gay was done. The story was told. She
knew then what he had been; that not
Chalmers, but he. had won. unworthily, the
neart or gentle and trusting girl; had
piedged to that girl love already given to
another A bat. circling. swooping about
mis- head, dove close to the rustic entrance
at his back, close to the sweet winsome
race just peering forth in search of him,
and she uttered little half-stif1ed shrek
at which he turned Instantly But now she
was laughing at her own nervousness, only
the laugh had so little Of merriment He
would have turned away again. but she had
arm. Shall l tell you what she said
then, Rex"
He bowed his head He would take his
medicine manfully
"She said you not only could not telI-you
could not act-a lie"
. 'Edtha." he interrupted. impetuously,
IT isn't so! l did lie to her. l told her L
did-love her. Her face haunts me even
now. l was false to herI was false to
you"
That was my fault. Rex she said. very
simply, and then, he would not raise his
head and look at her. she spoke again.
You speak Of her face, Rex. l know 1t
is lovely; yet, you see 1t as it was per-
haps, In SO and not-as 1t is today"
He turned upon her, surprise and question
in his eyes.
II told you what she said-then. Shall 1
tell you what she says-now?" And she
took from her girdle the dainty little note
he had but half seen. "Oh, by the way"
she continued just bit mischievously, do
you not miss Colonel Winn?"
"Winn! Why, I've lost track of him for
a week. said he, dismayed at thought of
his neglect
ling. Then. half playfully, Now, there's
soldier who stands by his guns and never
gives up
DO you mean-that Winn is there-at
Brookside ?" he asked half in delight, half
in doubt.
so sayeth-this letter" replied Miss
Rayno-, pursuing up her pretty lips. Then,
as he made no move save to drop his head
again, sloomily staring at the gimmering
lights far out upon the waters, she regard
ed him with deserved displeasure. He could
not yet forgive himself, even though for
given. 1T was getting late and marching or
ders might come with the morrow. There
was little left to say, but there was much
to be done, before she could let him go.
Rex, Il is damp-and 1 am fearful for
your arm" Its sling had been discarded,
but he had a way of thruSting the right
hand into the breast of his coat-a way
that spoke of pain and weakness. How is
it-now?"
Doing fairly WELL he said It's lucky
there's been no use for it since-since APP
pomattaN.
He, a soldier, was thinking of one thing.
She a soldiers sweetheart, was thinking
of quite another.
NO use, Rex?" she half murmured. the
mobile lips twitching or quivering again,
merriment or distress, mischief pleading,
which was it? How could he tell unless he
looked upon her, but that ne stood ashamed
to do 80 BUNDLED was he in his own regard.
"Editha, then you know why 1 dared not
speak. You know all, think, except that
all the time l loved you
THAT is what-Alice wrote she whis-