Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-07

tunity seemed now to present ITSELF and
she resolved to essay a bold stroke.
I'VE shall have to choose some one to
supply Lanfranc's place." said the earl.
turning to his son.
Permit me to offer myself" suggested
Lorelie.
Lord Ormsby raised his eyebrows in
manifest surprise.
Ladies have never been admitted to that
vault. he replied I'm that respect 1t re-
sembles the Baptist's chapel in the Genoese
Cathedral
But that chapel is open to ladies on one
day in the year." replied Lorelie. There
fore, your parallel will not hold"
! Are you really serious In making this
SUGGESTION asked the earl
Perfectly"
What Is your reason?'
Loreile shrugged her shoulders.
You don't inquire reason from a wom-
an. she replied ut would be hard for
me TO give my reason. Curiosity, mainly;
the desire of seeing what no other woman
has seen. or ever will see.''
The Initiated have to swear an oath to
keep the secret" said WAR
That gives quite a romantic charm to
the adventure. Lorelie replied
Ihe earl sat silent for moment as
II Weighing the matter. and then cast st
ms son look which seemed TO
convey a silent suggestion, a suggestion
mat appeared to meet with tacit accept
ance from the other
| There Is really no reason why we should
Better one of the family than an outsider
And you are one of us now" he added with
a sigh, as though the fact were much to be
esaS fonr fou shall be one Of the priyi,
you like to pay your first visit?"
Why not now?" she asked impulsively,
rising from her seat as she spoke
"Humph!' replied the earl, thoughtfully.
suppose we say tonight. The late hour
Will enable us the better to escape the pry-
| ing eyes OF the servants. You consent?
5000! Then we will meet in this dining
hall little before twelve tonight But
not whisper of this to any one Let the
matter be kept secret
Lorelie rose and sought the retirement Of
her own room, not without wonder that the
earl should accept her strange proposal al
most as soon as he heard it. Then as she
recalled the curious look he had cast at
War, together with his injunction to OBJ
serve secrecy respecting the intended visit
there swept over her a sudden wave of cold
feeling induced by a thought so dreadful
that she could scarcely bring herself to en-
terrain it. But the idea would persist in
stamping itself in letters Of fire UPON her
mind.
II know he hates me-" she gasped. II
saw that In his eyes when he first heard my
name. l know he hates me, but-my God!
to such an extent as that! Is he afraid that
the daughter will seek to avenge her father?
And will he get 1var to CONSENT!
While she was occupied Win these terri
BILE misgivings her husband came slouching
In He seated himself on a chair and re-
garded her for moment with a strange
expression that set her trembling.
so you've quite made up your mind to
visit the vault?'
She assented with a nod, not daring to
trust herself to speak. Her heart was
beating like steam hammer; faint MUIR
murs were ringing in her ears; she seemed
to see War as through a mist
Bah. you lack the courage. You VIII
be CRYING off from the venture before the
night comes.
in a low tone, striving to control the ire
mors Of her voice.
II will not cry off: no." she added. en-
phasizing her words, as If to fix MS atten-
ton. mot il it should end in my death
war started and glanced suspiciously at
her. ,,w,~ 20 a,
Suddenly Lorelie rose. and walking 70 an
oak press produced small piece OF faded
black velvet fringed on one edge with Sill
yer lace Sitting down with needie anu
thread, she proceeded with deft myers 70
manipulate this velvet into soat e ot or
mental bow, without cutting the faprlc OF
in any way diminishing Its original size.
Her husband moodily watched her, won
derine why she should form dress orna-
ment from such faded stun anu WHY s enr
should select this particular juncture ZOE
making 1t. ,,;,o- no
asked in a sullen voice
the half finished article towards him. Of
what do you suppose this velvet once
formed part?
ut might have been cut from a pail by
the look of it,
IT commend your assortment lou al
not far wrong.
perhaps you will enlighten me- he ask
ed. scowling. as he noticed her air OF satis-
faction at his perplexity
''It is not the first time you have seen
this velvet and its parent fabric, SAID
Lorelie.
Approaching mirror. she held the bow
against the neck-band of her dress
II shall wear this bow tonight. True. 1t
does not look very pretty, yet 1t may serve
as a talisman. and
But on looking up she found that Ivar
was gone The velvet dropped to the car
pet and she clasped her hands.
"They mean it," she murmured. Il can
read it in Wars guilty manner-half re.
solve, half fear: letting dare not walt
upon L would My God! But l will go
through with it. 1 will put their base cour-
age to the test.
Her first fears had vanished, leaving her
hard and firm steel The spirit that
loves danger for it's own sake. the spirit de-
rived from her Corsican ancestors, began to
reawake in the breast Of their nineteenth
century descendant
At g in the evening Lorelie who had spent
the afternoon in arranging her plan of ac-
ton, stole quietly to her bed room having
told the butler that she would not come
DOWN 70 dinner
IT must Sleep" she murmured. that my
faculties may be fresh and unimpafred for
tonights work"
Her first care was to lock and bolt the
door that opened from the corridor. and
next that communicating with Ivar's bed
room. She paid considerable attention to
these DOORS as well as to the fastenings of
the windows. traveller putting up for the
night at some lonely and suspicious hos
telry could not have shown more caution.
Thus secured from intrusion she laid her.
self down. dressed as she was. upon the
bed. But fully two hours elapsed ere she
succeeded In falling asleep.
When she awoke she found herself shiv-
ering with cold and in total darkness. For
few moments she lay dreamily conscious
that some ordeal awaited her, but unable
at first to recall what 1t was. Then mem
DRY revived. The visit to the vault! Yes!
that was 1t: and the thought made her
pulses quicken.
She rose procured a light and found that
it was close upon midnight.
$50 late They will begin to think that
am not coming.
Fastening the velvet bow to the neck
band of her dress, She unlocked the cham
Der door and walked out into the corridor.
A deep silence reigned throughout the man.
sion. a silence that to her imagination had
something awesome in 1t. 1t seemed like
the prelude to a tragedy. With a firm step
she descended the staircase and made her
l J.-.t~ l..