The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-02-03
ACROSS HIS PATH.
BY Ida Coventry.


++f.+++*s++s4++++++++++s.'
prompt reply, for l knew how much
you and Sir Hervey had been to each
other. Jealous people are so unrea-
sonable, are they not?"
80 | should imagine"
"Ah, the conditional mood! That is
delightful. Then you do not bear me
any i'll will?"
Ralston looked at the upturned face
and rejoined: iii will? How could
bear you anything but the very re-
verse;" With grandiloquence he tried
to cover his embarrassment; but Ade-
laide Wolverton was not deceived. She
knew, and knew also that Ralston was
aware of her knowledge, that their
meeting had proved no ordinary one
For love had awakened, love that
would never sleep again.
81 see,' she said, slowly unfurling
her fan, your emotion is due merely
to gratitude. Mr.. Ralston, how long
have you been away from England?'i
The change OF tone and subject was
not lost upon Ralston. They had been
treading on delicate ground, and,
thankful for the deviation, he replied:
Two years this month, but it seems
like four-I have seen and done so
much in the time"
Turning to the girl beside him, he
noted the shade of bitterness that had
crept over her face, and somehow as
he looked he knew that she was not
happy in her engagement. A wave of
pity for Sir Hervey welled up in his
heart, for the baronet idolized HIS
young betrothed.
g.
Sir Hervey Ralston, honorable and
clear-souled himself, incapable Of sub
terfuge or pretense, was never ready to
imagine evil of any shape in others.
And if during the weeks that followed
it seemed to him that Adelaide grew
more and more impassive, while a spir-
II of unrest had seized upon his ne
phew, he strove to see no manner of
connection.
And what about Hugh?
gates of heaven and hell been opened
to him, and he revelled in his bliss
only to writhe in the agony involved.
No words on the subject had he and
Adelaide interchanged; thus far they
had been loyal to Sir Hervey. But
Hugh smiled bitterly as he acknowl-
edged to himself the limitations of
that loyalty. None knew better than
he the subtlety of loves confessions.
On the evening of the last day in
March he waited nervously for his un-
cle's approach to the smoking room,
which had been the scene of many a
| confidential talk before his voyage to
New Zealand. Sir Hervey's step SEEM
ed TO have lost its lightness, or so it
seemed to Hugh, as he listened to it
drawing near. He was later, too, in
joining him than was his won't Had
any suspicion crossed his mind? Were
his thoughts Of next weeks happiness
unalloyed, or were they shadowed by
a vague yet unmistakable cloud?
Hugh Ralston wondered but said
nothing as his uncle entered the room.
The latter, with his usual precision
and neatness, lit a cigar, seated him
self, and was soon engrossed in the
pages of the evening paper.
Thankful to escape the customary
evening chat, Hugh paced monoton-
ously up and down the room, with
temples throbbing and the blood surg
ing through his veins. How could he
broach the subject that tonight must
be faced once and for all?
my dear boy" said Sir Hervey at
length, glancing over the top of his
paper. could you not sit down? You
seem restless tonight"
Hugh dropped into the nearest chair.
Silence reigned for full five minutes,
a silence that Ralston broke by say.
ing, with the composure born of des-
pair: Il cannot stand England after
all, Uncle Hervey | am off again next
Saturday. You can do without me on
the 9th, can you not?" He laughed q
little curiously as he added, Il am
hardly necessary part of the play
Sir Hervey folded his newspaper
laid 1t on the table, and deliberately
adjusted his glasses before looking in
his nephew's direction. DO under
stand you Alright? You prefer not to be
with me on the day of my marriage?'
Hugh Ralston bowed his head.
Sir Hervey rose from his chair and
instinctively the younger man did the
same, a movement that brought then
face to face as the words, you dare
not be with mel" broke from the baro
nets lips.
The eyes of the two men met ant
the soul of each was read. Then az
Hugh leaned on the mantelpiece, bury,
ing his face on his arms with a groan
1t was the elder man who proved tn,
stronger, who first brought light into
the darkness that had descended.
Hugh was conscious at last of tn,
pressure of hand upon his shoulder
and as through a vast space and tim,