Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-30
CHAPTER xII-Continued.

She would nave OleQ TdlHtI tiidh nav
given utterance to his confession. but Idris
had read the secret in her eyes; she knew
that he had read it, and the knowledge
added to her confusion and MADE her uh-
able to meet his glance.
There was a long silence between them.
What was there to talk about? Their mu-
tuaI love? That was of necessity for
hidden subject; and to talk of anything
less than this seemed a mockery OF the
deep feelings within them.
Parted from Lorelie by adverse fortune
what remained for Idris but to face the
situation bravey?
"Mademolselle" he said, using from
habit the title that was no longer hers,
IL take my leave. Forgive me, II my
words have caused you pain. Farewell
But not forever We may meet from
time to time aS-as friends
Did she not realize that such 1rIeno-
ship might be perilous? No; and as ldrls
gazed upon her clear eyes he saw there
a spirit too pure to suffer itself 10 90
wrong. ~ ..,
YOU have ever entertained this-this feel
ing for me-
idris smiled bitterly. He knew-she knew
that it was the one event In their lives
they never would forget.
At their last parting he had kissed her
hand: he did not venture even to touch
it now, but, lifting his hat. he quietly
withdrew.
With tears in her eyes Lorelie watched
him till he was lost to view.
IF you knew the truth. she murmured.
your feeling for me would not be love,
but hatred.
In melancholy mood Idris returned to
Wave Crest Beatrice, quick to interpret
his looks guessed what had happened; and
though the result was such as she herself
desired yet the sight of his detection
cbad bar tn nniCE and filled her With
a mixed feeling of pity and anger. Who,
forsooth was Mademoiselle Riviere that she
should treat Idris' love as of no account?
Aware that Loreie was not favorably
regarded by Beatrice Idris had prudently
refrained from making the latter con-
1dante of his love-affair. but now. c.,ting
down beside her, he proceeded to tell Der
all
But when Beatrice heard the amazing
news that Lorelie Riviere was in reality
Viscountess Walden, and therefore,
her cousin by marriage. look not merely
of wonder but of dismay stole over her
face.
Have you proof of this?' she asked
breathlessly.
Proof of what?" exclaimed Godfrey en-
tering the room at this juncture
That Mademoiselle Riviere is Wars
wife, she replied
We'll. l did not ask her to produce her
marriage certificate" said Idris, somewhat
vexed that Lorelie's word should be doubt
ed. For the truth of her words 1 had bet
ter refer you to your cousin Lord Walden
himself. We see now the cause of his sur
illness the other night. Any fellow with SO
lovely wife might be jealous on learning
that she had spent five hours in lonely
cave tete-a-tete with a stranger
He might. nevertheless, have had the
grace to give YOU a few words of thanks
for saving her life," remarked Godfrey.
II suppose 1t is from fear of his father that
he keeps the marriage secret?'
Presumably.
Hum! rather hazardous to bring her so
near to Ravenhall." said Godfrey.
And she is really married?. murmured
In what way" asked Godfrey. Come.
Trixie, let us learn the reason of your
past aversion"
1t was some time before Beatrice could
be induced to reply.
You remember the case of old Gideon?'
she said at last.
Perfectly" replied Godfrey adding for
Idris enlightenment, he was an old farm
err at the point of death. l was unable to
procure nurse, and Trixie generously Of
fered her services The poor fellow died
at midnight: and Trixie. though pressed to
remain. left the place and came walking
home all by herself, reaching here at =
in the morning. But what has this to do
with Mademoiselle Riviere-I beg her par
don. Lady Walden?'
ION my way home" replied Beatrice,
Il had to pass her villa. and whom should
l see walking up the garden path toward
the house but Ivar himself He had not
noticed me- and 1 did not make myself
known to him: in truth, / was so much
amazed that / could do nothing but stand
silent under the shadow of the trees, watch
ing. or. If you will, playing the spy. / saw
him open the door of the villa with key
of his own and go in. Not knowing that
he was married 10 Mademoiselle Riviere,
what conclusion could l come to but that
that"
And here Beatrice paused leaving her
hearers to guess the nature of her conclu-
sion.
And you thought that of Mademoiselle
Riviere?" said Idris; and Beatrice felt
keenly the approach in his tone.
Il have never whispered my suspicion to
any one-not even to you, Godfrey.
The sequel shows the advantage of hold
ing ones tongue replied her brother. 1T
has saved you from having to make a hui
initiating apology to the new viscountess.
Well seeing that she Is now your cousin
you cannot do better than acknowledge the
relationship by making call upon her
But Beatrice shrank from this ordeal.
Il have always shown her by my manner
that l disliked her. She must think me an
odious creature
"On the contrary" replied Idris. when
ever your name has been mentioned she
has spoken well of you and has expressed
herself as DESTROYS of your friendship"
Beatrice was finally persuaded into
promising that she would pay the
new viscountess visit the morrow !;
after which, Godfrey, turning to Idris ad-
dressed himself to a new theme.
Il spent this morning he said. lin my
laboratory over that piece of steel taken
from your so-called Vikings skull and
have discovered II to be of modern fabrIca-
ton"
All, And how do you prove itg" said
ldrlS, preparing to argue the point.
Chemical analysis shows that the steel
contains per cent of platinum.
What of that?" said Idris bIuntiy
Much. Platinum is a metal of modern
discovery, first hit on in the year-weii L
forget the exact date. some time about the
beginning of the eighteenth century. There
fore. any steel that is combined with plat
mum must have been forged within the
past two hundred years, and consequently
cannot be a relic of Morse days
For what purpose is platinum mixed
with the steel?'
ITO impart additional hardness"
Il must accept your dictum final. or
course the conclusion is that If the steel
be modern. the skull must be modern too.
L must give up my belief. Miss Ravengar.
that | possess the skull of your Viking an
cestor. But them he went on. "Orm was
buried within that hillock: the pictured
tapestry and the name Ormfell prove 1t.
What, then. has become of his remains!"
''Crumbled to dust, perhaps. with the
lapse of time" suggested Beatrice.
The existence of the tapestry confutes
you. Solid bone would not crumble, II a
wooden fabric will endure"
True" replied Beatrice, with a puzzled