Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-06

lone needn't be-to act on the direct
hints of Providence"
She sat at comfortable ease on the bench,
holding her parasol across her lap. There
was room for two, and John sat down.
Suppose it were a check on an over
drawn account: would Providence intervene
to prevent an overdraft?
That's commercial hypothesis; / think
we should be above such considerations"
Then they were silent. John bent forward
with his elbows on his knees. playing with
his stick and still holding the letter. The
wind came up out OF the sea and blew in
their faces. The brass mountings of the
yacht Shone Respondent In the slanting
rays of the lowering sun. 1t was very
calm and restful in the orchard. Two
robins came and inspected them, and then
few away to one Of the gnarled old trees
to gossip about them
1T happens to be important" said John,
indicating the letter.
"Oh pardon met! with real contrition. It
was not her way to fiirt with young man
over a letter. John held up the envelope go
that she saw the superscription. She knew
the name very well. 1t was constantly in
the newspapers. and the owner of 1t had
dined once at her fathers house.
Hes the head of the syndicate that has
bought the Traction Company. He has
asked me to stay in Ciarkson and run the
street cars
That's very nice. But merit gets re-
warded sometimes"
But 1 have refused the Offer" he said
quietly. He had not intended to tell her;
would alter nothing my work in Clark
son Is finished" he went on. ''Warry's af-
fairs will make 1t necessary for me to go
back from time to time, but 1t will not be
home again..
I'm sorry" he said. II thought you
we're to be OF us. But I suppose there is
greater difference between the east and the
not known both" They regarded each other
gravely. as IL this were, Of course. the whole
matter at issue.
II can't go back-it's too much; can't
do It," he said YEARLY.
II know it must be-thjs last year and
Wary! 1t was all SO terrible-for all OF
US" She was looking away; the wind had
freshened; the yachts pennant stood out
against the blue sky.
John rose and looked down at her. 1t was
natural that she should include herself with
him in a common grief for the man who had
been his friend and whom she had loved.
She had always been kind to him: her kind
ness stung him now, for he knew that 1t
was because of Wary; and resolve woke
in him suddenly He would not suffer her
kindness under a false pretense; he could
at least be honest with her.
II can't go back, because he Is not there;
and because-because you are there! You
don't know-you should never know, but
was disloyal to Wary from the first let
him talk to me from day to day of you; /
let him tell me that he loved you; never
let him know-I never meant any one to
know He ceased speaking; she was
very still and did not look at him. ut was
base of me-" he went on. Il would gladly
have died for him II he had lived; but now
that he is dead ! can betray him. hate
myself worse than you can hate me. know
how must wound and shock YOU
''Oh, mol" she moaned.
But he went on; he would spare himself
nothing.
ut is hideous-it was cowardly of me to
come here" His hands were clenched and
his face twitched with pain. "Oh, II he
had lived II he had lived!'
She rose now and looked at him with an
infinite pity. This Is one Of Gods unreck-
oned gifts to mantle gift of pity that He
has made the great secret of q woman's
eyes. Evelyn's were gray now, like the
stretch of sea beyond her. where a mist
was creeping shoreward over the blue wa
ter.
sIf he had lived" she said very softly,
looking away through the un-dappled
aisles of the orchard, III he had lived--it
would have been the same. John"
But he did not understand. His name an
she spoke 1t rang strange In his ears. The
letter had fallen to the ground and lay In
the grass between them; he half stopped to
pick 1t up. not knowing what he did.
She walked away through the orchard
path, which suddenly became to him path
Of gold that stretched into paradise; and he
sprang after her with great fear In his
heart lest some barrier might descend and
shut her out forever.
"Evelyni Evelynr'
It was not voice that called her; II was
a spirit. long held in thrall. that had shaken
free and become a name.
CThe endr)