Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04


a great hurry to exert his authority"
Lady Holland looked up in some alarm.
Mary" she asked anxiously YOU hav-
emf said yes to Harvey. have your
Il said very definite no this morning.
and repeated 1t this afternoon.
Thank heaven for that! said the Dow
aEer.
Mary sat on low stool by her mothers
side. and nestled her head fondly against
the folds OF the redyed and turned black
gown.
And now, mummie" she said affection
ately, tell me about him-aIl that he said
and did. and all that you thought and felt
when you knew that he was your own
again"
While Lady Holland was recounting to
her daughter in a low, glad voice. all the
sayings of the returned prodigal. the prodi-
! gal himself was dining off steak and stout
In private room Of the Royal Hotel IN
Elgin. and trying to make up his mind
whether he should keep his appointment at
Holland Abbey in the morning. or fly at
| once tonight, and leave no address or clue
| behind him. There were circumstances
which made either course difficult; and. II
anything, to stay was more dimcult than to
| fly. But he had almost made up his mind
| to stay.
Its an uncommonly queer situation he
was thinking, as he got up to ring the bell,
but I've a good mind to see 1t through.
I've put myself in queer positions before
| this, and come out of them all right; so
perhaps there's way out OF this, too,
though I'm hanged II 1 see 1t yet. AS a
| matter Of strict honesty, 1 believe 1 ought
to bolt"
He stood for minute thinking. and a
twinkle came into his eye.
II ought. but don't think I'm going to-"
he muttered. And IL I'm doing shady
thing. there promise to be compensations.
Send my man to me-" he added in a louder
tone to the waiter who answered his bell:
The monkeyfaced chauffeur came into the
room presently in answer to his message.
Had some grub. Sims?' asked his master.
Eyes. sir, thank you"
That's right Car all right?"
Yes, SIR"
"Then get her out I'm going for spin"
Back to Holland Abbey, sirT'
In that direction, anyway. Why do you
ask?"
Nothing. SIR said the man, but faint
smile twitched on the right side of his face
as he hurried out of the room.
The prodigal looked after him with an
expression of puzzled annoyance. and then
his face cleared, and he broke into laugh.
"Confound the fellow!' he exclaimed.
Hes too sharp by half. He has seen Mary.
1 suppose. and thinks it natural that I
should want to go back. By Jove, is that
really my reason, after all wonder?'
Ten minutes later the car was rushing
out of Elgin along the level Of the Lossie-
mouth road. The cars master was in a
hurry, or he was in a mood for speed; and
Sims, thinking his own thoughts about that
allowed the thin smile to twist his face
again III the OdTkHSSS
| Presently the driver slowed down as he
turned into the rougher by-road which led
| to Holland Abbey, and after another mile
| Sims spoke:
You have taken the wrong turn. sir. The
road on the left leads to the abbey"
I'm not going to the abbey"
beg pardon. sir; understood you were.
This one leads to Holland Abbey Distillery,
| which Is worked by a man called Wiseman.
The ostler at the hotel told me-.
quite 80. I am going to call on the man
called Wiseman. Sims. would 1t surprise
you IL the man called Wiseman welcomed
me as Sir Eustace Holland?'
mo, SIR
"Eh? You're an invaluable servant. Sims,
and one Of your good points is that you
take things as they come; but aren't you
stretching your capabilities little bit
there?"
afternoon as Sir Eustace. l was surprised
them but If the same thing happened again
I should be prepared"
His master broke into laugh.
"Oh. that's 1t. is it?' he said. You would
take the lady's word for it?''
II make 1t a rule always to do so, sir"
AS they neared the gate Of the distillery.
the prodigal brought his car to sudden
stop In the middle Of the road, and for
minute or two let her stand there. 1t SEEM
ed that even yet he had not quite made up
his mind whether he should go on or turn
back. For five minutes he remained thus.
leaning Forward upon the CiutCu pcodi.
Then he began to speak:
II have got problem to put before you.
Sims he said. "If you were known to the
world as Arthur Manners Wortley and had
reason to be fairly well satisfied with the
name; and II you suddenly found out that
by being Sir Eustace Holland instead you
could make two women happy. which would
you choose to be?''
Again the darkness concealed the twisted
smile on the chauffeur's face.
81 ha wa
land" he began slowly.
Wait a bit! 1 haven't finished. We will
| suppose that 1t Is matter OF some danger.
and possibly some dlshonor to you to be-
known as Sir Eustace"
Still" continued Sims steadily. az Miss
Holland was one of the women. would
"YesY'
II would be Sir Eustace Holland. SIR"
"Ah, then Well go on
He dropped in the clutch. and the car
drew forward. Harvey Wiseman had EVIL
IDENTIFY heard them coming, for he was at
the gate to meet them.
Welcome back to Scotland. Sir Eustace
Holland" he said. with geniaMty that
was meant to sound hearty, and succeeded
only in sounding false. do you find that
| 1t has changed much in twelve yearsr'
yes was the reply. "A new fashion of
greeting long-lost relatives has come into
vogue. You meet them in the road, and
laugh in their faces"
"Ah!' said Harvey. I've wanted to apoI-
ogize for that: 1t was objectionable, of
course. But you took me by surprise, you
See We thought you were dead How
ever" he added. with something very like
a sneer. now that we know you're not,
we'll kill the fatted calf for you in due
form. l was talking to Mary about that
this afternoon. and we agreed 1t was the
proper thing to do. VIII your man come
in and have nip of Morayshire dew?"
mo. thank you: he will stay with the
car. A shower Is or ought to be- a tee
totaller. you know; and Sims is a pattern
OF all the virtues. I shan't be long, Sims.
Mr.. Wiseman and I haven't much to say
to each other, 1 think
The two men went into the house. and
twenty minutes later the prodigal came out
alone, and mounted his car without word
He was plainly very angry, and he took no
note of the roughness of the road in the
speed at which he chose to return to Elgfn
Presently he turned to his chauffeur, and
said suddenly:
You were right, Sims. wasn't sure,
until had spoken with that man. But
now haven't a doubt. From this hour l
| am Sir Eustace Holland. and you are never
| to forget 1t. Do you understand
Yes. SIR"
"Eh?" came the answer sharply You've
forgotten already! Amend that"
Yes Sir Eustace. / will not forget"