Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10
CHAPTER XIV.
EIinor Breaks a Resolution.

ways; from reports she round on his ue9iN
at the house; by judicious inqury-indeed'
as best she might And studying all TINS,
she was unconscousy studying Richard
Strong. Hts nature unfolded beneath her
eyes as the manifold formation of diatoms
to the peering gaze of the microscopes. AL
times, she admired; again. wondered
hand of velvet; an arm of iron! The power
to create; the ability to construct! Was 1t
all genius or tenacity of purpose-or is the
former but the latter? These surreptitious
visits to his study began to exercise pecu-
liar fascination over her.
She was further stimulated in her self
imposed task along these special lines by a
wave of popular interest in the problems or
transportation. On every side predomi-
mated railroad talk; leading articles in
all the papers and magazines devot
ed much space to the consideration Of
that great achievement, the final opening
OF the first highway from ocean to en-
Even the impressionable poets broke out In
flowing, If not always metrically correct
measures:
''Rivet the last Pacific rail
With silver , hammer and a, golden sn naii'
The iron horse Is swiftly coming.
Hall to the age of steam!
Hail to the iron team!
Hail TO the iron bars,
Hail to our flag of stars.
The days of fresh breezes had merged
into a period of somnolence; August. sloth-
full heavy began to drag it's weary length
along. The hot waking hours were sue
ceeded by the sutry nights. when the IAN
guild air circulated, close and oppressive,
above the heated pavements.
On such night-or, at the twilight hour
of such a day-Elinor was seated in her
room near the window. alternately engaged
ir reading and gazing obviously without.
Over a patch of sky, visible from her Win
dow, hung dull bank of clouds which
1ityht nod and un md
again. This operation, repeated at fairly
regular intervals, lent a menacing aspect
to the heavens, which was not even relieV-
ed by the reassuring glimmer of single
star, the first to appear, set in the lake OF
ether at the foot of the phosphorescent
bank.
But while her mind thus concerned itself
with objective phenomena, her thoughts
dwelt also. upon a subject she knew Rich
ard Strong was then considering: very
common problem. although not a very sim
pie one. in railroad management-how to
keep the expenses of a certain line from
outrunning the revenue. She asked herself
what course he would pursue. First, prob
ably, would come repairs, and then new
trains and tracks and
II can't understand it," she pondered-
whenever things seem to be running be-
hind, he spends more money. That's the
way mamma used to do, and-it didn't
seem to answer at all
She pursed her brow quizzically. ut must
domestic economy. The more things we
bought, the poorer we became"
She shook her head. There was no doubt
Of that. Then her mouth relaxed. IF we
could only have called our debts-bonds!
"If'-she was continuing to follow this
train of fancy when the voice of Mr..
Strong in his study, reaching her ears. alb
ruptly interrupted the trend of futile mag
lining.
Have l not told you no one was to in
terfere with my papers?"
II did not touch them, SIR" she heard
the servant reply.
lone document Is missing! What has be-
come of it?''
Elnor dropped the book. rush of blood
tingling her cheeks and, rising hastily,
went to her desk Taking a paper. tied
with tape, from a pigeonhole, she stepped
into the hall and approached the door or
the private study. Richard Strong. with
obvious annoyance, was bending over his
workable; in the center of the room stood
the servant, expostulation and innocence
written on his face.
''Is that what you are looking forT'
He took with some surprise the paper she
handed him Yes" he said. And to the
servant: You may 60
II did not know you felt-that way-about
your desk she went on hurriedly. when
the man had disappeared. "Or T'-she
paused with heightened color.
What said was, of course for the serv-
ant" he returned. IF you"-he stopped
abruptly. But why-what could you"
she iauSneO neTVOuSly, IeelluS almost ike
a child detected in some covert act. May
be l was little curious-prying. you prob
ably think it"
He made a quick, dissenting gesture.
"Well. then call II only curiosity Perhaps
-lightly-'it interested me, because 1t was
tied up"
Still puzzled, he looked at her; then at the
report. The faintest perfume hung over 1t.
That brief sojourn In lady's boudoir had
changed its character; 1t seemed to have
become more personal and less document
airy than formerly; even the tape was tied
In bow-knot. eminently feminine. What
interest could she have in its contents
technicalities pertaining to track inspec-
ton; the examination of bridges grades
and crossings; the securing of connections
eastward?
A glimmer of light in the heavens sud-
denly illumined the room, and, following
the fash the dimness of the waning day
appeared abruptly turned into the darker
shadows of night. Her face for the mo-
ment was less discernible, but he had seen
the halffalterng look, emphasized by the
unexpected irradiation
''Do you think it is going to Storm" she
asked as. rising. he drew the curtains and
lighted the gas.
II think So
at feels though 1t might" she said.
brushing back the masses of hair from her
moist forehead. Then she walked to the
window and peered out behind the drap-
cries. The vaporous bank had become a
gloomy, sulen mountain; the lake gloWed
silence, with something impending in the
heavens, she experienced a stronger need of
human companionship Her secret aspra-
lions became large in her breast; the tempt
tation to touch upon them grew in the ST.
lence.
Mama and went to the Sorosis today"
she said finally, without turning.
THE Sorosis!" he spoke up quickly
Eyes; mama, you know. is now a mem
ber."
And follower of Lucy Stone Ernestine
l.. Rose and-Miss Anthony?"
Il don't know she goes-so far as that
think mama likes the excitement" She
was silent a moment. Don't you believe
in some of those things. yourself?" she
asked vaguely.
He glanced at the GIRL her cheeks were
flushed with the warmth of the night; her
eyes bright His own gaze was steady.
Il believe" he returned lin DIR. Holmes
words: The brain women never interest
US like the heart women; white roses please
less than the red!"
She half smiled. "Alice Cary should be
here to answer you In verse;
II prefer prose-. he said returning to his
report.
You don't want. then, to see women
striving?" She faced him with little ex-
element in her manner. ITO be of greater
service to themselves and toto othersY'