Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-16
BLACK FRIDAY.
BY FREDERIC S. ISIIAM,
inspired itY HOVE had such enmitx beam In
Author Of Under the Rose, The Stroller.

inspired it? How had such enmity been In
Cured? 1t had not been mans work
obviouslys woman's then? A devils!
Abruptly the orchestra broke in upon the
trend of his questioning, and the voices of
the merrymakers were drowned in the
catchy harmony of the latest polka. The
man at the table left his place and walked
out into the passageway. A current of air
called his attention to an open door and he
found himself moving up and down the
broad veranda built on the front and side
OF the main part of the structure. APP
preaching one of the windows, he stood
against the rail and looked In.
The heavy lace curtains and the lambre-
qu1nS almost obscured his view, but he
could dimly discern graceful and sprightly
figures In ceaseless motion; broad flowing
silken gowns, giving varied touches of
bright hues to the animated scene; colors
that intermixed. vanished. and then were
seen again! He experienced a vague con-
seriousness of picturesque head-dresses; ar
engagements In ivy leaves, roses. wild flow
ers. He saw strewn on the floor. where
they mad fallen from the dresses of the
needless votaries of pleasure, several gar
lands of gay buds and blossoms which now
the lively feet either thrust aside or tram
pied upon.
One figure, he could but half discern on
the other side of the room. he almost fam
cied might be hers; tall form instinct
with grace; the white shoulders, rounded,
albeit girlish She was moving with all the
abandon of joyous spirit, when her dainty
slippers caught upon a garland of flowers
upon the floor. She tripped, recovered her
and with laugh swung again into the vor-
tex of figures. AS she did SO, the watcher
left the window.
The clock had some time past marked the
midnight hour; the maids had long been
yawning in the kitchen and the stable
boys doing in their chairs when the
party broke up. One by one the car
riages drove away with their blithsome
couples, many of whom carried their
laughter far down the road The last pair
crossed the porch; there was brief vision
OF some one assisting white figure into
the vehicle: a passing scent of the flowers
she wore-and the Eclipse dance had come
to an end!
Then Richard Strong, who had ostensi5ly
been reading a magazine In the secluded
little room next to the bar, laid down the
periodical. looked at his watch and startsi.
Bring out the team" he said.
'All right, SIR" answered the sleepy
looking waiter with alacrity.
Soon the horses were at the door, and.
after settling his bill, he sprang into his
carriage and turned cityward.
Brightly shone the moon, a silvery disk
well up in the sky, and, as ne sped down
the road, the details of the surrounding
scene were plainly discernible-the top
branches of the trees, now motonless; the
and winding. The soothing sound of
myriad insects mingled with the reassuring
notes OF the little owl, a cheerful tinkling
like that of a bell Perhaps some of the
peace of the hour descended on him; per-
haps the beauty of the night the soft
glamour that lay on hill and dale, threw
over him their magic spell. The one CEN
trail thought became paramount.
She Is to be trusted-trustedr'
That was something's great DEAL Yes;
thank God for that!
Trusted" he repeated almost tenderly.
when suddenly the glimmer of light, bath
Ing two figures in a carriage he had uncon-
sciously almost overtaken, arrested his at
tentfon. A little streaming veil caught his
eye; held 1t. He thought of the lady whom
he had likened to his wife: the indistirct.
vague outline of the girl who had danced
III unrestrained enjoyment
A growing fear came over him; an abrupt
dread. akin to acutest pain. He knew why
he had unconsciously associated the lady
with Elinor. Because she was Elinor--apd
she now rode before him!
He was assured of this: as certain as
that he knew who sat by her side: as GER
tain as he saw him bend over her; swiftly
draw her to him-kiss her again--again-
ITO ha continued tOrDorrou