Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-29
BLACK FRIDAY.
BY FREDERIC S. ISIIAM,
Copyright, 1904, the Bobbs Merrill Company
Au:hor Of Under the Rose, The S,rollers.

every girl, no doubt, thus communes with
Heis SER curing this, the momentous epoch,
anu she discovered no reason, perhaps TO
think she was undergoing experiences I'M
usual or so much out of the ordinary
Inc serious duties of life! The respon-
sloiiues you assume. young ladies' when
you enter the broader field of womans
DESTINY The echoes of that last adj
dress at boarding school seemed fitted to
ner case; she could smile at 1t now as
then, but those tremendous inevitable OBJ
iigatlons, whatever they were, had come
10 nest, or rest. on her untried young
shoulders She could endeavor to shake
them on. but they only came back to her
so she sighed. laughed and let them be-
certainly Mr. Strong appeared the imper-
sonaton of what the essayist would have
called her destiny"
She still treated him as at frst-aI-
though forewarned that her power was at
times subject to his willard he bent his
mead TO that pleasant yoke finding her ca
prices as charming as bewildering But
very shortly after the public proclama ton
MI Strong suddenly announced to her his
intention of going away to England, on an
imperative matter, to be gone two months
possibly longer.
Two months!' she said, studying him
with clear eyes. Could he leave her so long
now? ~ '0'e
Yes, he answered, and added in his
olrect fashion: 1t is necessary" As If
that disposed of every pbaSo - Tho L.,
atfoni
When do you go?"
Tomorrow
She opened her eyes wider; for a momeut
there was silence
why are you goiny?' she then asked in
a serious tone
Ihe success of a railway system / am
inaugurating depends upon the conversion
OF certain bonds and the cooperation of the
English holders of various interests"
I'm sure 1 don't understand" she OBJ
served, holding herself more erect
You see, he went on, conservative
england has taken a great interest in my
plans And it is to England we turn for
much of the backbone of our railroad enter
prises.
OH she said, looking at him from
colo distance. And then in a more lively
tone: How nice it must be to have so much
businessi l suppose you think of 1t all the
time! or course you must go. | wonder If
you will succeed in-what was it?-convert-
ing certain bonds? That means making
some more money. doesn't It? But you al
ways succeed, don't you?"
Not always" he said smiling But
then, you know, success Is often built on
failure"
Most of the people l like best in the
world, in the category of your street would
be considered failures, she observed,
lightly.
He looked at her, but did not answer
Some of them are so delightfully."- ire
sponsible!" she continued
1esT he assented rather puzzled
Capricously she stood before where he
was seated.
Indeed, they awaken a fellow-feeling,'
"Why?' he asked, thinking more of her
than of her words.
Didn't you know that lam irresponsi-
ble?"
He looked at the hooking lips. the kim
ding eyes, the graceful, proud figure.
Il know-you are beautiful he said
leaning forward, with his heart in his eyes.
1t was the first outburst of fattery she
had ever heard from him: 1t sent the hot
blood to her cheeks drowned the half de-
fiance in her eyes. At the same time,
coupled with what had gone before, it an
gered her, and this feeling became para
mount. But almost Immediately he looked
down; his face became grave; his brows
concealed something wistful in his gaze.
"1'll try to expedite the matter much
as possible he said
Her lips pressed firmly together and the
conversation Jagged on other matters
When he arose to go he looked at her
longingly a moment; then, taking both her
hands in close grasp, he strove to speak
to her of what was most on his mind
"Of course 1t is too bad, but, of course,
too, you must CO." she had answered with
shining eyes and a frosty little smile He
did not seek to analyZe the reason, but
never before had he found 1t so difficult to
express himself and, at a loss, he drew her
into his arms. Afterward, as he turned
from the house, he had but the remem-
brance of a parting that seemed inadequate
and disappointing.
When he had gone Elinor stood for a mo-
ment in infiexible atttude then stole
to the window in the darkened sitting room
and looked out. Retracing her steps to the
hall, a snatch of a song came from her
lips, but the musical impulse soon expended
itself and silently she began to rearrange
the waltzeS, opera scores and ballads with
which the top of the piano was Uttered. AS
she went up the stairs sudden darkness
or sense of loss seemed to deaden her spir-
its
Thereafter however. any feeling she may
have entertained toward him-or business
did not interfere with her pleasures. Pos
sibly, even, she exerted herself to unusual
gaietes. The season, with Parepa Rosa OPP
eras, the concerts at Steinway Hail. assem-
blies in the salon bleu of the famous cater
ers and dances at the Four-in-hand club
house, did not lack festivities, and in a
whirl of multitudinous diversions she
obeyed the Chesterfieldian adage and
snatched the passing flowers of JOY with the
best grace imaginable.
1t may be she sometimes thought of end
ing a situation fraught with perplexities,
but the world had heard and accepted the
announcement, and she shrank from the
publicity that would follow the severing of
the tie Also she had passed her word, and
to a girl of her pride that meant great
deal. Other reasons which she might not
fully acknowledge. yet which existed, were
in all likelihood delicate threads further
shaping the fabric of her fate. Certainly
she did not appear to regret his absence.
but accepted other attention freely. So
cety even went far as to comment
thereon but Mr.. Rossiter, who knew Eli
nor well, saw nothing anomalous in her
bearing
Did you-convert the bonds?" We're al
most her first words to Mr.. Strong upon
that gentlemans return.
yes: everything's all right" he answer
ed I'm sorry l was delayed a little longer
than I thought I should be. Hope you
didn't mnd?"
"I?'' she laughed, but her voice sounded
rather hard i've had perfectly lovely
winterv'
To be continued tomorrow