Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
ys. .T-here Is every reason


dealt honestly; he had lived cleanly; he
had the right to associate with any woman
to love her-to marry-yes, even to marry
What IL I refuse?" he demanded
She hesitated, but she had gone too far
now to retreat. If you refuse 1 shall be
Even Mrs Brooks qualled before the
eyes that met hers, srormily. scornfuily,
as their owner, with quick little bow in
her direction left the room.
Outside. across the (lose-cropped lawn,
her soft, bright hair disheveled by the
summer breeze, came Marion. She was
very fair and sweet In her dainty morn
ing gown. Bruce looked at her with eyes
full of a new understanding. He would
put up the best fight that was in hfm-not
from anger, but for love.
When Marion came IN from the friendly
little summer house that day there was
rebellious joy in the bright face that avoid
ed her cousin s. keen glance. The future
was tremulous with possibilities; it was
madness-but 1t was sweet.
Serene in the consciousness of duty we'll
performed, Mrs. Brooks alghted from her
motor car that afternoon and proceeded
with her usual deliberate imp-essiveness
across the clubhouse porch There was a
tremor of unwonted excitement in the air:
Knot of men in the doorway gesticulated
violently. Too dreadful-poor Bruce Will
hanson, came in a woman's high-pitched
voice. Mrs. Brooks saw her husband in the
group in the doorway and laid her hand on
his arm.
What is it?'' she asked sharply.
He turned a warm, flushed face, Panic
lessy. wire just received from New York
big slump In Steel Williamson was up to
his neck in Steel he went excitedly,
TO say nothing of his mills He won't
have q penny left
Bruce Williamson penniiess! For once
in her life, Mrs. Brooks was stunned into
silence while her husbands words beat in
sistenty into her brain. Bruce Williamson
penniless, And she had moved heaven and
earth to make that match; wellnow she
would move heaven and earth to undo it
and little by little, as her car rolled smooth.
ly homeward, she planned campaign of
retreat that should leave her, as usual,
mistress of the situation.
Ask Miss Stockton to come to me at
once" she said to the man who opened
the door.
He bowed. Miss Stockton has just gone
out in Mr. Williamson's automobile
Let me know when she returns
The man bowed again. Yes, madame.
He left the room only to reappear bearing
a card tray on which reposed a square,
white envelope. Miss Stockton left a
note he said with another bow.
With swift premontion of coming evil
Mrs. Brooks sank into the nearest chair.
Dearest Cousin Elizabeth she read
II am going to marry Bruce. l do not
like TO do it this way, and please believe
that l am sorry to hurt you, but 1 do love
him-and-since this morning-this is
the only way. Some day, dear Cousin
Elizabeth, you will realize how dread
fully you have misjudged him. and then
you will forgive us, and your forgiveness
is all L shall need to make me the happi-
est girl in the world. Your MARION
Gone to marry Bruce! Eloped! Even
In It's widest flights Mrs. Brooks fancy
had never scaled such heights. Just
gone" the man had said. With quick de-
termination she sprang to her feet.
The automobile-at once" she said to
the man who answered her ring. She
81 hnr
stop them! For moment her heart
stirred under its crust of worldliness and
pleaded for them but she would not be
propitiated. Bruce Williamson. penniless,
was a very different part from Bruce
williamson millionaire.
They would probably go to Augusta,
she reflected, as the car, IN oDeulence 10
her peremptory command OF full speed,
swung down the road at a tremendous
pace. In and out 1T curved, beside the
river, taking the turns at dangerously
sharp angles-Shot along level stretches
of Maine woods dark with pine trees
past fields white with daisies-daShed up
a long, steep hill, grazing a cart Wheei IN
it's headlong progress. The top OF the hlll
gave an unobstructed view OF the valley
beneath. Below, not more than two miles
away. was a huge car. Williamsons mo-
tor without doubt. Mrs. BROOKS sat
nervously erect. her eyes on the car IN
front, sublime determination IN her race;
The chauffeur bent over the brake ana
the car drove slowly down the hill, then
whirled away again at full pressure. on
and on it raced, through more wooded
stretches, past meadows sweet with new
mown hay. over bridges spanning tu-
multuous brooks until striking piece
of straight road 1t came upon the car On
rectly in front of them. Inc huge motor
was running slowly, but at the whlrr OF
the approaching automobile the occu-
pants evidently took warning, for. gain
ing Roadway the car swung powerfully
forward sweeping along at reckless
double over the wheel, but IT was no
use: faster and faster dashed the forward
motor, slipping steadily away from ltS
pursuer Up to this point the ROAD hau
been good but now they came to place
where it had been mended with loose
stones. The first car took 1t sallantly:
whfrled around n curve ana was OUT OF
sight Mrs. Brooks followed more slowly
She despaired of oVertaking them IN the
open country. Her only hope was to reach
them in the town. but she calculated
without that impish rate WhLcI i,,," "ita
upon all who travel en- automobile. a
Crunch-a jolt-a warning hlsS-and a
front tire Imply subsidized Like , paliieo
Napoleon sat Mrs. j. Worthlngton broohs,
erect and fearless, hands clasped loosely
in her lap gazing with desperate eyes
along an uneven, stony stretch OF noun
The next morning. for the first time in
wears. Mrs. Brooks did not appear at break
fast Indeed il was late afternoon Wheh
that lady finally trailed her draperles down
the stairs and along the cool nan 10 IHe
wide vine-shadowed porch beyond. he
sponding briefly to her husband sollcltous
inouiries she sank YEARLY into the nearest
chair. He had evidently suspected MOTH
ing unusual in Marion's absence. Well-she
would have to explain it later she was 100
tired now-too tired and sore and unstruhg
over her defeat Defeat! She VINO
Her husbands voice cut short her revere
and she glanced indifferenuy at the sparse
gray hair and prominent, specialized nose
visible above his paper. The morning pa
per-the afternoon post must have come
then. and nothing for her from
smarter than a steel trap commented
her husband 81 always said 1t. BY Jove,
this beats anything the old man ever did,
and he flew pretty high in his day.
''Who Is? What is it?" she asked per-
functorily. .,,, r,
..Williamsoni Young Williamson! The
old fogies that prophesied he would make
ducks and brakes of the old mans money
will have an eye-opener when they read
this" a.,
Mrs. Brooks sat upright. What is 1t!
Tell me quicki What is it?" she demanded
"Steelr' answered her husband laconi-
callv. up to his neck in 1t. Every one
thought he was done for, and here he has
wired his broker to sell out the day before
a. brolya Cleared about half q million.