Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09

the weeks that followed, grew by imper-
ceptible degrees into an intimacy which
was one OF the most pleasant OF my life. OF
Cecfly / have already attempted to give
some idea, although realize how cold and
inadequate It Is. AS began to know her
better. l came to wonder more and more
at her completely, her simplicity, her swift
change of mood. her utter ignorance OF so
cial convention. Another thing saw, and
that was her absolute worship of Tremaine
question II he fully understood its
strength; he had grown, In way, accus-
toned to It; but to stranger, an outsider
! 1t was startlingly apparent l say start
ltngly, because one was vaguely conscious
| Of unsounded. threa tening depths beneath
that sweet exterior. which promised know
not what of passion and tragedy, should
| they be rudely stirred.
AS for Tremaine. hesitate to say how ut
| terly l fell under his spell Yet this was
not in the least to be wondered at. My life
had been, on the whole SO narrow. and
his had been so broad: my experience OF
| the world had been cast in the usual
grooves. while his had so evidently over
leaped them. had struck out path for it
self into all sorts of unexpected places.
Why he SO exerted himself to charm and
conquer me do not yet fully understand
perhaps II was the mere delight in power,
in the exercise of his dazzling faculties
or perhaps 1t was that he had leisure, that
his mind was not yet engrossed in the
game on which he staked SO much.
in many curious places. Martinique was
only the last OF these, the most recent, and
l gathered that the business which brought
him to New York was the forming of
syndicate to build a railroad through the
island. Through is the right word, for II
was evident that, owing to the islands pc
culiar formation, there would have to be
much tunneling. But he waved all such
practical difficulties aside and dscoursed
OF the great future before such a road With
an enthusiasm that was absolutely con-
vincing.
1 remember one evening he got fairly
started upon this hobby of his and talked
uninterruptedly for at least an hour-facts,
details, descriptions at his finger-ends. Ce-
oily. chin in hands, listened intent to every
word and ], with the remembrance of
that evening still fresh upon me. can I'M
derstand how he won the of even Wall
streets suspicious deniZens And. indeed
1t was wonderful prospectus which he
palnted-brOad sugar plantations with no
market, the whole traffic of the island car
ried upon the heads of women; the great
sand-heaps of the east coast % per cent
pure steel, waiting only for development,
but worthless now because no ship can
approach them-and l know not what be-
side but all Of which, have no doubt.
was substantially true.
Perhaps I am lingering unduly over this
portrait Of Tremaine. but have never met
his equal for daring, for audacity, for per-
sonal magnetism. In the days that followed
l was to see less and less Of him, but the
and vivid one. l can see him sitting there
yet before me with his wonderful eyes, his
expressive face, his 1.-THE, graceful form and
his SLIM white nervous hand holding his
cigarette. found myself specializing some
times as to his nationality. French he
seemed unQuestionably by temperament,
and yet he spoke English with a facility
and careessness unusual in foreigner.
I often tempted to ask him. straight
out, but feeling of hesitation always held
me back. / came at last to the conclusion
that he was Of French parentage. but had
lived in England or America probably
from his youth.
had just come In from dinner one even
ing and was settling down to reperusal OF
knock at the door and Tremaine entered.
He was in evening dress and was SEEM
ingly much perturbed.
my dear Lester he began abruptly. in
that quick, nervous way of his, Tn in the
deuce of box, and I'm going to ask you
to help me out. l promised Cecily to take
her tonight to see the extravaganza at the
New York and have the seats here but at
the last moment 1 find I can't get away
I've a business engagement that / can't
afford to break, but Cecily will never for
give me if disa,ppoint her. Have you any
thing on for tonight?''
NO" 1 answered, looking at him in some
establishment, for 1t was evident what was
coming.
Then perhaps you wouldn't mind taking
Cecily? 1t would be a tremendous favor"
mot at all" l assured him, but
TT isn't quite convenable?" he finished
as / hesitated Surely, we don't need to
stand on ceremony. and Cecily doesn't care
a hang for convention. It's great favor
to both of us. She'll cry her eyes out if
She has to stay at home, and l simply can't
take her"
Very WE'LL I said, IN be glad to take
her." and thanking me again, he hurried
away.
She was dressed and waiting for me when
l knocked at her door, and she caught me
by both hands as l entered.
This is good of you," she cried. "Dou-
doux has been busy for many days that
we have gone nowhere; but he promised me
tonight. Oh, l should not have stayed at
home! I should have gone alone! 1 care
not for the eyes of the menu
"Oh, shan't let you go alone!' 1 pro-
tested, and watched her, fascinated, as she
put on a little bonnet and gave her hair
two or three final pats before the mirror
She was in the highest spirits, singing to
herself-really, told myself. only child
and at last she swung around and dropped
me a courtesy.
How is that cher she cried. smiling
up at me- Does that please your
"Charmlng!" L cried. gasping little,
with a feeling of giddiness, as l looked
down into her eyes.
Then in a moment and turning,
she struck a match and touched it to
a wick floating on olive oil in a
tiny glass before an image of the Vir-
gin, which hung in a little chapelle against
the wall. She made a genufiection and
turned back to me- Now l am ready"
she said, and tucked her hand confdingly
under my arm.
What is the light for Cecily?" asked,
as we left the room.
"Oh," she explained, "faut lime lampe
on pou fai la Verge passe dams caie-ou.
Now the Virgin will watch over me while
am away. But you are a Protestant. You
do not care for the Virgin
She looked up at me reproachfully, with
q little sigh because 1 must be damned
but Tremaine-is he not also Protest
anti" I asked.
"Oh. no." she answered, shaking her head.
Certainly not-not at all He even at one
time thought of becoming a priest
~ priest!" 1 repeated, astonished. Here
was news indeed, and was so absorbed in
1t that l did not resent Higgins stare of
establishment as went down together in
the elevator. Tremaine a priest! Yet, why
not? No doubt he would have made a most
successful one-an ideal Jesuit, for exam
pie rising to high place.
Then why did he not become one?' l
questioned when we were seated in cab
and bowling along toward Broadway. A
sudden fever of eagerness to probe into
Tremaine's past took possession of me.