Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-29

You had to conner
Was It only his eyes that spoke7
I could not help IT, she went on hur-
riedly. and the hands in hts trembled
Ever since that night in Paris I have felt
| must see you: No matter what you might
think! No matter how you might receive
| me.'
His fingers frightened: he drew her nearer.
| why did you want to see me?'
| Her color came and went.
| 'Whyg' She felt the strength, the pow
er of his grasp.
| ''Why-because-"
| Some force swayed her toward him. She
raised her head with an effort. but her
| eyes met his proudly.
| Because love you!''
| His hands released her-but for an In
| stant!-then his arms EMBODIED her. crushe d
her to his breast and In the mingled pain
| and pleasure Of that embrace his lips met
hers.
But you left Paris without seeing me
He had gone to the window to throw
back the blinds: now at her question he
| turned.
Had you sent word"
She looked at him In surprise. But
| did!-the next day-by the woman"
He went to her. Il never received it,
Never received the letter / wrote you
| that my father was very i'll, unconscious
| that I had gone to htm-but would re-
| Abruptly she broke off; spark flashed
| up in her eyes; her hand frightened in his.
| THAT woman-she deceived me then-she
| feared to go out-that night 1 met you l
! had gone for medicine because she would
not go and there was no one else to send
do not think of 1t now. he urged.
But my letter? She told me that she
| left 1t for YOU that you were recovering
| later I went myself-you were gone. My
| father''-her voice faltered-"died on the
day You went away.
Gently he stroked her hair.
THAT morning I left you'll was dis
| tracted, beside mysef-fearing for my
! father-they promised to care for you
| She paused. at was so strange. my meet
| ing you" she continued irrelevantly. II
have often wondered how you happened to
! be in Paris
Because you were there. Your father
sent me cablegram that he was i!l-you
were in danger"
| She looked at him with shining eyes.
You did not known he asked.
She shook her head. not trusting herself
to speak.
| 1t is breaking through the mist
| AS she followed his gaze. already the
! light cleaned on branch and bough; it en-
| tered the window: batned them both. He
watched her hair grow golden and It's ra-
dance held him by a spell For some
| time neither spoke.
Without the sleigh bells rang merrily and
| the sound of laughter and the cracking Of
whips reached them.
THE New Year,
Our New Year, she added softly
Through the window lay the world snow
| white. The prismatic hues Of the reflection
were dancing in her eyes,
How long" he said. have you cared
! for me?"
Always she answered confidently.
He made an incredulous gesture
ONLY didn't always know It,"
And when-did you known
After told you'll didn't.'
His eyes questioned her.
AT that moment l was resentful caprf-
| cious-perhaps little hurt, too-that you
| could turn from NEON our wedding trip
| to go back-for business. 1t seemed some
now as II only came second with
you-'
"Second!'' he cried
And then II you had only treated me
differently after I told you-what 1 didn't
mean! But you looked a. me as IL 1 were
only a-proposition.
"A what?"
"A propositton! she reiterated. "And
that made me the more perverse." She Was
! silent moment. "Of course you couldn't
understand person who said-what she
didn't mean. and you-you misjudged me-
oh. l deserved it," she added quickly, Il
knew then l did!''
He put out his arm but she held him
from her.
1T seemed. though. after that. as If
things could never be made right, and was
so unhappy. but too proud to say so. r.
you had only been at your office on Black
Friday when 1 went there!"
EIe started You were there. El,nor?,
Yes. and thought then you were going
to lose-everything and I shouldn't have
been then too proud to tell YOU" she
sighed. But you didn't. and the next dav
everything was wrong again. 1 was hor-
ria. and you'-she glanced up at him-"you
He laughed. but did not controvert the
statement. Ae
After all. It was business, miserable old
business that separated u.s." She looked
thoughtfully at him a moment ..Tm AFRAID
Richard. you married a very foolish i'm
practical girl. who dreamed. perhaps of
some romantic. equally impractical Prince
Charming"
Mr.. Strong threw back his head. "Prince
role" AZ LIS
NO" she said. nodding her assent.
! ne looked down. Her lips curved be-
meath her lashes was a CLEAN like the
sparkle of frost crystals
lou are not my prince. perhaps!
. go never meet my prince. but 1 have
; -. . -, ~as 1
his. ~ ~
My king" she whispered
or the small company who dropped in"
euae evening, no one beamed upon Mr.
Strong more complacently than Mrs. Ros-
siter, While the chances she bestowed uI,on
ner daughter were of the tenderest variety
- Inc good lady was at loss to know how
was no doubt about that-and Mrs Pos
sitter might chafe little with natural. or
maternal. curiosity. but for the present
the fs!ct. the bare fact, must be sufficient
unto itself
Ion came home just in time" whispered
What for?'
"Guess?'
winch was not difficult to do. Between
MISS stanton and Tom Marks who had
accompanied her. had passed MANY know
ing Chances fraught with the weight OF a
mighty mutual understanding. Conscious
OF thls happy secret-which was no secret
MI. Marks lost his shyness The man
1hus trusted by Miss Posie was surely a
person or consequence, and Tom found a
new place for himself in his own estima-
tion. He was no longer the shadow. hut
the substance; the favored of the fair. the
Idol OF two roguish blue eyes
Even Doctor Clements manner toward
hlchard Strong was cordial and magnani
nous: Perhaps the day had Something 70
40 with 1t. or the cheering goblet of those
iair Circes who had presided in the ..best''
houses that day.
L didn't mind the money so much ba
laughed. but to have it given to Mr.
Beecher's church ~ ~aF'
Mr.. Strong glanced at Elinor Her eyes