Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-02
E@7 N@5@A
81 Tie MeAA/ y
story OFFENCE
H0D0/.''SS:;'' '.:
yMW~e <M>Y
WS >~<s.ss11A<
W "osuo~a~, ~
PART III.
The Paths of Peace.

at parting. and they went their ways. A
Notwithstanding. middle-aged man was
leaning on gate EMPOWERED in roses. This
is Capt. Fame professor" said the trustee
Il hope you'll be friends The professor
was kindly and civil, begged them to enter
and be seated, but they had to go on. Il
hope-er-you won't be severe with our
boys, captain" said the professor as they
parted. And this sentiment before they
reached home was the third time expressed.
and Fame turned to his mentor. why
should | be-or why should they think it?'
he asked.
The colonel reflected a moment before
committing himself. ut is probably be-
cause you're a West Pointer said he.
Pitt was of our own volunteers. Strang
was from Bowdoin and Norwich. 1 believe
YOU are the first West Pointer seen in these
parts since the war
A curious train of thought was started,
only to suffer sudden interruption. AS they
came to a leafy corner and turned along
the shore a carriage drove by in which
were two middle-aged women, facing front,
to whom the trustee raised his hat. La
dies from the Hail. said he "One is
sistant in English literature" But Fanes
wits were wandering. He had stopped short
and was staring after them. Two young
women were seated facing the elders One
now smilingly giving ear to her oppo-
site neighbor. The face of the other was
hidden. She had bent forward in the carr
riage and was still bending it turned the
corner.
Some one you know" hazarded the
colonel
Some one-I thought faltered the
young officer: then shook himself together.
But it's impossible,'
West spoke again: Our matron is evil
IDENTIFY showing the sights to our recent
acquisitions. One of the younger ladies
was the new assistant in French-Miss
Hoyt."
And in this way and in this utterly out
of-the-way spot the girl he loved had come
back into the life of Ronald Fame, and
what promised to be strange, perhaps
thankless, task all on a sudden was en-
dowed with thrilling interest. 1t
mercy that Jane stood there al the next
gate for in her smiling welcome Col. West
lost sight of the brothers startled, wonder
stricken face.
But happiness had not come with the dis
covery For months line or word had
passed between them, and he had sought no
explanation. 1t was enough that she should
have ceased to write. 1t was the easiest
way to accept the inevitable. If she had
not dropped the correspondence and him,
he, in his changed fortunes and new fll1al
and family duties, would have been COM
PEELED to explain to her. 1t was a mercy
though bitter one, that it came as and
when it did. He had accepted it as beyond
repair. He positively had nothing to offer
She. presumably, had everything to make
life beautiful He had never so much as
sought to learn where or how she was. 1t
We're all best forgotten-that brief, sweet
dream-and forever.
But now she was here-here at Groveton,
teacher a dependent. What could it
mean but that some dire misfortune had
befalen her? Now he could not he should
not lose a moment. That very evening he
called at Clifton Hail. sent his card to the
matron and to Miss Hoyt. The former re-
ceved him wonderingly The latter received
him not at all. Instead she sent this note
Il knew you would come as soon as you
found that | was here, therefore l should
have had this ready. but l could not write
it, 1t was like you to come, but my friend,
be my friend and help me to bear myself
bravely in these new duties. You heard, of
course, of our-disgrace; there is no other
word for it. And Ii is strange indeed, now
that l have my own way to make in the
world, that you should have been ordered
here. 1t is more than probable we may
meet-must meet; but when we do meet let
it be only as mere acquaintance who have
met only casually before. Sincerely,
ETHEL HOYT."
And they did meet, once when Fame was
making a formal call at the governors,
once after ''rhetoricals' and that was all,
They exchanged few conventonalities on
each occasion, he being confused, con-
strained and awkward; she being entirely
self-controled. They saw each other at
intervals and at a distance about the
grounds He saw her and sat where he
could see her every Sunday in church, but
never yet in the six weeks of their service
within these classic shades of State Col
lege had they met alone. Each had had
much to encounter, much TO bear Each
would gladly have abandoned the new and
strange associations and returned to the
old but he was hampered by financial bonds
and flial duties She could only return by
accepting conditions that were impossible.
(To be continued tomorrow