Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08

drew on, he sent the maid, Partfgan, to my
Lady Evelyn begging that she would come
10 him.
There had been wild excitement in the
house, to be sure Tragedy is ever the
delight of the servants hall; nor was it
less delightful because memorable days
were few at the manor History has re-
corded that Partigan, the maid, shed tears
when she heard that the young man up
stairs a foreigner and exceedingly
handsome. Mr.. Griggs, the butler, felt 1t
necessary to sample divers vintages of wine
and to ask repeat edly what the earl would
think OF it The maids whispered together
IN corners; the grooms discussed the erring
horse with straws protruding from the cor
nerS of their mouths. To these WORTHLESS
and to others the daily bulletin, which the
shrewd, side-whiskered DR.. Philips deliv
cred each morning as he climbed into his
motor-car, became the tidings of horse
race or of a royal wedding. Rumor had
said that the young count was dead when
they carried him to the house. DR.. Philips
declared that he would have him dancing
before the month was done.
Fracture, pshaw!" exclaimed that know
ing practitioner; they might tell you that
in Harley street, but in Derbyshire we
know better. He has a skull as thick as a
Hater-butt. Conclusion, sir, that is the
matter. You may tell her ladyship with
my compliments. Con-cuss-iOn Is what Dr.
Philips says, and If there is any one who
disputes his word, he'd like TO see the
man"
They carried the news TO Evelyn, who had
scarcely left her room since this amazing
adventure befell her. A brief account OF
the accident obtained from the lips of young
Felix Horowitz Count Odins friend, mar
rated the simple circumstance that they
had been driving from Moretown to Mel
bourne Hall and had collided upon the way
with a hay-cart. whose driver, as the driv-
ers of hay-carts so frequently viii, had been
taking his sieSta during the heat OF the
day. Thrown from the box into the gutter,
the coachman dislocated his shoulder and
had many bruises to show; while his horse.
terrified at the absence of control. instant
ly bolted in one of those blind pan1cs winch
may overtake even the most doclle or AMI
mails.
Such a story Felix Horowitz had told, but
more he could not tell. Evelyn's anxious
question as to the purport of Count Odin
visit remained unanswered. 1t was possible,
the youth said, that the count drove out 10
see Lord Melbourne. But l should not be
surprised he added naively, IF there were
a better reason which you must not expect
me to confess"
She was afraid to- press the point, nor dare
she at present invite the confidence OF one
who was 50 great a stranger to her sooner
or later it would be necessary to abase her
self before this man, who had thrust him
self unluckily into her life and made such
quick use of his advantages. Evelyn per
ceived Immediately that she must go to
i Count Odin and say: My father does not
know that | am Eta Romney. Please do
not tell him" And this was far from being
the whole penalty of the accident. glim-
mer of the truth could come TO her already
as a. specter which henceforth must haunt
her life She knew that her father had
spent some years In Roumania, and that
nothing would induce him to revisit that
country wherein he had married Dora
d'Istran In the same breath she told her
self that this man was a Roumanian and
acquainted with her fathers story
Had she been entirely honest with her
self she would have gene on to admit
certain fascination in the mystery which
she could neither account for nor take
arms against. Count Odin was like no
other man she had known. She had tried
to deceive herself in London with the
imagined belief that she never wished to
see him again. Many times, however, since
she had returned to Derbysbire this very
desire would assert itself She found her.
self, against her will and reason, covertly
hoping that she might hear his story from
his own lips. A psychologist would have
held that there was a certain affinity be-
tween the two. and that she had become
the victim of it unconscously Her fear
was OF a splendid fascination she had be-
come aware OF and could not resist. She
magined that she would obey this man IL he
commanded her. despite her resolute will
and almost eccentric originality. And this
she feared even more than her own secret.
1t is to be imagined how the suspense of
Count Odin's illness tried nerves as high
strung as those Of Evelyn, and with what
expectation she awaited the hour when he
would recover consciousness. Her desire
nau DSCoiIe tnat Vi huoWiuS Inc WORST as
speedily as might be: and the worst she
certainly would not know until conscious
ness returned and Some good excuse might
admit her to the sick mans room. Hourly
almost she asked the news of Dr. Philips
and received the strictly professional an
swsri
IAN ordinary case-no cause for worry at
all-don't think about It,"
To the doctors inquiry what she knew
of Count Odin she merely said that she had
heard of him in London. and believed that
his father had been the earls friend many
years ago. This did not in any way dis
have been more than human had he not
put his own construction upon 1t.
Head over ears in love with him." he