Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
THE L A TE T E N A N T

not be admitted here in my absencel 1 do
not ask much, only respite of twenty-four
hours. Then l return, with all the proofs
"Why have they been withheld so long?"
az do declare, W." broke in her mother,
"that you would try the patience of Job!
Have you lost all your fine sense of honor and
do to please you? And where do you meet
this young man who so unwarrantably thrusts
himself into our affairs, should like to know"
Poor Violet knew that the British matron
instinct was fighting against her now. And
there never was girl more bound up. in her
family ties. Forgive me, mother" She said
YEARLY. "The long struggle is at an end now.
Let t Mr.: van HuPfeldt KEEP his promise and
well saidI' cried van Hupfedt eagerly.
"That is brave resolve. l accept it i'm
plicitly. Mrs. Mordaunt I trust you will not
be angry with my Violet while am away. l
make amends. And, meanwhile, Violet"
Il agree. l neither see nor speak to nor
send any message to David Harcourt, as far
as lies in my power, until you return to-
morrow"
az kiss my hand to you both!" cried van
Hupfeldt with the gallant air which came
natural to him, and he went out; but before he
quilted the manor he sent for the gamekeeper:
sn to be IN yous Of R Rs
warned you has been in the park. Now, listen
carefully. Guard this house and its grounds
so that not rabbit can scamper among the
bushes without your knowledge, and | give
you fifty pounds; but fail in the least par.
ticular, and you will be dismissed instantly"
Velveteens took thought. "Twiced in
day!" he growled. "a licking or the sack, an
fifty quid or the sack-which is it to be?"
David was loyal to his pact with Violet, never
dreaming of the ordeal to which the girl had
submitted. But he waited, with much hope
through the evening; heard nothing from her;
went to bed; tossed restlessly until the sun
rose; and still received no tidings. He break
tasted, sauntered as far as the lodge, and
caught no glimpse of Violet. Then he returned
to the inn and wrote a letter, which he intrusted
to His Majesty's Postmaster General for ex-
press delivery. This is what David wrote:
"MY DEAR ONE-Can it be that some newly
conceived lie has kept you from sending for
me? l only ask your full inquiry: stand or
fall by that. But spare me this silence; for
l am eating my heart out. Yours, DAVID"
The messenger tripped back. No answer,
Sit" she said, and the words smote David such
blow that his cheek banched.
ITO whom did you hand my note?" he
managed to ask
ITO Miss Violet, SIR
did she say anything?"
lust that, sir: No answer
Then David dashed off another note:
very well; be it so. ! return to London.
will sink to the pit, and the angels alone will
be able to lift you therefrom. Let there be
no error this time. 1 leave for London at
fifteen P. M. If you want me, you must either
detain me now or come to me in London"
Back went the postmistresss sister, marvel
ing at the strangeness of these one-sided mis-
sives between the young woman of the manor
and handsome young man at the Feathers.
Being seventeen, she took David's side as
against Violet. So she added, on her own &C
count, when she the white-faced aristocrat
in the house, the explanatory statement, that
the young gentleman seemed to be very much
upset at receiving no reply"
Poor Violet, in whom loyalty was hereditary,
could not break her word. But she did say:
{" have no message to-day; but l know Mr..
Harcourt's address,"
That was the only crumb of comfort vouch-
safed to David. Away he went at one-hfteen.
nor did the volcano in him show any sign of
subsistence when he reached the gloom and
shadows of No. 7, Eddystone Mansions.
1t was a remarkable thing that of all the
pictures in the fiat he had left untouched the
portrait in chalk which hung the dining
room fireplace. 1t savored too much of sacri-
lege to disturb that ethereal face; but David
was in far too savage mood to check at senti-
ment during those dark hours. And when he
applied knife to its brown-papered back he
drew forth a curiously insipid portrait of
;IaJ To % wit, J,fa