Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11

M Mrs; Ewing: II II am old enough to be your
love me in any way"
Il cannot help it."
Mrs: Ewing hestated. II have a mind
voice. Can I rely Upon your " . "
II would die before told, II you said
was not to-" cried James.
1T might almost come to that" said the
woman gravely. "A very nerious matter
is involved. otherwise there would not be
this secrecy. cannot tell you what the
matter is. but can tell you something
which will cure you of loving me-
Il don't want to be cured" protested
James, land I have told you it Is a love
like worship. it Is not"
Mrs. Ewing interrupted him. 1.-The wor-
she said. Il cannot have you made to suf-
fer. I will tell you, but, remember, If
you betray me you will do awful harm.
Neither the doctor nor Clemency even
knows. of course, the secret; Clemency
does not know, and must never know. 1t
would be the undoing Of all Of us. the ter
rible undoing, If this were to get out. but
] will tell you. You are a good boy, and
you shall be spared needless pain. Lis
ten" She leaned forward and whispered
close to his ear. James started back, and
Ewee s ar edf Il Snrts nte
she said, but better this now than worse
later. You are foolish to feel SO about
me; you were at a disadvantage in COM
ing here. 1t is only right that you should
know. Now, never speak to me again
about this Think of me as your friend. and
your friend who Is in very great suffering
and pain, and have sympathy for me, II
you can, but not 30 much sympathy that
you too will suffer. want sympathy. but
not agony like poor Toms That makes
1t harder for me-"
Does she known" asked James. half
you mean does Clemenoy know I am
in?"
Yes"
"She knows 1 am Ill. She does not know
how terrible 1t is. You must help me to keep
it from her. / almost never give way
when she is present. I know she was tax
ing a nap this afternoon. and the pain
was SO awful. 1t is better now. l think
I will go to my room and lie down for
while" Mrs. Ewing rose, and extended her
hand to James. II have forgotten already
what you told me-" che said.
II can never forget!
"You must. or you must go away from
here"
IT can never forget, but it shall be a
thing of the past" said James.
THAT is right Mrs. Ewing said with
maternal air. ut will only take little ef-
fort. You will see."
She went out of the room with a fiounce
Of red draperies. and left James. He sat
down beside a window and stared out
blankly. The thought came to him, how
ton such a woman must have listened to.
Her manner Of receiving his made him
| think that there had been many. 1T ts
quite proper" he thought to himself.
woman like that Is born to be worshiped" "
Then he thought Of what she had told
him, and a sort OF rage filled his heart
He recognized the fact that she had been
right in her estimation of the worship Of
young man. He is always trying to turn
his idol into clay.
The door opened and Clemency entered
but he did not notice 1t. She came and sat
down in front of him, and looked angrily
at him; then for the first time he saw her
He rose. II beg your pardon, ! did not
hear you come in,' he said.
I "Sit down again" said Clemency pettish-
ly Don't be silly. am used to having
young men not to see anybody but my
mother when she comes into q room, and
It is quite right, too I don't think there
ever was woman SO beautiful as she, do
your"
mo, I DON'T" replied James.
Clemency eyed him keenly. Then she
blushed at the surmise which came to her,
and James also blushed at the knowledge
Of the -surmise. You can't be much older
ency after a while. Then the red suffused
her very throat
1T am twenty-three, too" said James
Then he added bluntly. for he began to be
most beautiful her saw without"
fool" said Clemency; then she added, In
q meek and shamed voice. Il should have
been awfully disguised with you II you
had not thought my mother the most beau
tiful woman you ever saw, and am used
to men not seeing me. don't want them
to. think feel something as Annie LIP
ton does about men. She says she feels
as II she wanted to xiii every man who
looks at her as II he loved her. think
I should too. -Is .tg- s~-.st
Miss Upton has a great many ad.
mrers." remarked James by way Of
changing the subject. :.
''Oh. yes. every Young man for miles
around. ever since she was grown up. She
doesn't like any Of them" C1emency
| looked at James with sudden concern. 81