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

told the vicar that night; why, Sr, she
would not deceive a blind man. She met
this fellow In London. and bagged him
like wounded pheasant I shouldn't Won
der II 1t hadn't been all arranged between
them-bolting horse and all. There he is,
in the chaplain's room. rambling away in
u tongue Hottentot would be ashamed Of
and she's waiting for me always on the
stairs just ready to hug me for good
word. What do you make OF IT? You've
married few and ought to be an expert. :"
The vicar shook his head at the compli-
ment and declared that 1t would never
suit the earl
He hopes that she will never marry"
he said: The had told me so himself more
than once. II she does marry he has great
ambitions. After all, she may only be nat
uraily anxious dare say she's asking her
of the mischief
The Wears wife, on her part, declared
the situation to be. exceedingly distressing
There's no other lady In the house. she
said aghast. Il think the earl should be
advised to return. 1t is so very unusual"
AS a matter of fact. the earl came home
on the evening of the third day, exactly
one hour after Evelyn had been sent for
TO Count Odin for the first time since
the tragedy. The meeting took place at
the counts request, as 1t has been said.
Returning consciousness brought with 1t
a full remembrance of the circumstances
of the accident and desire to thank his
hostess for that which had been done. So
Evelyn went to him, determined to throw
herself upon his pity. No other possible
course lay before her.
DR.. Philips was in the room when she
entered it; but his belief that this was an
ahaire de occur remained obdurate and
he withdrew into an alcove, when the first
introductions were over. and made great
business there of discussing the patient 8
condition with the nurse who had come
over from Derby. Thus Evelyn found her
opportunity to speak freely to the young
count. Each felt, however. that the need
of words between them small.
MY dear lady he began, "how shall
apologize for what has happened to me-?
Three days in your house and not a word
OF regret that I intrude upon you. All
that clownish fellow of a coachman and
the other who was asleep upon the impe-
rial. Well, l shall long remember your
ungrateful TO them
He held out his hand and Evelyn could
not withhold her own. which he clasped
with warm fingers as though TO draw her
nearer still toward him.
1T is Impossible to speak of gratitude I'M
der such circumstances she said In a low
voice My father will approve OF all that
has been done count. He is returning to-
night from London"
She paused and looked round the room,
anxious that DR.. Philips should not hear
her. The count in his turn, smiled little
maliciously as though fully aware of her
thoughts.
Forgive me-" he. said again II came
to see your father, but I did not know
that he was the Earl of Melbourne. VIII
you not sit down, dear lady? You make me
unhappy while you stand"
He touched her hand again and indicated
low chair facing his bed. Evelyn. whose
heart beat quickly, sat without protest.
The minutes We're brief; she had so much
to tell him.
You knew father in Roumania did
you not she asked in tone that could
not hide her curiosity The count answered
her with a kindly smile.
HE was my fathers friend" he ex-
claimed, raising himself a little upon the
pillow; that would be more than twenty
then Lady Evelyn. Twenty years in
man s life and a woman s-ah, If we could
recall even few OF them"
Even the weeks" she said meaningly.
when we were not ourselves, but another
whom we wish to forget. Our friends can
help us to recall those weeks, count"
Evelyn had not understood the difficulty
Of confession until this moment. Her visit
TO London had been so entirely of her own
planning, she had locked the dreams of her
life so surely in the secret chambers Of
her heart. that this man was the first hui
man being with whom she had shared so
much a single word OF them. Secret ac-
tons and secret thoughts alike shame us
when we speak of them aloud. Nothing
but a dire dread of discovery would have
induced her to face the humiliations of this
avowal had it not been that silence must
have meant discovery, and discovery might
mean disaster beyond any she could imag-
inc. Count Odin, a trained of the
world had perception sufficient to read her
story instantly and to understand its full
significance. Here was a woman who put
herself into his power without a single
thought of the consequences He rejoiced
beyond words at the circumstance, but had
the wit to conceal his pleasure when he re-
piled with apparent generosity which
earned her gratitude:
Those are the weeks when our friends
should be blind, Lady Evelyn. am glad
that you tell me this. Frankly, l, too. am
an artist, and can understand your fathers
objection to the theater. Let us forget
that the most charming Eta Romney has
existed. She came from nowhere and has
gone away she came. We shall be so
ungalant that we go to forget her name
and the theater and all her cleverness.
Please TO speak no more of it. l am your