Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-23

a sobbIng cry ran, like terrified child, out
of the room.
He sat down exhausted by his emotion
and sick with the thought she had evoked
in that one evil word The publicity, the
disgrace, the wrong to holy church-ah.
that was the crueiest wound! His own
wrong was hard enough, but that he, who
would gladly die for the church, should
put her to open shame! How could he bear
1t? Though 1t killed him, he must prevent
that wrong; yes, If the right eye offended
it must be plucked out. He must throw on
his cassock and turn away from the sacred
aises; he must-he could not say the wordi
he would walt little Dora would not
leave him; it was impossible.
He waited in a trance OF aching sus-
pense. Nothing for an hour or more broke it
no football, no sound of command or COM
plant. He was finally in hopes that Dora
slept. Then he was called 10 lunch, and he
made a pretenSe of eating II alone. Dora
sent no excuse for her absence, and he
could not trust himself to make inquiry
about her. In the middle of the afternoon
he heard a carriage drive to the door, and
Dora, with her jewel case in her hand en-
tered 1t and was driven away The sight
astounded him. He ran to her room and
found her maid packing her clothing. The
woman answered his questions sullenly.
She said Mrs. Stanhope had gone to Mrs.
her trunks to be sent there" Beyond this
she was silent and ignorant. No sympathy
for either husband or wife was in her heart.
Their quarrel was interfering with her own
plans; she hated both of them IN conse-
quence.
In the meantime Dora had reached her
home. Her mother was dismayed and hest
tating, and her attitude raised again In
Doras heart the passion which had pro-
voked the step she had taken. She wept
like lost child. She exclaimed against
the horror OF being Basi,'s wife forever and
ever. She reproached her mother for suffer
Ing her to whila she wa obi
She said she had been cruelty used in order
TO get the family into social recognition
She was in a frenzy of grief at her sup
posed sacrifice when her father came home
Her case was then won. With her arms
around his neck. sobbing against his heart
her tears and entreaties on his lips Ben
Denning had no feeling and no care for any
one but his daughter. He took her view of
things at once. She had been badly used
II was shame to tie a girl like Dora to
sermons and such like. 1t was like shut
ting her up In a convent" Doras tears and
complaints fired him beyond reason He
promised her freedom whatever it cost him.
And while he sat in his private room con-
sidertng the case, all the racial passions of
his rough ancestry burning within him,
Basil Stanhope called to see him. He per-
nlitted him to come into his presence, but
he rose as he entered. and walked hastily a
few steps to meet him.
What do you want here, sir?' he asked.
MY wife,
my daughter. You shall not see her I
have taken her back to my own care"
She is my wife. No one can take her
from me-"
II will teach you different lesson"
1.-The law of God"
''rhe law of the land goes here. Youn
find it more than you can defy
Sir, l entreat you to let me speak to
Dora"
IT will not"
az will stay here until see her."
VIII give you five minutes. do not
wish to offer your profession an insult: II
me-"
Answer me one auestion-what nave 1
done wrong?"
becomes unbearabiy wrong. You have no
business with wife and a home. You are
q L. sight too good for q good little girl
that wants a bit OF innocent amusement
sermons and Christmas trees! Great Scott
what sensible woman would not be sick of
1t all? Sir / don't want another minute OF
your company. Little wonder that my Dora
is i'll with 1t. Oblige me by leaving my
house as quietly as possible" And he
Walked to the door, flung 1t open, and stood
glazing at the distracted husband. Co."
he said. go at once My lawyer win see
you In the future. have nothing further
to say to you
Basil went but not to his desolate home.
He had private key 10 the vestry In his
church, and in its darkness and solitude
he faced the first shock OF his ruined life,
He sank TO the floor at the foot Of the large
cross which hung on Its bare white walls.
Griers iIlfmitahle wave went over him,
and ike drowning man he uttered an in
articulate cry OF agony-the cry of soul
that had wronged its destiny Love had
betrayed him to ruin. All he had done must
be abandoned. All he had won mus be CIV
en- up. Sin and shame indeed 1t would be
IL In his person a sacrament OF the church
should be dragged through divorce court.
All other considerations paied before this
disgrace. He must resign his curacy. strip
himself OF the honorable livery of heaven,
obliterate his person and his mare. 1t was
q kind of death.
After while he rose, drank some water,
lifted the shade and let the moonlight In.
Then about that little room he walked with
God through the long night, telling Him his
sorrow and perplexity. And there IL O
depth in our own nature whore the divine
and human are one. That night Basil Stan
hope found II, and hencsforward knew that
the bitterness of death was behind him, not
before. II made my nest too dear on earth. .
he sighed, land Il has been swept bare
that Is that I pnay buiid In heaven"
Now, the revelation Of sorrow ID the dear
est OF all revelation. stanhopc understood
that hour what he must do. No doubts
weakened his courses TIs went back 10
the house Dora called .shers,'' took awey
what he yail,ed. and whits the servants
were eating their breakfast ana talking
over his martial troubles he passed across
its threshold for the last Tins He told
no one where he VISA u0ings he dropped ~
silently aud duznh1g ou4 Of the LIE that