Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

Il n thyme and lavender, and listen TO
bird singing It's verses. loud and
then soft in the scented air above them
They came out where the purple plums ana
golden apricots were beginning to brighten
a southern WALL and there, moodily walking
by himself, they met Mostyn face to face.
An angry flash and movement interpreted
his annoyance. but he Immediately recov-
cred himself. and met Ethel and his late
political opponent with polite equanim1ty
But a decided constrant fell on the happy
party, and Ethel was relieved to near the
first tones of the great bell swing out from
its lofty tower the call to the dining room.
As far as Mostyn was concerned, this first
malapropos meeting indicated the who're
evening. His heart was beating quickly TO
some sense of defeat which he did not take
the trouble to analyze. He only saw the
who had shattered his political hopes
and wasted his money in possession also
of what he thought he might rightly con-
slider his place at Ethel's side. He had
once contemplated making Ethel his bride,
and though the matrimonial idea had col
lapsed as completely as the political one,
the envious selfish misery of the dog In
the manger" was eating at his heartstrings.
He did not want Ethel: but. oh. how he
hated the thought of either John Thomas
or that American Rawdon winning heri
His seat at the dinner table also annoyed
him. 1t was far enough from the objects
of his resentment to prevent him hearing
or interfering in their merry conversation;
and he told himself with passionate indig
nation that Ethel had never once in all
their intercourse been beautiful and
bright she revealed herself that evening
to those two RawdOn youths-one mere
loom master. the other an American whom
no one knew anything about
The long, hewtching hours of the glori-
Gus evening added fuel to the flame of his
anger. He could only procure from Ethel
the promise of one unimportant dance at
the close of her program; and the American
had three dances, and the mere loom
man. two. And though he attempted to
restore his self-complacency by devoiing his
whole attentions TO the only titled young
ladies in the room, he had throughout the
evening sense of being snubbed, and of
being a person no longer of much import
ance at Rawdon Court. And the reasoning
Of wounded self-ove is a singular process.
Mostyn was quite oblivious of any per-
sonal cause for the change; he attributed
1t entirely to the squire's ingratitude.
4 did the squire a good turn when he
needed il, and'of course ne hates me for the
obligation; and as for the Judge and his
fine daughter, they interfered with my bus
iness-dtd me a great wrOng-and they are
only illustrating the old saying. Since 1
Wronged you | never liked you. After in
dulging such thoughts awhile, he resolved
TO escort the ladies Aurelia and Isolde Dam
vers to Danvers Castle, and leave Miss
Ethel to find a partner for her last dance
a decision that favored John Thomas,
greatly relieved Ethel, and bestowed upon
himself that most irritating of all punish
ments a self-inflicted disappointment.
period OF undimmed delight. In it the Tyr
rel-Rawdons concluded firm and affec-
tiOnate alliance with the elder branch at
the court, and one day after happy fam
lily dinner John Thomas made the startling
proposal that the portrait of the disiu-
herited, disOwned Tyrrel should be restored
10 Its place in the family gallery" He
said he had lust walked through it. and
noticed that the spot still vacant, and
! think surely" he added the young
mans father must have meant to recall
him home some day. but perhaps death
took him Unawares'
Died in the hunting field" murmured
the squire.
John Thomas bowed his head to the re-
mark and proceeded. so perhaps, squire,
IL may be in your heart to forgive the dead,
and bring back the poor lads picture to its
place. They who sin for love aren't so bad,
sir. as they who sin for money. | never
heard worse of Tyrrel Rawdon than that
he loved a poor woman instead of rich
woman-and married her. Those that have
gone before us into the next life, l should
think are good friends together; and 1
wouldn't wonder If might even make
them happier there II We conclude to forget
all old wrongs and live together here-as
RawdOns ought to live-like one family.
Il OF your opinion John Thomas"
said the squire, rising, and as he did so he
looked at the Judge. who Immediately in
dorsed the proposal One after the other
rose with sweet and strong assent, until
there was only Tyrrel Rawdons voice lack
ing. But when all had spoken he rose also,
and said:
Il am Tyrrel Rawdon's direct descend
ant. and l speak for him when I say to-
day, make room for me among my kim
dredr He that loves much may be for
given much
Then the housekeeper was called. and
they went slowly, with soft words, up to
the third story OF the house And the room
unused for a century was flung wide open;
the shutters were unbarred, and the sun
shine flooded It; and there amid his fishing
ar1I v,rfaf Aa1 hall
upon the wall and books of wood lore and
botany, and dress suits of velvet and satin
and hunting suits OF scarlet-all faded and
falling 10 pieces-stood the picture of Tyr
rel Rawdou, with it's face turned to the
wall The squire made a motion to his de-
scendant, and the young American ten
derby turned it 10 the light. There was no
decay on those painted lineaments, The
almost boyish face, with it's loving eyes and
laughing mouth, was still twenty-four
years old: and with look of pride and af-
lection the squire lifted the picture and
placed it in the hands OF the Tyrrel Raw
don Of the day.
The hanging OF the picture In its old
place a silent and tender little cere-
mony, and after IL the party separated
Mrs Rawdon went with Ruth to rest H.
tie. She said she had a headache" and
she also wanted a good womanly talk over
the AFFAIR. The squire. Judge Rawdon. Mr..
Nicholas RawdOn and John Thomas return
ed TO the dining room TO drink a bottle of
such mild Madeira as can only now be
found in the cellars OF old county magnates.
and Ethel and Tyrrel Rawdon strolled into
the garden. There had not been in either
mind any intention OF leaving the party.
but as they passed through the hall Tyrrel
saw Ethels garden hat and white parasol
lying on a table and. impelled by some
sudden and unreasoned instinct he offered
them TO her. Not a word OF request was
spoken; II was the eager. passionate COM
mand Of his eyes she obeyed. And for a
few minutes they were speechiess. then
intensely conscious that words stumbled
and were lame. and they managed only
syllables at a time. But he took her hand,
and they came by sunny alleys of lockwood
TO a great plane tree, bearing at wondrous
height a mighty wealth of branches. A
bank OF soft. green turf encrcled its roots,
and they sat down In the trembling shad-
Ows. Ii was In the midst of the herb gar
gen; beds OF mint and thyme rosemary
and marjoram. BASIL lavender and other
fragrant plants were around, and close at
hand little city of straw skeps peopled
by golden brown bees. From these skeps
came delicious aroma of rified flowers and
virgin wax. II was new Garden of Eden,
IN which life was sweet perfume and
pure as prayer. Nothing stirred the green
sunny afternoon but the murmur OF the