Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-17
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ~.
Beatrice woke to the knowledge of her
own utter misery. Contrary to her antl~ipa-
ton. she had slept very soundly all night.
much as condemned criminals are supposed
to do on the eve of execution. She felt well
and vigorous In herself, brilliant sunshine
was pouring into her room. and all around
her lay evidences Of her coming slavery.
Here were the bridal veil and the long
train. there were the jewels laid out on the
dressing table. A maid was moving quietly
about the room.
Good morning. MISS" she said. "A lovely
morning, And If there's any truth in the
saying that 'happys the bride that the sun
caught sight of Beatrice's pale, set face.
II suppose you think am to be envied?'
Beatrice asked Now. don't your"
The maid lifted her hands to express her
dumb admiration. who would not be
happy to be dressed in those lovely clothes,
to be decked in those jewels and to marry
a man who will give you everything that
the heart could desire?' Beatrice smiled
YEARLY.
You are quite wrong. Adeline." she said.
eff l could change places with you at this
moment / would gladly do so. You have a
sweetheart, l suppose?"
'Oh. yes. miss. He's in a shop. Some
day he hopes to have a shop of his own,
tnen---
"And then you will be married. You love
him very dearly. l suppose. And /
Beatrice stopped, conscious of the fact
that she was saying too much. She ate
sparingly enough of her breakfast: she
then went down to the drawing room and
wrote a few letters. 1t was not quite 10
yet and she had plenty of time. Lady Rash
borough was not an early riser, though
Marlborough himself had breakfasted and
gone out long before Beatrice was mood
lily contemplating her presents in the II
hrarv when Gtenhan R{chf0rd
nounced. He came in with an easy smile,
though Beatrice could see that his hands
were shaking. and there just sugges-
ton of fear in his eyes. With all his faults,
the man did not drink, and Beatrice Won
dered. She had once seen forger arrested
on liner, and his expression as soon as
he recognized his position was just the
same as Beatrice now saw in the eyes of
the man she was going to marry.
What is the matter?" she asked list
lessly. 'You look as If you had had some
great shock, like man who has escaped
from prison. Your face Is CHASTITY"
Richford made no reply for a moment. He
contemplated his sullen, livid features in a
large Venetian mirror opposite He was
not pretty object at any time. but he was
absolutely repulsive just at that moment.
Bit of an upset." he stammered. Saw
"a nasty street accident. Poor chap run
over"
The man was lying to her; absolutely he
was forced to the invention to save himself
He not in the least likely to feel for
anybody else, in fact he had no feeling of
human kindness. as Beatrice had once seen
for herself. There had been a fatal acct
dent at polo match under their very feet
and Richford had pulled at his cigarette
and expressed the sentiment that if fools
did that kind of thing they must be pre-
pared to put up with the consequences.
You are not telling the TRUTH! Beatrice
said codly. "As if anything of that kind
could affect you. You are concealing some
thing from me. Is it's there anything the
matter with my father?"
Richford started violently. With all his
self-control he could not hold himself in
now His white face took on a curious
leaden hue his voice was hoarse he
spoke
eyes, he said, with a thick sneer. And
once woman gets an idea into her head
there Is roofing it out again. Your
father is all right: nothing ever happens to
men of that class. l saw him to his room
last night, and very well he had done for
himself. Won over two hundred at bridge.
too. Sir Charles can take care of himself.
Beatrice'S face famed and then turned
pale again. She had caught herself hoping
that something had happened to her father.
something sufficiently serious to postpone
today's ceremony. 1t was a dreadfully I'M
worthy thought, and Beatrice covered
with shame And yet she knew that she
would have been far happier in the knowl-
edge of a disaster like that
why did you want to see me?' she asked.
Il have not too much time to spare
''Of course not. But you can cheer your
self with the reflection that shall have
SO much time together later on when the
happy knot is tied. Has it occurred to you
that l have given you nothing as yet? l
brought this for YOU
Richford's hands, still trembling, produced
a bulky package from his pocket. AS he
lifted the shabby lid stream of living fire
flashed out. There We're diamonds of all
kinds in old settings the finest 6ia
that Beatrice had ever seen. III at ease
and sick at heart as she was, she could not
repress a cry
"Ah l thought I could touch you" Rich
ford grinned. "A female saint could not re-
sist diamonds. Forty thousand pounds
gave for them. They are the famous Rock
martin gems. The family had to part with
them, so the opportunity was too good to be
lost. Well?"
They are certainly exquistely lovely"
Beatrice stammered. Il thank you very
much
IF not very warmly, eh? So that is all
you have to say? Amt they worth one
single kiss?"
Beatrice drew back. For the life of her
she could not kiss this man. Never had his
lips touched hers yet. They should never
do so if Beatrice had her own way.
Il think not she said in her cold, con-
strained way. IT'S very prncely of you,
and yet it does not touch me in the least.
You made the bargain with your eyes open:
l told you at the time that 1 could never
care for you; that l sold myself to save my
fathers good name. | know. the situation
is not a new one; 1 know that such mar
riages. strange to say, have before now
turned out to be something like success.
But not ours. All the heart l ever had
to bestow has long since been given to
another l will do my best to make your
life comfortable | will do my best to learn
all that wife is asked to become. But no
more"
Richford turned away with savage
curse upon his lips. The cold contempt
struck him and pierced the hide of his in
difference as nothing else could. But he
was going to have his revenge. The time
was near at hand when Beatrice would
ether have to bend or break, Richford did
not care which. 1t was the only consolation
that he had.
Very WELL" he said. I'VE understand
one another. We shall see. Au revoir!'
He took up his hat and his stick, and
strobe off without a further word. Beatrice
put the diamonds away from her as if they
had been so many deadly snakes. She felt
that she would Ioathe the sight of diamonds
for the rest of her life.
The time was drawing on now; it only
wanted another hour. and the thing would
be done Lady Marlborough came in and
admired the diamonds; in her opinion, Bea-
trice was the luckiest girl in London. Her
ladyshfp was pretty little blue-eyed thing.
adored by her husband, but she had no par
ticle of heart. Why girl should dislike a
man who would give her diamonds like