Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

not believe him. She was sure that Dora
was not the only evoker OF the unbounded
manner. But she let the reason pass: she
had no likely arguments to use against IT,
And that day Mrs. Denning. with a slight
mir Of injury. opened the subject OF Mr.
Mostyn's Introduction to them She thought
Ethel had hardly treated the Dennings
fairly Everyone was wondering they had
not met him. OF course. she knew they
were not aristocrats. and she supposed
Ethel was ashamed Of them, but for her
part, she thought they were as good as
most people. and II it came to money, they
could put down dollar for dollar with any
multi-millionajre in America, or England
either. for that matter.
When the reproach took this tone there
seemed to be only one thing for Ethel 90
say or to do: but that one thing was exactly
what she did not say or do. She took up
Mrs. Denning's reproach and complained
that her relative and friend had been pur-
posely and definitely ignored. Dora had
told her plainly she did not wish to make
M MoStyn's acquaintance. and, In accord
with this feeling. no one In the Denning
family had called on Mr.. Mostyn or shown
him the least courtesy. She thought the
whole Rawdon family had the best of rea-
sons for feeling hurt at the neglect"
This view of the case had not entered
Mrs. Denning's mind. She was quickly
sorry and apologize for Dora's selfishn ess
and her own thoughtlessness. and Ethel
was not difficult to pacify. There was then
no duty so imperative as the arrangement
of little dinner for MIR. Mosteyn. I'VE
Will make it quite family affair. saio
Mrs. Denning. then we can go TO the
opera afterward. Shall ] call on Mr.. Mos
tyn at the Holland Houser" she asked anx-
inusly.
II will ask Bryce to call said Dora
Bryce will do anything to please me now
mother"
In this way Bryce 'Denning's desires were
all arranged for him. and that evening Dora
made her request. Bryce heard 1t with
pronounced pout of his lips but finally toio
Dora she was Irresistible" and as his time
for pleasing her was nearly out. he would
even call on the Euglishman at her request
Mind" he added. II think he is as proud
Lucifer and l may get nothing Tor my
civilty but the excuse of previous en-
gagement"
But Bryce Denning expected much more
than this. and he got all that he expected
The young men had common ground 10
meet on, and they quickly became as Inu-
mate as ever Frederick Mostyn permitted
himself to be with stranger. Bryce could
hardly help catching enthusiasm from
Mostyn on the subject of New YORK, ana
he was able to show his new acquaintance
phases of life in the marvellous city whlch
were of the greatest interest TO the IN
quisitiye Yorkshire squire-Chinese theaters
and opium dives; German. Italian, Spanish
Jewish French cities sheltering themselves
within the great arms of the great Arnerl-
can city; queer restaurants, where he cou.d
eat of the national dishes of every civiiized
ment legal and Illegal. and the vast under
side of the evident life-all the uncared
for toiiing of the thousands who work
through the midnight hours. In these eX-
cursions the young men became in way
familiar, though neither of them ever told
the other the real feelings of their hearts
or the real aim of their lives.
The Dtoposed dinner took place ten Gays
after lis suggestion There was nothing re-
markabIe in the function itself; all million
aires have the same deIicacies and the same
wines and serve these things with pre-
cisely the same ceremonies. And, as
general thing, the company follow rigidly
ordained laws of conversation. stories
about public people, remarks about the
weather and the opera, are In order; out
original ideas or decided opinions are I'M
nardonabIe social errors. Yet even these
commonplace events many contain some
element that shall Unexpectedly cut NE
in two and so change It's aims ana desires
as to virtually create new character IL
was Frederick Mostyn who in this instance
underwent this great personal chanse;
change totally unexpected and Tor Which
he was absolutely unprepared For the peo-
pie gathered in Mrs. Dennings drawing
room were mostly known to him, and the
exceptions did not appear to possess any
remarkable traits, except Basil Stanhope
who stood thoughtfully at a window.
his pale, lofty beauty wearing an air OF
expectation. Mostyn decided that ne was
naturally impatient for the presence OF his
fiancee. whose delayed entrance he per-
celVed was also annoying Elnei. linen tHelt
was a slight movement. sudden silence,
and Mostyn saw Stanhope's face flush and
turn magically radiant. Mechanically ne
followed his movement and the next mo-
ment his eyes met Fate. and Love slipped
in between Dora was there a fatry-like
vision in pale amber draperles, soIteneu
with silk lace Diamonds were in her Won
derfully waved hair and round her fair
white neck. They clasped her belt and
adorned the instep of her little amber SIX
slippers. She held q yellow rose In her
hand, and yellow rosebuds lay among the
lace at her bosom, and Mostyn, stupefed by
her undreamed-of loneliness, saw golden
emanatons from the clear pallor or her
face He felt for moment or two as IL ne
should certainly faint; only by a miracle
of stubborn will did he drag his conscious
ness from that golden-tinted. sparkling haze
of beauty which had smitten him like an en-
chantment Then the girl was booking at
him with her soft. dark. gazelle eyes; she
was even speaking to him, but what she
said or what reply he made, he could never
by any means remember. Miss Bayard was
to be his compaaon. and with some EFFORT
and a few indistinct words he gave her ms
arm. She asked If he was i'll, and when
shake of the head answered the query, she
covered the few minutes of his dlsconcer-
ton with her conversation. he looked at
her gratefully and gathered his personality
together For Love had come to him like
a two-edged sword, dividing the flesh and
the spirit and he longed to cry aloud and
relieve the sweet torture of the possession.
with it a wonderful access of all his powers.
The sweet, strong wine of Love went to his
brain like celestial nectar. All the witty,
amusing hlngs he had ever heard came
trooping into his memory, and the dinner
was long delayed by his fine humor, his
pleasant anecdotes. and the laughing
thoughts which others caught up and Illus
trated in their own way.
1t was feast full OF good things, but its
spirit was not able to bear transition The
company scattered quickly when it was
over to the opera theater or to the rest
of quiet evening at home, for at the end
enthusiasm of any kind has a chilling ef
feet on the feelings. None of the party I'M
derstood this result and yet all were, In
their way. affected by the sudden fall of
mental Temperature Mr.. Denning went
to his library and took out his pri-
vate ledger, a penitential sort of read
ing which he relshed after moods OF
any kind of enjoyment. Mrs. Demning Sc
lected Ethel Rawdon for her text of dis
Illusion. She thought Ethel had been
little jealous of Dora's dress" and Dora
said 1T was one of her surprises. and
Ethel thought she ought to know every
thing" You are too obedient to Ethel"
continued Mrs. Denning, and Dora looked
with charming occurrences at her lover,
and said "She had to be obedient to some
one wiser than herself" and so slipped her
hand into Basil's hand. And he understood
the promise and with a look of passionate
affection raised the lite jeweled pledge and