Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16

1T seems to me that your behavior this
afternoon warrants my question"
No. Thurso. it does not, said Lily. and
you know it,
He looked first at one, then at the other
and his hand moved slowly toward the
bottle on the table.
Il don't want to make a scene with either
of you,'' he said. and l don't want to de-
tain you. But require you both to prom
Use never again to act In such a way. You
are absolutely unjustified in touching or in
terfering with my things in this way, from
whatever motive. And your interference
has done no good. as you see. in this In
| stance. and will do no good In any other.
You will merely oblige me to adopt methods,
as underhand as your own.
There was nothing underhand, said
Lily; I'VE were going to tell you what We
had done. Maud did tell you"
1t was inevitable that should find out
said he.
That was immateral," said Maud.
Even II you could never have found out
| otherwise We should have told YOU.
Ali said he.
Maud looked at him with amazement.
She had been told by Lily this afternoon
| that there were two Mauds: here indeed
was Thurso whom she would scarcely
have known for her brother. He was fun
damentally different while his quiet manner
and superficial conduct were the same.
But this new Thurso was IL a devil
possessed him; she felt, too, that he hated
her.
In his one word of reply there
ocean of incredulty.
You don't believe what / say? she
asked.
He was silent. he smiled little. and
| raised his eyebrows. There was no need
for him to speak; his meaning was per-
fectiy clear
Then what is the use of our giving you
any promise for the future. You don't
believe what we say?' she asked.
Il ask for your promise, however ne
said.
And II we don't give it you?" asked Lily.
II shall merely have to find some other
way of getting things delivered, so that you
do not intercept Them" he said
There was nothing more to be said on tho
subject, and they sat in silence moment.
Then Maud spoke.
Il promise" she said 1t is no good re-
And L." said Lily.
Thurso put his hand to his head suddenly
with a gesture he could not control
Then shall we agree never to. say WORD
more on this very unpleasant subject ne
said. And now, Lily, and you, Maud us
ten. l am suffering so hideously at inns
present moment that l hardly know what
l am saying-agitation, anger, and so on
brought on this afternoon the worst pain
have ever had. l very hkely shou .I no.
have taken laudanum from that bottle you
threw away; anyhow, i should have strue-
ged hard not to. | struggled yesterday,
with the result that | allowed LILY TO pour
away all / had in the house. But am
not going to struggle now; the pain Is alb
solutely intolerabe, and II was brought on,
as far as l know, by what you did. your
interference has not done the shshteSl
good it has only given me an hour of hell.
/ have thought and said abominable thlnss
OF YOU both in this last hour. My only eN-
cuse is that / am in torments Deg the
forgiveness of both of you
Here was the real Thurso again, LOOKING
out like soul in prison, trying to burst
through the bars, and 1t was lndescripaply
pathetic. Both women were melted with
pity for him; and Lily got up and came 10
him. =.
All Thurso, of course We forgive you
she said: but tomorrow you VIII go on
fighting against this, won't your and she
pointed to the bottle 1t Sit oamha'lo"'
you know.
He looked at her with agonized eyes.
II will do my best" he said. Now. go!
Make my excuses to the others, If don
appear at dinner. But l will come If l am
fit" -,
The two went out together, but before
the door was closed they heard the cllnk
of glass.
ITO be continued next Saturday,