Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
BY MAX PEMBERTON

presence OF Eta Romney, and remained SO
until the amiable painter volunteered to do
a cake-walk II Dulcie Holmes would &C
company him. This set the ball rolling;
and although gentility suffered snub when
lady from the Vaudeville remarked that
she always "gorged'' currant loaves never
theless merriment prevailed and some strik-
ing performances were achieved. Eta had
not laughed so much since she left the con-
vent school-and she could not help re-
fiecting, she returned to Bedford Square,
upon the vast capacity for innocent enjoy
ment these merry girls possessed and the
compensations it afforded them in lives
which were by no means without their
troubles.
1t was a quarter to six when she reached
her lodgings She had time upon her hands,
for o'clock would be quite early enough
to set out for the theater. The weather
promised to become a little overcast as sne
stood upon her doorstep; and she was con-
scious of that sudden depression with
which an approaching storm Will often az
hict nervous and highly sensitive people.
Opening the front door slowly, with her
eyes still watching the creeping clouds
above. she became aware that there were
strangers in the hall beyond, and she stood
for an instant to hear rapid words In the
German tongue-a language her father had
always advised her to study and had In
sisted upon the good nuns teaching her'
Tonight 1t -erved her well, for by 1t she
became aware instantly that the strangers
| were speaking of her-indeed, that they
| awaited her coming.
Go into the ROOM said a voice. i
| must be alone here
| Another said. Hush, that's her STEP
Eta turned as pale as the marguerites
| in the flower boxes when she heard these
words; though, for the life of her, she
| could not say why she was alarmed. PER
| haps the constant fear of discovery which
| had attended her escapade from the be-
| ginning asserted itself at the moment 10
! say that these strangers knew the truth
| and had come to profit by It. If this were
| So the idea passed instantly to give place
| TO that more sober voice of son when
| asked How should a stranger know OF
| Il and what Is my secret to hiln?' Such
! an argument Immediately treasured her
| and entering the hall boldly, she FOUND
| herself face to face with no other than
| the Roumanian. Count Odin, who mad oeeh
| presented to her eight Gays ago Ut ehe
| Carlton Hotel.
Now. here was the last man in all Lon
don whom Eta had expected to see IN
Bedford Square and her astonlshment anu
distaste were so plainly visible in her wide
| omen eyes that the victim of them could
| not possibly remain under any oeluslon
| whatever Plainly, however, he was quite
| ready for such welcome as she 1ntenoeo
| 10 give him for he barred her passage up
| the hall and holding out his hand, greeted
| her with that accepted familiarity so cnar-
| ecteristic Of the id!ers who lounge ABOUT
NV dear lady" he said. do not put the
| dlspleasure upon me. l come here because
| INV friend Mr.. lizard, recommend me When
/ I ask him where L SIldll AHu u
| Miss Romney is at Bedford square, that's
| what he says; go right there and you Will
, find an apartment in the same street NOW
| isn't II wonderful? / arrive at your mouse
| nv accident and here is your landlady VINO
| has the dining room to let. You shall for
| give me for that when say that my frleho'
| Uorowitz is with me and his sister Why,
Miss Romney. Wen be Just a HAPPY lam,
| ily together; and that's what Charles lizard
was thinking of when he sent me mere
| Tell her wish it. he said: she's too much
| alone in London. and 1t doesn't do
| Eta interrupted him with dignity he
| had not looked for.
Mr. lizard would not be so impairment.
! she exclaimed hotly. Your coming or go
| ing really does not interest me. count
! have TO be at the theater Immediately.
| Please let me passi
| She tried to go by. but he still forbade
/ her, smiling the while and seemingly quite
/ sure of himself.
| "My dear lady" he said, you do not go
| 10 the theater until half-past seven. This
| Rmiahle person of the house has told me as
/ much. If l am rude. forgive me. wish
| TO ask you to see my pictures of Roumania,
| a country your father once knew very well,
1 Miss Romney. though he has not been there
| for many years. Say that you will come
and see them tomorrow and VIII ask
| Mademoiselle Carlotta TO help me TO show
! them 10 you. Now. dear lady, viii you not
| name the hour? / shall have much TO show
| you. much for you 10 tell your amiabie
/ father about when you see him again.
! Eta shivered as though with cold. Never
! before had she known such curious spell
/ of helpiessness as this man seemed able
/ 20 cast upon her. The words which he
| spoke amazed her beyond all experience.
! Roumania, She understood vaguely that
/ her father had lived dreadful years there
| so long ago that even he almost had for
/ gotten them. And this stranger could speak
/ OF them youth that he was, as though he
! held their secret. Had She wished to ter
| inmate her acquaintance with him then
! and there her woinans curiosity would
. 49, ~ = IS%YR har- llFrF han, &c
| the man himself attracted her in a way
/ she could not define-attracted her. despite
her early aversion from him and her sure
/ knowledge that there must be danger In
/ the acquaintance.
DO you know nay father count?" she
| asked presently-in voice which could not
/ conceal her apprehension.
ITO my family he is well known TO me
! not at ALL was the frank reply. 81 came
to England TO make my misfortune good;