Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-23


very dirty trick to have let Fred Mostyn
get his way with Squire Rawdon.'
"Of course, Ethel, when man lends his
money as an obligation he expects TO get IT
back again"
"Mostyn got every rarthing due him. ana
he wanted one of the finest manors
in England in return for the obligation. He
did not get 1t. thank God ard my father!
He will not forget your fathers inter-
ference"
az hope he will remember it"
do you know who furnished the money
to pay Fred? He says he is sure your father
did not have It,"
Tell him to ask my father He might
even ask your father. Whether my father
had the money not was immaterial.
Father could borrow any sum he wanted,
I think"
Whom did he borrow from"
IT am sure that Fred told you TO ask that
question. Is he writing to you. Dora?"
Suppose he is?'
II cannot suppose such thing. 1t Is too
impossible
This was the beginning of a series Of
events all more or less qualified to bring
about unspeakabie misery IN BasiPs home
But there is nothing IN life Ike the mar
riage tie The tugs 1t will bear and not
break, the wrongs 1t VIII look over, the
chronic misunderstanding 1t VIII forgive,
make It one Of the mysteries OF humanity.
II was not in q day or q week that Basil
Stanhope's dream of love and home was
shattered. Dora had frequent ana tnSh less
frequent times OF return to her better self;
and every such time renewed her husbands
hope that she was merely passing through
a period OF transition and assimilation and
that in the end she would be all his desire
hoped for
But Ethel saw what he did not see, that
Mostyn was gradually inspiring her with his
own opinions. perhaps even with his own
passion. In this emergency however, she
was gratifed to find that Dora's mother ap-
peared to have grasped the situation. For
If Dora went to the theater with Mostyn,
Mrs. Denning or Bryce was also there and
the reckless auto driving, shopping and
lunching had at least show of respectable
association. Yet when the opera season
opened, the constant companionship OF
Mostyn and Dora became entirely too re-
markable, not only in the public estima-
ton, but in BaslTs miserable conception Of
his own wrong. The young husband used
every art and persuasion-and failed. And
his failure was too apparent TO be sighted.
He became feverish and nervous, and his
friends read his misery in eyes heavy with
unshed tears, and In the wasting pallor
caused by his sleepless, sorrowful nights.
Dora also showed signs OF the change 80
rapidly working on her. She was sullen ana
passionate by turns: she complained bitter
ly to Ethel that her youth and beauty had
been wasted; that she was only nineteen,
and her life was over She wanted to go to
Paris. to get away from New York any
where and anyhow. She began to dislike
even the presence Of Basil. His stately
beauty offended her, his low, calm voice
was the very keynote of irritation.
One morning near Christmas he came to
her with a smiling. radiant face Dora"
he said. Dora my love- have something
so interesting TO tell you. Mrs. Colby and
Mrs. Schafier and some other ladies have
a beautiful idea. They wish to give all
the children of the church under eight
years old the grandest Christmas tree
imaginable-reelly rich presents-and they
thought you might like to have it here
What DO you say, Basil3"
You were always 30 fond of children.
YOU
'T never could endure them
I'VE all thought you might enjoy II. In
deed was so sure that promised for you
It viii be such pleasure TO me also, dear
my house"
II promised It, Dora"
You had no right to do so. This is my
house. My father bought II and gave me II,
and II is my own. l."
1T seems, then, that fntrIde In your
house. Is 1t sol Speak. Dora"
'If you will ask questions You must take
the answer You do intrude when you
come with such ridiculous proposals-in fact,
you intrude very often lately"
Does Mr.. Mostyn intruder"
Mr.. Mostyn takes out. gives me a
little sensible pleasure You think can be
interested in Christmas tree. The .deal'
Alas, alas. Dora, you are tired OF me!
You do not love mel You do not love mei''
i love NOBODY 1 am sorry got mar
ried. 1t was all mistake. I will go home,
and then you can get divorce"
At this last word the whole man changed
He was suffused, TRANSPORTED with an
anger that was at once righteous and I'M
petuous.
How dare you use that word to mer'
he demanded. ITO the priest OF God no such
word exists. do not snow It, You are
my wife willing or unwilling You are my
wife forever, Whether you dwell with me
or not You cannot sever bonds the
Almighty has tied You are mine. Dora
Staahopei Mine for tis,e and sternityt Mine
forever and everi''
She looked at him In amazement. and saw
a man after an image she had never
| imagined. She WIS terrified She flung her.
self on the sofa in q whirlwind of passion.
| She cried aloud against his claim She gave
| herself UP to vehement rage that was
strongly infused with a childish dismay
| and panic
II will net be your wife foreverr' she
shrieked. II will never be your wife again
never not for one houri Let me got Take
your hands on mep' For Basil had kneIt
down by the distraught woman, and, clasp
| Ing her In his arms said, even on her lips
you are my dear wife! You are my very
own dear wtfei Tell me what to do. Any
thing that Is right, reasonable. win 90.
We can never part"
II will go TO my father. VIII never
come back to you" And with these words
she rose. threw OF his embrace, ana with