Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
CHAPTER II.

The guests had assembled at length, the
dinner was in full swing. 1t would have
been hard for any onlooker to have guessed
that SO much misery and heart-burning
were there. Sir Charles, smiling, gay,
debonair. chatted with his guests as If quite
forgetful of the silent watchers by the rail-
ings outside. He might have been a rich
man as he surveyed the tables and ordered
the walters about. True. somebody else
would eventually pay for the dinner, but
that detracted nothing from the hosts en-
joyment.
Beatrice had fixed smile to her face;
she also had disguised her feelings marvel
ously. There were other girls hidden to
that brilliant feast who envied Miss OAR
ryll and secretly wondered why she was
dressed so plainly and simply. On her left
hand sat Stephen Richford, dull, heavy
looking man with a thick lip and sugges-
ton Of stiffness in his small eyes. Alto
gether he bore a strong resemblance to a
prize fighter. He was quiet and little
moody, as was his wont, SO that most of
Beatrices conversation was directed to her
neighbor on the other side Col. Bennington,
a brilliant soldier not long from the east.
A handsome and Observation-Disclosures
man he was, with melancholy droop to his
mustache and the shadow Of some old sor-
row in his eyes. Col Bennington went
everywhere and knew everything, but as to
his past he said nothing Nobody knew any,
thing about his people and yet everybody
trusted him, indeed no man in the army
had been in receipt of more condolences.
Perhaps it was his innate feeling, his deep
sense of introspection. And he knew by a
kind of instinct that the beautiful girl by
his side was not happy.
so this Is your last free party, Miss
Beatrice" he smiled. "It seems strange to
think that when last We met you were a
happy child, and now"
And now an unhappy woman. you were
going to suggest" Beatrice replied. us not
that SOP"
Positively, I refuse to have words like
that put into my mouth" Bennington pro-
tested. Looking round the table I can
see four girls at least who are envying
you from the bottom of their hearts Now
could any society woman be miserable I'M
der those circumstances"
Beatrice flushed a little as she toyed
nervously with her bread. Berrington's
words were playful enough, but there was
a hidden meaning behind them that Bea-
trice did not fail to notice. In way
he was telling her how sorry he was; Rich
ford had been more or less dragged into a
SIDE so that Beatrice and her companion
had no fear Of being interrupted. Their
eyes met for a moment.
II don't think they have any great need
to be envious," the girl said. "Col. Ber-
rington, am going to ask what may seem
strange question under the circumstances.
l am going to make singular request.
Everybody likes and trusts you. I have
liked and trusted You since the first day
met you. VIII you be my friend-if any
thing happens when 1 want friend sore
ly, will you come to me and help me? I
know ii is singular"
ut is not at all singular" Bennington
said in a low voice. He shot quick glance
of dislike at Richford's heavy jowl. "One
sees things, quiet men like myself always
see things. And understand exactly what
you mean. II am in England 1 will come
to you. But l warn you that my time Is
fully occupied. All my long leave"
But surely you have no work to do
whilst you are in England on leave?"
Indeed have. 1 have quest. a search
that never seems to end. I thought that
had finished it tonight, and singularly
enough. in this very hotel. I can't go into
the matter here with all this chattering
mob of people about us. for the story is
sad one. But If ever you should chance to
meet a gray lady with brown eyes and
lovely gray hair"
THE stranger! How singular," Beatrice
exclaimed. '.Why, only tonight in this very
ROOM"
"Ah!' the word came with a gasp almost
like pain from Berrington's lips The
laughter and chatter OF the dinner table
gave these two a sense of personal isola-
ton. THAT is remarkable. I am looking
for gray lady, and 1 trace her to this
hotel-quite by accident. and simply be-
cause I am dining here tonight. And you
saw her in this room?"
Il did, Beatrice said eagerly. "She came
here by mistake: evidently she had quite
lost herself in this barrack of place. She
was dressed from head to foot in silver
gray, she had just the eyes and hair that
you describe. And when 1 asked her who
she was, she merely said that she was the
Slave of the Bond and vanished
Col. Berrington's ent~@e lay neglected on
his plate A deeper tinge of melancholy
than usual was on his face. 1t was some
time before he spoke again.
1.-The Slave of the Bond" he echoed.
"How true. how characteristic! And that is
all you have to tell me. If you see her
again-but there. you are never likely to
see her again - I will tell you the
story some other time. not before these
frivolous creatures here. 1t is a sad sto-y;
to great extent. it reminds me of your
own, Miss Beatrice"
as mine a sad story?" Beatrice smiled
and blushed. I'm what way is 1t sad, do
you Think
well We need not go into details here"