Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

the things which are happening all around
me. Eveiyn's consent to my proposal gives
ma this right to speak plainly 70 you. IN
her interests and my own. Would you not
be wiser, my lord. to deal With me as I
am dealing with you--to tell me In WORD
why this stranger can coerce you when an
Engiishman 10 answered In Q word? ! think
that you would. think it would be well II
you said. Here 10 q man who wishes 10 De
my friend and will be 90 regardless Of the
consequences
The boldness of his utterance found the
earl altogether unarmed. Under other CIR
cumstances he would have rung the pen
and ordered carriage for Mr.. Gavin Ord
but the whole problem was too fun OF per-
plexities for that 1t may be that Lord
Melbourne was fully alive both to the
truths and falsehoods of his position. He
had done man great wrong and that
mans son had crossed Europe to bid harn
right the wrong and act justly How easy
would 1t all have been IL Evelyn had loved
this son and married himl No story then
to delight scandal-loving multitude; no
fear. growing upon weak nerves, that the
man who had suffered might avenge his
wrong. Yes, Evelyn could save him
and here was a stranger who forbade her
to dc SO.
You speak very freely" he said to Gavin
presently Il viii do you the Justice to be-
leve that you also speak honestly. II
Evelyn has told you anything, II will be
that Count Odin is the son OF one OF my
Oldest friends"
Il have learned that from two sources
said Gavin. VIII you let me add. my lord.
that you are probably speaking of a man
who is dead?'
The earl started and looked up quickly.
Have you any knowledge of that?'
None whatever, but / have heard of
Count Odn's story"
He Is as other young men. / suppose:
neither better nor worse"
While. for the daughter you love. you
would have chosen just such man. Is
that So my lord?'
Here a shrewd hit going straight
TO the heart of one who, for fifteen long
years, had striven to shield his daughter
from that which her dead mothers genius
had bequeathed to her--the life and passion
of the east: the nomads craving for
change and excitement; the gilt and tinsel
OF the theater. Yes. truly. they had been
years of self-sacrifce and Of ceaseless vigil
to end In this specter of youth reborn
and of vengeance awake.
Mr.. Ord" he said Il perceive that my
story Is known to you Your Judgment of
me is what the worlds Judgment would be
II half the truth were known-and, remean-
Der. it is rarely more than half a truth that
the world comes to possess ! am acting,
you say, not from a desire to do the best
for my daughter. but to shield myself. 1t
may be SO. for men are blind enough when
their own salvation is at stake At the
same time. there are reasons other than
these, and such that you will hardly dis
cover. believe it Is very necessary to
Evelyn's happiness that this story shall be
hushed up, for the time being at any rate.
Fut have made no promise to Count Odin
other than those you know. If his father
Is still prisoner In the mines at Ycliska
then will do my best to obtain his liberty
when l nave assurances that such liberty
Will not be used to my disadvantage or to
Evelyns. l tell you upon my word as an
Err glishman that / am gulitless OF such
knowledge. When he fought with me in
Bucharest, more than twenty years ago
met him as man of honor and nearly paid
a ha fn1
sert that my friends laid the complaint
which induced the Roumanian government
TO arrest him. l do not believe 1t to be
true. Georges Odfn, the records say died
In the fortress prison of Krajovs. nearly
ten years ago. Prince Charles govern
ment arrested him. / admit the score
or the duel he fought with me: but they
had been trying to arrest him for many
years, and that was their excuse. OF the
rest knew nothing. If he is dead
My lord. have you taken no steps TO as
certain the truth of his death?
My solicitors are now making all In
quiries at Bucharest and Krajova."
Il should have thought that solicitors
were scarcely the people to employ"
Who else Is to be trusted with such
story as this?''
Il am. Lord Melbourne"
You-but you are stranger to me and
my house,
"A stranger who is willing to become a
friend. Say that you will put no opposition
once
Il appreciate your offer, but must decline
It, Acceptance would imply an obligation
am unwilling to recognize"
Il ask for no recognition. Tonight, my
lord I leave London for Bucharest In a
month or less l will return to tell you
whether Georges Odin is alive or dead"
The earl stared at him amazed
Bring me news OF Georges Odin's death"
he said, and you shall marry my daugh-
ter"
II will start directly have seen the Lady
Evelyn" he said