Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
CHAPTER VI.

Three days passed and Ethel had regain
ed her health and spirits, but Fred Mostyn
had not called since the wedding. Ruth
thought some inquiry ought to be made,
and Judge Rawdon called at the Holland
House. There he was told that Mr.. Mostyn
had not been well, and the young man s
conference painfully confessed the same
thing.
My dear Fred, why did you not send us
word you were III" asked the judge.
Il had fever sir. and 1 feared it might
be typhoid Nothing of the kind. however,
I shall be all right in day or two
The truth was far from typhoid. and
Fred knew II. He had left the wedding
breakfast because he had reached the limit
Of his endurance. Words, singing as
whips. burned like hot Goals in his mouth,
and he felt that he could not restrain
them much longer. Fastening to his hotel
he locked himself In his rooms, and pass
ed the night In frenzy of passion
The very remembrance Of the bride
groom's confident transport put muir
der In his hcGrt-muTder which he could
only practice by his wishes impotent TO
compass their desires
Il wish the fellow shot! ! wish him
hanged, l would kill him twenty times in
twenty different ways! And Dora! Dora!
Dorai What did she see in him? What
could she see? Love her? He knows moth
Ing OF lUVe-SuCn love as fortunes me
Backwards and forwards he paced the floor
10 such impreCatons and calculations as
welled up from the whirlpool of rage IN
his heart, hour following hour, till in the
blackuess Of his misery he could no longer
speak His brain had become stupeied by
the iteration Of inevitable loss and so re-
fused any longer to voice woe beyond
remedy Then he stood still and called will
and reason TO council him. This way mad
ness lies. he thought. " must be quiet
! must slgCp-l must forget
But 70 was not until the third day that
q dismal sullen stiffness succeeded the
storm of rage and grief, and he awoke
from sleep Of exhaustion feeling as If he
We're withered al his heart. He knew that
life had 20 be taken up again. and that
i'm all It's f3rCcs he must play his part AT
first the thought Of Mostyn Hall presented
Itself as an asylum. II stood amid thick
woods and there were miles of wnd-bown
wolds and hills around II. He was lord
and master there no one could thtrude
upon his sorrow; he could nurse it in those
lonely rooms TO his hearts content. Every
day, however. this gloomy resolution grew
fainter. and one morning he awoke and
laughed II to scoru.
"Frederick's himself again" he quoted.
and ne must have been very far OF him
self when he thought of giving up or of
running away. No. Fred Mostyn, you will
stay here. It's country where the lmpos-
sible does not exist, and the unlikely is
sure to happen-a country where marriage
Is not for life or death. aPd where the
roads TO divorce are manifold and easy.
There are a score Of ways and means L
will stay and think them over; twill be odd
II ! cannot force Fate to change her mind
a week after Dora's marriage he found
himself able to walk up the avenue to the
Rawdou house; but he arrived there weary
and wan enough 10 instantly win the SYM
pathy of Ruth and Ethel. and he was i'm
mensely strengthened by the sense Of home
and kindred. and Of genuine kindness to
which ne felt sort of right He asked
Ruth II he might eat dinner with them.
lie said he was hungry, and the hotel fare
did not tempt him. And when Judge Raw
don returned he welcomed him in the same
generous spirit, and the evening passed
delightfully."- away At it's close however.
as Mostyn stood gloved and hated. and
the carriage waited for him. he said a
few words 10 Judge Rawdon which changed
the mental and social atmosphere Il wish
To have a little talk with you sir on a
business matter of some Importance. At
what hour can ! see YOU tomorrow"
Il am engaged all day until 3 in the
afternoon. Fred. Suppose I call on YOU
ebout OF half-past2 90
Very well. SLY"
But both Ethel and Ruth wondered if 1t
vas very well" shadow. heetng as
thought. had passed over Judge RaWdors
face when he heard the request for a bust
ness interview. and after the young mans
departure he lost himself I'm reverie
which was evidently not happy one, Bu1
he said nothing to the girls. and they were
not accustomed 10 question him.
The next morning, instead OF going direct
to his office, he stopped at. Madam his
mothers house in Creamery Park A visit
at such an early hour was unusual and
the old lady looked at him in alarm.
We are well mother he said as she
rose. II called 20 talk 10 you about a lit
tie business" Whercupon madam sat
down and became suddenly about twenty
years younger for business" was a word
Ike a watchcry; she called all her senses
together when II was uttered In her pres
enCC.
business" she calculated sharply
"Whose business2"
"I think 1 may say the business of the
whole family"
NAY I am not in It. Ny business is