Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25

that she could go wherever she liked. She
gave a little glance at James, and said gay
ly. "All right, Uncle Tom"
That afternoon Gordon and James made
some calls in company, driving far into the
hills. They had hardly started before Cor
don said abruptly, well, the woman Is
Westover over her disappearance. 1 believe
they are about to drag the pond. A man
who knew her we'll by sight declares that
she boarded that New York train, but the
people will not give up the theory that she
has been murdered for her jewelry. By the
way, think / need not worry over her
immediate necessities 1t seems that she
had worn quantity of very valuable jew
els. OF course her going without any bag
gage except suit case, and leaving behlnd
the greater part of her wardrobe, does look
singular. But 1t seems that the house was
rented furnished, and I fancy she lived al
ways in light marching order, and prob
ably carried the most valuable of her pos
sessions upon her person and In her suit
case. Well. am thankful she has de-
camped."
you don't fear her returning?" asked
James with some anxiety.
mo, have no fear of that. She is prob
ably broken-h hearted over the death of that
man. She is not of the sort to kidnap on
her own account. 1t was only for him.
Clemency has nothing more to fear.
81 am thankful"
you can well believe that I am, when
tell you that this afternoon am absolutely
sure for the first time In years, that the
girl Is safe to come and go as she pleases
I have had hideous uncertainty as well as
hideous certainty to cope with. Now 1t Is
down to the hideous certainty. That Is bad
enough, but fate on an open field Is less
unmanning than fate In ambush. have
long known to a nicely the fate In the
field" Gordon hesitated a second, then he
said abruptly, with his face turned from
his companion, In rough voice, cara
can't last many days"
James made exclamation.
"She has gone down hill rapidly during
the last two days." said Gordon. L nave
been increasing the morphine. 1t can't last
long" Gordon ended the sentence with
hoarse sob.
II can't say anything" James faltered
after a second, "but you know
Eyes, 1 know" Gordon said. you are
| as sorry as any one can be who Is not, SO
| to speak, the hero, or rather the coward,
| of the tragedy. Yes, 1 know. I'm obliged
| to you, Elliot but all of us have to face
| death, whether 1t Is our own or the death
| of another dearer than ourselves, alone. A
soul is horribly lonely thing in the worst
| places of life
Have you told Clemency?'
mo, have put it off until the last min
ute. What good can 1t do? She knows
| that Clara is very Ill, but she does not
| know, she has never known, the character
| of the illness. Sometimes have curious
| feeling that instinct has asserted itself, and
| that Clemency, fond as she Is of my wife,
| has not exactly the affection which she
| would have had for her own mother"
| 81 don't think she knows any difference
| at ALL" James said. II think the poor little
| girl will about break her heart"
| 'I did not mean to underestimate Glenn
| ency's affection" said Gordon, but what
| say is true. The girl herself will never
| know It. and, you may not believe 1t, but
| she will not suffer as she would suffer II
Clara were her own mother. These ties OF
| the blood are queer things, nothing can
| quite take their place. If Clemency had
| died first Clara would have been Indignant
| at the suggestion, but she herself would
| not have mourned as she would mourn for
| her own daughter. I must touch up the
| the horses a bit. I want to get home. !
| NAV not be able to go out again tonight.
| Last night I was up until dawn with
\ Clara" Gordon touched the horses with q
| slight flicker of the whip. He held the
| lines taut as they sprang forward. His
| face was set ahead. James, glancing at him,
| had a realization of the awful loneliness OF
| the other man by his side. He seemed to
| comprehend the vastness of the Isolation
] Of grief which concerns one, and one only,
| more than any other. Gordon had the ex-
| preston of a wanderer upon desert or a
| frozen waste. Illimtable distances of soil
| tude seemed reflected In his gloomy eyes
| James did not attempt to talk to him. II
seemed like mockery. this effort to ap-
| proach with sympathy this set-apart man,
| who was unapproaehable.
| That night Gordon's wife was much
! worse Gordon came down to James room
| about o'clock. James had been awake
| for Soma tip,a vSfapinC to tho sounds n,