Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-01

He peered forward over his desk at the
tall. graceful figure whose entrance had
been so noiseiess. and whose footsteps had
been SO light that she stood almost within
a few feet Of him before he was even aware
Of her presence. Then his surprise was so
great that he could only gasp out her
name.
You! LucilleT
She smiled upon him delightfully."-.
Me! Lucille! Don't blame your servant.
1 assured him that l was expected, he
allowed me to enter unannounced. His as
constituent was delightful testimony to
your reputation, by the by. He was evil
IDENTIFY not used to these invasions."
Brott had recovered himself by this time,
and II any emotion still remained he was
master of 1t.
You must forgive my surprise!' he said.
You have of course something important
to say to me. viii you not loosen your
cloak?'
She unfastened the clasp and seated her
self in his most comfortable chair. The
freight flashed and giittered on the silver
ornaments of her dress: her neck and arms.
with their burden of Jewels cleaned like
porcelain in the semi-darkness outside the
halo of his student lamp And he saw that
her dark hair hung low behind in graceful
folds as he had once admired 1t. He stood
a little apart. and she noted his travelling
clothes and the various signs of journey
You may be glad to see me-" she re-
marked, looking at him with a SMILE You
don't look it,
II am anxious to hear your news" he
answered. Il am convinced that you have
something important to say to me-"
Surprising" she answered, still looking
at him steadily 'supposing I were to say
that had no object in coming here at all
that it was merely a within? What should
you say them
IT should take the liberty" he answered
quietly. ''of doubling the evidence Of my
senses"
There was a moments silence She felt
his aloofness. 1t awoke in her some Of the
enthusiasm with which this mission itself
had failed to inspire her. This man was
measuring his strength against hers.
1T was not altogether a whim," she said.
her eyes falling from his. land yet-now
am here-it does not seem easy to say what
was in my mind
He glanced toward the clock.
Il fear" he said. that 1t may sound I'M
gallant, but in case this somewhat mys-
tertous mission of yours is of any impor-
lance had better perhaps tell you that in
twenty minutes l must leave to catch the
Scotch mail"
She rose at once to her feet. and swept
her cloak haughtily around her.
Il have made a mistake" she said. BE
so good as to pardon my intrusion. 1 shall
not trouble you again."
She was halfway across the room. She
was at the door. her hand was upon the
handle. He was white to the lips his whole
frame was shaking with the effort Of in
tense repression. He kept silence till only
a ffutter of her cloak was to be seen in the
doorway. And then the cry which he had
tried SO hard to stifle broke from his lips.
''Lucille! Luclle!'
She hesitated and came back-looking at
him. 80 he thought. with trembling lips and
eyes soft with unshed tears.
Il was brute" he murmured Il ought
to be grateful for this chance of seeing you
once more, Of saying goodbye to you"
''Good-bye!" she repeated.
Yes" he said gravely. 1T must be
goodbye. I have a great work before me.
and it will cut me off completely from all
association with your world and your
friends. Something wider and deeper than
that our hands will never reach across"
You can talk about it very calmly" she
said, without looking at him.
Il have been disciplining myself" he an
swered.
She rested her face upon her hand, and
looked into the fire.
Il suppose" she said. this means that
you have refused Mr.. Letheringham's offer"
II have refused it," he answered.
Il am sorry" she said simply.
She rose from her chair with a sudden
start, began to draw on her cloak. and then
let it fall altogether from her shoulders.
why do you do this?" she asked earn
estly. "Is it that you are SO ambitious?
You used not to be so-in the old days"
He laughed bitterly.
You. too. then" he said. ''can remember.
Ambitious! Well, why not? To be pre-
mier of England. to stand for the people, to
carry through to its logical contamination
a bloodless revolution, surely this is worth
while. Is there anything in the world bet
ter worth having than power?"
Yes" she answered. looking him full in
the eyes.
What is it then? Let me know before it
is too late"
Love-
He threw his arms about her For a mo-
ment she was powerless in his grasp.
Co b. 10 <la@,~B L.
me the one, and I will deny the other. Only
no half measures! 1 will drink to the bot
tom OF the cup or not at ALL"
She shook herself free from him. breath
less. consumed with an anger to which she
dared not give voice. For a moment or two
she was speeches.. Her bosom rose and
fell. a bright streak of color flared in her
cheeks. Brott stood away from her. white
and stern.
"You-are clumsy!' she said. You fright
en- me!'
Her words carried no conviction He
looked at her with a new suspicion.
you talk like a child" he answered
roughly, "or else your whole conduct is q
fraud. For months have been your slave
I have abandoned my principles, given you
dog. And for what? You will not marry
me. you will not commit yourself to any
thing. You are past mistress in the art
You know that 1 love you-that there
breathes on this earth no other woman for
me but you. 1 have told you this in all
save words a hundred times. And now
now 1t is my turn. have been played with
long enough. You are here unbidden-unex-
pected. You can consider that door locked
Now tell me why you came"
Lucille had recovered herself She stood
before him, white but calm.
Because" she said, II am a woman"
THAT means that you came without rea-
son-on impulse?" he asked.
Il came" she said. because heard that
you were about to take step which must
separate us forever"
"Yes!'
Come. We are drawing nearer together"
he said, a kindling light in his eyes Now
answer me this. How much do you care II
this eternal separation does come? Here
am on the threshold Of action. Unless I
change my mind within ten minutes I must
throw in my lot with those whom you and
your order loathe and despise. There can
be no half measures. I must be their leader,
or must vanish from the face of the po-