Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-18
III.
In the Castle of Doubt.

Mrs Randolph was waiting for me at the
entrance TO the spacious dining room
Though there was soft-bulbed electric
light IN the hall, q freely caught in the
calyx OF lily, the broad branches OF the
palm bv which she stood Swallowed her face
and gave an unfathomable depth to her
eyes.
She was dressed somewhat sOberly as
she had been that afternoon. as a woman
naturally would be whose husband was not
two years dead. Yet as l Joined her l OBJ
served that her face was radiant and that
her eyes were bright as stars.
Julian" she cried
The tone was low with a rapturous
catching of the breath. With that cloud
ing suspicion In my mind It further be-
wildered me My face flushed, embarrass-
the Castle of Doubt
But by an effort l got control OF myself.
and resumed the light air which so far had
served me we'll when talking with her. And
again the marvellous beauty and charm of
the woman captured my will and forced me
10 go forward.
II am enjoying this so thoroughly" I de-
clared. that am glad did not go away"
She gave me a strange. quick. startled
look The color fled from her cheeks, to
return instantly with added brillance
shall We go in?" she asked gently.
Yes" ! said. This Is even better than
Sherry's, for the crowd Is absent
l swept the interior of the dining room
al glance as she took my arm. My
trepidation increased on discovering that
two persons We're present IN addition to the
servants. one Of these was Margaret Hans
borough. Mrs Randolph's nut-brown sister
The other was q young man whom / had
not yet seen. They had been sitting by a
window and rose hurricdly together as we
entered
Resolving to see this thing through, I
was being plunged into deeper and yet
deeper depths. Apparently. the way out
" there was way out-wds TO go straight
ahead And straight ahead | went, feeling
the soft hand on my arm clutching with
singular and tremulous earnestness. If
these women were playing a part
My eyes met those OF Miss Hansborough
with u sharp and searching glance She
was smiling, even radiant vet l did not
think she was smiling at me. On her
tanned cheeks was a flush, OF Joy appar-
entity in her sisters restored happiness
Her brown eyes held shifting and un-
certain lights. Just now they were SPAR
king. Her smile displayed her white, even
teeth, Health and vitality radiated from
her. Here was girl. ] saw, 10 whom the
mere joy of living was a supreme pleasure.
l expected that the smooth-faced. athletic
young man with her would be introduced to
me; but he bounded forward. with almost a
college yell, and catching my hand squeezed
II until IL aChed You see. he knew me-
even though / did not know him: he was
Jack Benson. and Margaret Hansborough' $
nance. Chat is not l, but Julian RAN
upiph had known him well-we had been
close friends. Benson was a student at
Harvard, ! learned later, and Randolph a
harvard graduate; and that was another
ue' In addition TO the very obvious one that
Randolph had married one Hansborough
SISTER and Benson expected to marry the
other.
SAID nothing in answer to his exclama-
tions Of delight. even though he capered so
hoylshly. Yet | could not remain silent
, 80 u seemed impossible to retreat / was
IKE . driven pig in an alley. II baked
'he oe'lI would be to pay. There was