Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17
CHAPTER VIII.

Come little way down this walk, john,
Posey said. the morning after her lover s
arrival, while engaged in showing him the
place land you will see exactly where the
woman was sitting yesterday when she
got up and spoke to me In that dreadful
| way. 1 never dare tell my father. and it
would worry dear Lady Campstown out of
her wits to think any suspicious outsider
had been seen lurking about the grounds. 1
rather fancied this person was out of her
head and so, when she vanished abruptly,
1 just told the gardener that a doubtful
looking stranger had been in the garden.
and his men must be the watch to see
that it doesn't occur again"
quite right said Glynn. 81 dare say
you won't hear Of her any more. What
sort of lunatic was she? Young or old,
smart or shabby, English-speaking or
foreign?"
"Oh! English decidedly with one of their
lovely low voices, from the throat. A lady,
l suppose, one would call her, but shabby
and deadly pale with glittering brown
eyes, and lips with no color. l should think
rid things Her clothes had been hand
some once. but were put on in a slovenly
way"
health, who had escaped from her care
takers. Certainly, you can have no enc
mics, my dear girl?"
Il didn't think So" answered Posey,
flushing, until l received a number of
anonymous letters on shipboard, and sew
eral afterward. Then they stopped sud-
denly"
DO you mind telling me their drift?"
Posey's cheeks became crimson, but she
looked him bravely in the face.
'"They were all full of lying things against
me and the man 1 told you I met at sea-
and have never seen or heard from SINCE
THANK you, DEAR" said Glynn. simply.
I'VE have both need of consideration for
each other, and 1 trust you thoroughly.
But this gives me an idea. You say the
morphine nn3 oe lady told you she had favor to
Yes. but before she could get further, the
gardeners man came in sight, and she
took flight She said that 1 was luckier
than she, since l could buy my peace, and
she'd advise me not to hold back now when
I'd a chance to do So"
That's blackmail, not insanity. The wom-
an has probably spent her last sou at Monte
Carlo, and reading about you in the papers,
thinks you're good object to attack for
funds
Its no use, John. 1 can't tell half a
thing. to save my life," exclaimed the girl
desperately. cat the moment she ran down
that alley of laurustinus she called back,
You can't expect your friend, Lord Clan
donald to pay al. and you nothing, to shut
mouths ="
GIynn walked beside her in moody silence
The matter was worse than he had feared.
To find Posey in the tolls of an obnoxious
scneme for torment and money-getting, was
more than annoying. He justly considered
that it was paying too high for her sue
cesses her magnificent establishment in
life. For the moment 1t blotted out the
blue Of sky and blurred the exquisite beau
ty Of their surroundings. ..f
He had, like every body else, heard Of
Clandonald and his matrimonial infelicities
his divorce ana his visit to the states. A
strong resentment took possession of the
on, battered by foul tongues and associa-
tons, should be the one who. even for a
moment, had won Posey's allegiance away
from himself.
"Yoo~ are angry. I knew you would be-
she burst out finally. Il at first thought Of
telling Lady Campstown and asking her
advice. But Lord Clandonald is her nephew,
almost her son, and l was ashamed. She
has not the faintest idea there was ever
anything between U.S."
Between you? What can you mean"
wrathfully demanded Glynn, whose merit
was never that of tolerance.
II don't know myself. 1t was all SO sud-
den, and passed so quickly. He used to
ship. I began by being sorry for him, be-
cause his life had been so spoiled. He
never said q word of fattery or silly talk
like the others. He seemed to me man."
We'll, go on, please said Glynn. CURLY.
Zone evening when that old wretch Mr..
Vereker tried to kiss me out on deck
''Whatw Numbered Glynn, his brows
meeting his eyes darling ire upon her.
HE didn't do it, John; just missed the
tip of my ear, and hit him In the face.
ran away to Miss Carstairs and Lord Clan
donald, and told them. or rather didn't tell
them-tbey understood. Clandonald looked
just as you do now, and put himself in
front of me, and / was so glad to be pro-
tected, when all the ship was saying mean.
spitefui things of me. that for a little while
thought was must be In love with Lord
.Clandonald-
This alone is worth crossing the ocean
to hear" commented Giynn with bitter
sarcasm.
We'll, you know I told you of it at the
time. 1t was perfectly hopeless thing,