Evening star., 1907-09-01
BY
C.. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON,
Authors of
THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR.


sure you're engaged for the next"
Yes. Imp. l am
ITO Dip"
mo. I have No. 13 with her."
Thirteen, Unlucky number
ANY number is lucky that gives me a
chance with her. The next one, coming
! now, is with Mrs. George Allendale:"
oh yes. the actor-manager age M, wife, Cts she rt
likes theatrical celebrities. This mouse
ought to be very serious and political. but
we have every sort of creature here-pro-
| vided it's an amusing, or successful or
good-looking one BY the way, used Max
| Inc de Renzie to come here when she was
acting in London at George Allendale's
theater? That was before Di and ar
rived on the scene, you remember
| Il remember. Oh, yes, she came here.
| 1t in this house l met her first, of the
stage, l believe"
What a sweet memory! Wasn't Mrs.
George awtully jealous of her husband
| when he had such a fascinating beauty for
his leading lady?"
Il never heard that she was
You needn't look cross with me- I'm
not saying anything against your gorgeous
Maxine
"Of course not. Nobody could But you
mustn't call Miss de Renzi my Maxine
please, Imp"
Il beg your PARDON l said. you see,
I've heard other people can her that-in
joke. And you dedicated your book about
Lhassa, that made you such famous per
son, to her, didn't you?
No. What made you think that?' He
was really annoyed now, and l was pleased
if anything could please me in my de-
Spair
why, everybody thinks it. 1t dedi-
Gated to M as if the name were a Sc
cret. So
Everybody is very stupid then. N.
Is an old lady. my godmother, who helped
me with money for my expedition to
Lhassa, otherwise l couldn't have gone
AM Sh. len of flra L ind hat il.nr TO 40
her name in print. Now, where shall 1 take
you, Imp? Because l must go and look for
Mrs. Allendale."
III stay where l am, thank you,"
said, land watch you uance-from far off.
That's my part in life, you know; watch
Ing other people dance from far off,
When he was gone l leaned back among
the cushions, and l wasn't sure that one
OF my heart attacks would not come on.
l felt horribly alone and deserted; and
though l hate Di, and always have hated
her. ever since the tiny child and her
mother "a beautiful rich. young Califor-
man widow came into my fathers house
in New York, she does know how to man
age me better than any one else when
am in such moods. 1 could have screamed
for her as l sat there helplessly looking
through the open doors. and then, at last.
l saw her. as If my wish had been a call
which had reached her ears over the music
in the ballroom.
She had stopped dancing, and with her
partner uord Robert AGAIN. entered the
room which lay between our den and
the ballroom. Probably they would have
gone on to the conservatory, which can be
reached In that way, but l cried her name
as loudly as 1 could, and she heard Only
moment she paused-long enough to send
Lord Robert away-and then she came
straight to me. He must have been furi-
Gus. but didn't care for that.
/ had been wanting her badly, but when
1 saw her. SO bright and beautiful. looking
as If she were the joy of life made in
carnate. l should have liked to strike her
hard. first on one cheek and then the
other, deepening the rose to crimson, and
leaving an ugly red mark for each finger.
Have you headache. dear?" she asked,
In that velvet voice she keeps for meas If
l were thing only fit for pity and protec-
ton.
It's my heart" said I. 1T feels like a
clock running down.. Oh, I wish 1 could
die and end 1t all. What's the good Of me
to myself any one?"
Don't talk like that. my poor one." she
said. Shall 1 take you upstairs to your
own room?'
mo, think should faint If had to go
upstairs. 1 answered. Yet can't stay
here. What shall 1 do?'
What about Uncle Erics study?' Di
asked. She always calls Lord Mountstuart
Uncle Eric. though he isn't her uncle. Her
mother and his wife were sisters, that's all;
and then there was the other sister who
married the secretary for foreign affairs, a
cousin of Lord Mountstuarts. That family
seemed to have craze for American girls,
but Lord Mountstuart makes an exception
of me. He's civil. of course because he's
an abiect slave of DIS, and she refused to
come and pay visit in England without
me. but / give him the shivers, l know
very well, and 1 take an impish joy in
making him jump.
I'm sure he won't be there this even
Ing" Di went on, when 1 hesitated. Hes
playing bridge with lot of dear old boys
In the library, or was half an hour ago.
Come. let me help you there. It's only
STEP"
She put her pretty arm round my waist
and, leaning on her, I walked across the
room. out into a corridor, through a tiny
"bookroom," where odd volumes and old
magazines are kept, into Lord Mount
stuart's study.
1t is a nice room which he uses much as
his wife uses her boudoir. The library next
door. Is rather show place, but the study
has only Lord Mountstuarts favorite books
in it. He writes there Che has written a
novel or two, and thinks himself literary,
and some pictures he has painted In diff
ferent parts of the world hang on the
walls. for he also thinks himself artistic.
In one corner Is a particularly comfort
able, cushiony lounge. where, I suppose
the distinguished author lies and thinks
out his subjects, or dreams them out And
ii was TO this that Di led me.
She settled me among some fat pillows of
old purple and gold brocade, and asked If
she should ring and get little brandy
NO, ! said, Il shall feel better in a few
minutes. It's so nice and cool here"
You look better already!' exclaimed Di
Soon. when you've lain and rested a lit
tie, you'll be different girl"
"Ah. how 1 wish 1 could be different
girl!' l sighed. "A strong, well girl, and
tall and beautiful. and admired by every
one-like you-or Maxine de Renzle"
What makes you think Of her?" asked
Di quickly.
'Ivor was just talking to me Of her. You
know he calls me his pal and tells me
things he doesn't tell everybody. He thinks
great deal about Maxine STILL"
shed be difficult woman to forget, II
on"
What pity we didn't come in time to
meet her when she was playing In London
with George Allendale. Everybody used to
Invite her to their houses 1t seems. Ivor
was telling me that he first met her here,
and that it's such pleasant memory
whenever he comes to this house. l sup
pose that's one reason he likes to come so
much."S
NO doubt said Di sharply
He got so fascinated talking of her." /
went on. "he almost forgot that he had a
dance with Mrs. Allendale. OF course Max
inc had made a great hit, and all that, even
then; but she didn't stand quite high
she does now since she's become the
fashion In Paris. Perhaps she had nothing
na,Nt lAr 1ar tl,Ay, x.,I,4 ,ta