Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10
Forgive me-" she said, still inexplicably
gentle in voice and manner, "and-be care

Forgive me-" she said, still inexplicably
gentle in voice and manner, 'and-be care
BE careful Of what?''
''Of-your nerves. You nearly betrayed
your secret tonight at dinner
Her da<k-lashed green eyes looked calmly
into his as she spoke; she was near that
her gown nearly touched him.
MY secret
He moistened his dry lips painfully and
stared at her. why do you think / have
"a secret?"
81 have known ever since that evening at
the FortescueS / saw by your face. You
looked $3.50 proud
The singing in the next room had ceased
and some one was laughing loudly.
Suddenly as though UP to that moment
he had never realized the enormity of his
writing these articles, the suffering of
shame he had in reality gone through swept
out of his memory by the flood of horror
that rushed over him. he buried is face in
his hands and stood before her in bitter
ness like the bitterness of death.
The woman was full of mercy, and she
understood and compassionated him.
| Don't look at me Like that" he STAN
| mered, using his hands as though he would
ward of the gaze that hurt him. Look,
| for Gods sake, as-as deserver'
"Ah, Mr.. Chase" she answered, how do
| 1 know what you OBSERVER"
| The truth of this observation struck them
| both so forcibly that for moment his
! agony faded into a something that was
|
| you know-or any one? But-what 1 have
done is-abominable. II knew it, and yet
until now didn't realize it. -
| Eyes. 1t is abominable, she answered
| mildly. You will not do it any more
| He did not seem to hear her, but stared at
| her with a fixed, apparently curious gaze
| Why he said after another pause, didn't
you speak to me-look at me-like that be-
| fore?
Some one was playing an American coon
| song in the next room, AID presently
1 orli r1f how Oci,, t1,o
sweet voice that came so surprisingly from
| under his grim rustache: "Egypt-if you
don't want me, why will you haunt me the
| way you dor
| Chase listened attentively eff you don't
/ want me, why will you haunt me the way
! you do?' I might never have realized what
a blackguard 1 am, if you had nos-spoken
| SO kindly TO me. What must do?'
| "Oh, MIR. Chase, don't ask me! 1 am sorry
I spoke. 1t was nothing to me. onIy-you
/ seem to me to be iil-you are so nervous
He gave a short laugh Il am not ILL.,
Mrs Gwinn. IL have enjoyed doing It,
| writing those letters. AS you said, / was
| proud of them. They are well done. And
| I was always IA malicious man, and en-
| used to be gentleman. And have loved
you for year and a half. That is why
your kindness-made such fool of me.
| Loved me? II am sorry, Mr.. Chase"
| Thanks. l. Breaking off, he listened
| to the applause that greeted the ending Of
| the song, and then, his almost grotesquely
| ugly face turned to her, his eyes pteous
! and intent.
| You have my secret-now tell me yours
| Why dbl you go twice last week to Play
| ford's rooms?'
She started though he had struck her,
and Redeemed brilliantly. What do you
mean? If l thought you meant anything
or that GU were-wholly sane
| 'Neve. mind about me- he hurried on in
a pleading tone; Just tell me. In Chrst's
name, tell me!''
THEM went to have tea with his sister
| who is stopping with him
| Chase groaned. He knew that she spoke
| the truth, and he believed that it was too
| late.
L shall go home and shoot myself" he
! said indistinctly. II have-written a let
| ter about tit is to appear tomorrow"
To his amazement, after a scornful stare
| at him, she burst into a laugh
| q am sorry-for YOU our beautiful rep
| utation for truthfulness will be ruined, for
every one in town knows that Clara Gres-
| ham is visiting her brother. and that hav-
| ing spraned her ankle ten days ago she has
| been unable to leave the apartment ever
since. Not only l, but all her and his
| friends have gone to her, and on the
two OCCASIONS when l went Alfred, my hus-
! band, fetched me. So-you have over
reached yourself.
You think ! am-not glad perhaps I
have no right to beg your pardon?'
She looked down at him, still angry, but,
worse still, amused.
NO. you have not. You seem to me to
have only one right. Mr.. Chase. But 1, not
| having resented your scurrilous stories