Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20

| held a note in her hand, which had just
come by messenger. 1t was from Henry.
He could not take her to Raneagh as he
| had planned, he wrote. Unexpected bust
ness had arisen, but he would see her later
| in the evening.
The room in which Diana stood faced
| Hyde Park The house was one of those
| built a century ago by the mad Duke of
its architecture On this spring day the
! front looked like a hanging garden. so
/ abundant and exquisite were the large
| boxes of trailing flowers. The room with
| it's Adam ceiling and mantel, its crimson
brocade curtains against the pa!e-cream
walls its rare specimens Of Sheraton and
Chippendale and precious bits of china,
| made a harmonious setting for Diana in
jonquils and daffodils cleaned like golden
| bits of imprisoned sunlight on slender
| legged tables.
Diana was alone. Lady Dillingham;, her
| aunt. and the mistress of the Park Lane
| house, was confined to her room with a
| sharp attack of govt. From the window
| looking out across the park the rain glinted
! like a fine sheet Of steel 1t beat down. the
dis that lined the park walk with their
| glory of purple and yellow. The blue and
| white f1eecy sky Of past half hour now
| hung over the town like dirty ships sail,
| with putting, d0n- colored clouds sweeping
| past.
| ing scurry of the passers-by. Through the
| long, open windows, protected by pro-
| jecting balcony, she could hear the splash
| ing Of the rain against the pavement. The
confusion of carriages began to straighten
| itself out. The hurrying crowds d1sap-
! peared as though swallowed up Vim the
drenched ground. What had been fam
tastic, brilliantly colored panorama, was
| now a desolate space.
! AS Diana stood there, a rising resentment
| at the broken promise filled her mind. 1t
was not because Of the disappointment. So
often, at the last moment, her plans had
| been changed by Henry's failure to keep
| his engagements with her. sharp gust of
wind blew its damp air into the room and
made her SILVER. She closed the window
and walked to the open log fire. The
| spring days Of an English climate still per-
| mitted this luxury within doors. AS she
| sat before the hearth, the letter still in her
hand hanging listlessly by her side, the
! door quietly opened and her father en-
tered. On the previous day he had come
| up from the country to join Diana, who
was visiting his sister while the necessary
wedding preparations were being com
pleted. The passing years had greatly aged
Sir Charles. The delicate high-bred face
had grown more spiritual and he seemed
| further aloof from material influences.
With a pang Diana noticed the change.
| She rose and crossed to him, her tall
man. The maternal instinct was deeply
embedded in D!anas nature. Quite ten
derby he took the young face in his with
cred but exQuisitely modelled hands and
kissed her.
Alone, dear?" he said II thought Henry
was to take you to join some people at
Ranelagh.'
Henry has just sent me word that he is
unexpectedly detained in the city
Something in her tone made Sir Charles
vince.
She was very beautiful. in a curious con-
Trajectory way. Her tender. serious eyes
l - AfoI M
full mouth made her a half Venus more
than tall there was in the 1.-THE, girllsh
figure an embodiment of latent reliance
and vitality Her usually calm race was
disturbed at the moment by look OF IN
tense perpIexity. 1t seemed as thougn she
were vainly trying to combat her doubts.
She stood for a moment irresolute, then
in a burst of tears she slipped down be-
side the big chair in which her father sat.
Il can't marry Henry-1 can't" she
sobbed as she hid her face in her hands.
For moment Sir Charles was startled;
then smiling at what he OWNED to be
lovers quarrel. he patiently patted the bent
head as though humoring a Maynard child
knowledge of men, and to him Henry
Wynnegate was an ideal match for his
motherless girl.
He had known the late earl we'll, and In
the reflected glory of the parents he saw
the son. His heart was set on seeing
Diana safely moored In the house of
Wynnegate and the brilliant position hers,
which she could assume as the Countess
Of Kerhfll. These tears, of course, were
the foolish outcome of the afternoons dis
appointment. He let her have her cry out;