The Washington herald., 1907-10-08

Afghan frontier. and that he and Guy
Vernon's wife had been thrown together
In an intimacy impossible anywhere else
on the face OF the globe. True, again,
was 1t that Alicia Vernon's fiattery had
been insidioUs beyond words. Money was
what she had heretofore required more
than anything else on earth; except the
enslavement OF men. Sir Percys fortune.
however, was only a modest patrimony.
which would have scarcely suficed for
six months for what Alicia Vernon con-
sidered her actual needs.
AS she had IN reality seduced Sir
Percy's honor so. In a way, was she
herself seduced by his powerful intel
ligence. by his briInance. and by his sue
cess. which, with a woman's prescience.
she felt sure was only the presage Of
greater things. She inherited from her
father a clear and trenchant mind. and
she readily foresaw that tho time would
come when this young Indian civil serv-
ant would be heard Of by al his world.
She. however. was his first courtler.
It was impossible that woman as gift
ed, Is complex as courageous as Alicia
Vernon, should not have at least one viz
tue in excess. That was her love for her
father. False she was 10 him In many
ways, but true she ever was IN love OF
him. BY the exercise Of all her intelli-
gence. and by eternal vigilance. she had
succeeded in making Gen. Talbot believe
her the purest. the most injured, woman
alive. He always called her my poor
Alicia" and hated her husband with a
mortal hatred. thinking him 10 have in
juVed the gentlest and sweetest Of women.
Sir Percy's infatuation for Alicia Yer
non lasted but few months. and through
Alicias womans Wit was unsupported by
the world, least Of all by Gen. Talbot.
who adored his daughter. Then Sir Percy
awakened once more 10 honor, and pitied
the woman and hated himself for the
brief downfall.
Il IS not every man who beats his
breast and throws ashes on his head who
is a true penitent But no man felt BIT
terer remorse for his wrong than
did Sir Percy Carlyon. lie applied the
same judgment TO himself that he cid 70
other men. and while reckoning his fault
at its full wickedness. also reckoned that
sincere peniteace was not entirely worth
less. He had lived his life to that time Of
remorse In cheerful ignorance and a silent
defiance Of the Great First Cause, but
upon the darkness Of his soul stole a ray
OF light. He began to believe a little In a
/ personal God, a father, a Judge, and a
schoolmaster who required justice and
obedience Of mankind. Sir Percy became
secretly a religious man. He did not 90
70 church any oftener than before. nor
did he take refuge IN Bible texts. but the
prayer OF the publican was often IN his
heart, God be merciful to me. a sinner"
After pause Of minute or two he re-
sumed his quick, swinging walk The
/ December night was upon him, although
1t was not yet o'clock and he had still
five miles TO tramp before reaching
Washington. That night the initial ball
Of the season was 10 be given at the
British Embassy, and Sir Percy was. for
the first time. 10 see the kaleidoscope
Washington society. His rapid walk slim
ulated him and enabled him 10 put out
Of his mind that painful and humiliating
| recollection OF his early lapse, which had
I lain in hiding for him by night and
day, by land and sea, for ten years past
As long as he had been IN Europe Alicia
( had not allowed him to forget her. but
had tracked him from place 10 place. How
well he remembered the anger and dis
gust he felt when she would suddenly
appear-beautiful. charmingly dressed
smiling, and composition the terrace al
/ Homburg and challenge him with her
/ eyes, How hateful became the court
/ balls al Buckingham Palace when Alicia
/ Vernon, leaning upon her fathers arm
/ would greet Sir Percy in her seductive
we'll modulated voice, Of which he knew
/ and hated every note! How wearisome be-
came the visits to great country houses
/ when Alicia, as it so often happened
foated into the drawing-room on the
/ evening OF his arrival, and was generally
/ the most beautiful and most gifted woman
there. with more knowledge Of what she
should not know than any other woman
present, At least. thought Sir Percy, his
/ spirits rising, he would be free In Wash
ington from Alicia Vernon's presence
! There was not much here TO attract g
( woman OF her type.
BY the time the lights Of Washington
studded the darkness, and the tall apart
ment houses, sparkling with electric
lights. doomed against the black sky. Sil
/ Percy was himself again. cheerful. cour.
ageous-ready to meet life with a smile
sword, or q shield. as might be de.
mGuded.