Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17

manner and left us to believe you were
dead?"
She stood before me, young and charming.
Her blue eyes had misty. mysterious
depths. Excitement had colored her cheeks
until they glowed-burned. Yet 1 saw that
her complexion could boast the delicate
tnts of the pink sea-shell. She had in
teligence and that sweet femininity for
which there are no words, or for which
at least have none adequate.
Her sister plucked from a silver tray a
square envelope and tore it open with a
snap.
Jack will be here this evening"" she
aid. she glanced at the contents.
She was matter of-fact, for she began to
draw the pin out of her hat. Yes, romance
had flown back to the parkway and the
obelisk. 1 looked at her l had seen her
picture-the Athletic American Girl. Her
cheeks were tanned she rolled back a
glove 1 saw that her firm. hard wrists and
hands tanned; even her brown hair
had tint of sunshine.
l turned with much nonchalance as
could to Mrs. Randolph.
Now that you have caught me-" 1 said
brazenly, ''let us end play-acting for lit
tie while until you tell me what you intend
to do with me-.
Her finger frightened on my arm.
Keep your she cried with dramatic in
tensity.
THAT will be delightful!' 1 declared
with mock emphasis.
If had been really her husband as she
asserted with such vehemence, it would
have been heaven to me. began to realize,
to be with her always. And this would
have been true if, not being her husband.
there were hopes that some day might be-
come her husband.
Il suppose you can't explain why you
went away" she urged. and l observed
that the nut-brown maid listened for my
answer
Not in the least" 1 said, resuming my
tone of banter. 1T is ineXplicable. l
| shall never do so again"
But you know where you have been?'
Luckily in Central Park this afternoon.
1 must have been waiting for you, expect
ing you, though not aware of it,
Don't jest, Julian she cried.
Il am not jesting, l declared, though
the situation seems worthy of it
/ was drawn into a small sitting room,
richly furnished
Julian she said, you puzzle me. You
seem to be testing, and yet l know you
can't be; for no man could jest under such
circumstances. Unless-
"Unless he was out of his mnd?"
Just So.
"Or CHANGED not TO De the man he was
supposed to be-
The nut-brown maid had vanished, but
was returning and l heard what seemed a
stir of excitement among the servants.
began to feel. that this was not a mad
caps prank but case of mistaken iden-
tity Julian Randolph was dead; I was
supposed to be Julian Randolph; and this
4 woman believed herSelI ~ pe my VIE ana
l was reaching the quick realization that
| she was the one woman intended for me
| of the gods.
| Maid or widow l determined quickly that
/ would win her Yet as / registered the
vow l realized how handicapped l was by
| my singular position. Then l began to feel
| that as an honest man my first duty was to
| undeceive her. | arose from my chair,
hesitating
| The movement alarmed her She had
| been reading my face, and thought l meant
| to depart
| Julian" she exclaimed, ''if you try to
| go l shall have the servants detain you"
| l laughed uneasily.
You still insist that / am your hus-
band?' l asked, looking into her serious
eyes.