Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-26

settled himself in a big chair, and she saw
| that he was anxious to learn the result Of
| her interview with Jim.
| He declines positively" she answered.
| Then the passion he had been fighting to
| keep under broke loose. He rose and began
pacing the walk.
Not an atom of consideration for me
| Ell? In the hopeless struggle 1 make to
live up to the traditions of my racer
| Henry could always work himself up into
| great burst of self-pity.
Jim Is an anarchist in his talk, but an
| angel at heart. He always ends by doing
| the right thing
This defense of Jim caused Henry to
| stop in his walk. That his mother should
| advocate the goodness of Jim a new
| victory for his cousin.
Jim likes to play the saint, confound
| him., he barked, but waking or sleeping
he never takes off his halo
Lady Eliza beth crossed to him. He says
he has no desire to marry at present"
| That's the sickly sentimental pose Of the
| reacis' Henry answered.
Like 4 flame of illumination the innuendo
| OF his words brought their meaning to Lady
Elizabeth. She remembered so much and
yet so little in Jims actions of late but all
| tended toward a horrible suspicion She
could still see Jim's face as he watched
Dana earlier In the evening. 1t was not
| the face of a lover in the Usual sense 1t
| was a face glorif1ed by an unconscious de-
| vot1on to great idea. All she could stam-
| mer was:
| You mean"
But Henry, who had blurted out in a heat
of temper more than he felt he had reason
| for, tried to ignore the question and the
| look of sudden bewilderment in her eyes
He moved restlessly in his chair as he said:
! Never mind, mother; it doesn't matter"
But Lady Elizabeth went to him. and
with her arms about him. whispered My
son. you are nervous pale, distract. You
nave oeen SO Tor some time. l haven't
| spoken of it for fear of annoying YOU but
! others are beginning to speak of it. What
Is it?' She drew his head back until 1t
rested against her breast. Can't you trust
your mother?"
! instead Of FESTIVE withdrawal from her
embrace, he let her soothe his head with
| her half-trembling hands. Why not tell her
| what he suspected?
| gether?'
Not more than always" was her reas-
surfing reply.
But, mother, have you observed them
| when they are together?'
| Lady Elizabeth slipped down on the seat
\ beside him.
My boy, your suspicious are morbid and
! unjust You ought to be ashamed of them,'
| she gently urged. In her heart she feared
| for him and his happiness with Diana She
had seen the girl gradually sicken and
| turn away from her life with Henry. Great
provocation. she knew, had been given
l W
| discuss this with him, but to calm him.
Suddenly he leaned forward and buried
| his face on his arms
| Mother, l love Diana. I have my faults,
| out that is the best of me. l love her des-
| peratey. Oh. know you're going to say
| that at times 1 haven't proved by my &C.
| tons that l cared for her. but it's because
l knew from the beginning that I never
| could reach her. Does she love me? No,
| can't deceive myself She was deviled into
marrying me for the ID title 1 know
| that now. The best l can hope for is that
! she should not utterly despise me and |
| want a chance to win her love-my God
! how l want it! Everything that Jim does
pleases her. She admires him; can see it
! clearly. He paused as the whirlwind of
| words swept from him; he rose and tow
cred over his mother That admiration be-
| longs to me. You've spoiled me- mother
| I've always had what l wanted and now
| I'm the victim of it. I'm the selfish mon
] ster that takes everything while ST James
| stands modestly in the background. Oh,
don't you see you have made him her hero,
| not me?
He began to move restlessly about the
| rose paths, Lady Elizabeth following. Indu,-
| gently she linked her arm through his. AL
| though fear was beginning to persuade
| her of the truth of his wild words, still she
| argued, he greatly exaggerated That he
| cared SO deeply for Diana promised well for
! the future and with her aid. Diana would
soon be convinced of Henry's worthiness.
| My dear boy" she said, lis that all you
have to worry over?''
NO, mother, no. wish to God it were
| She caught hold of him almost savaaely,
| ALI she gasped. Then the apprehen-
! sions that had torn her for days had Leen
| justified. She feared to question further
| An overwhelming dread he'd her in its tor
! turing grip. Henry started though to
! leave her; his face was averted she turned
! him toward her.
Money again." she asked.
You know what the demands on me are.
| l couldn't disgrace my family by going into
bankruptcy. and 1 had to have money.
Well was foolish enough to borrow
Lady Elizabeth knew instinctively the
words that would follow. Her hands clinch-
ed his arm so tight that he shrank under
i the pressure.
Borrow, mind,' he continued, some of
| the funds money
! The relief funds? Oh. Henry"
! The despair and horror of her tone caused
! him to put his arms protecting,y about her.
| Even in his own blind fury at fate he could
| see her shrink from her stately strength
| into a feeble old woman. He tried to reas-
! sure her.
"Oh, it's really all right, mater. I'll be
| able to replace it.
"How?'
! She chung to his arm. He could hear the
| quadrille's last quarters beginning; it would
be impossible to continue this conversation
| much longer.
You wouldn't understand. mother You
| see. it's stock trans action. but It's all
| right-bound to me. Hobbies of Simpson &
Hobbies. you know, gave me the tip. 1t was
| absolutely inside information
| Lady Elizabeth loosened her hold, and
| with a hopeless gesture, moved away
| Henry read her lack of faith in the enter
prise
| "Oh I took the trouble to verify it, He
| did not admit, however, that Re had sought
| Petries advice only after the plunge. when
! the waiting had grown too fearful. I'm ex-
| pecting a telegram tonght-that's the rea-
son I'm nervous. But I'll have enough to
| put back the sun. I've borrowed, and a nice
| little fortune besides Don't you worry"
| But even as he spoke the comforting words
| he seemed to lose the confidence which he
| was vainly trying to assume. The telegra m
! should have arrived in the afternoon. He
! knew that Petrie. if his investigation had
/ been at all hopeful, would have sent reas-
surfing word. Then, that the strength of his
/ mother upon which he had SO often leaned.
should crumble away as he confessed to her
| that he should be forced to carry her ankle
/ ties instead of receiving her support, terri
/ fed him with its significance.
J 1t was all quite palpable to Lady Eliza
! beth His drawn face with eyes Ike burned
| out flames showed how the fever Of unrest
and fear consumed him.
[ Henry you are trying to reassure your
| self not me- she said.
| No, no. mother, 1t isn't that" But it
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