Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

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nored all except her husband.
| This lady bears out your tale-but I
want to see you two face to face. Ah.'
and she recognized Jack. land you also,
| Mr.. Vincent. Now I have you all three
| face to face
MY love" said Mr.. Bowling imploring-
ly:; "surely-please-""
IF you are guiltless," cried Mrs. Dowl-
| silent then"
Mrs. Bowling was a terror-Medford
had always said so, and in this respect
Medford was entirely accurate. Swelled
with wrath she seemed immensely large;
the beads and bugles on her rich cloak
| ratified angrily, the plumes of her toque
were tossed In scorn. as she planted her
self on the hearth rug-majestic, red. ter
rible, dominating the surprised tea party.
Now, Mr.. Vincent, I'll begin with you.
On your word of honor did you give this
lady fifty pounds?"
We'll. don't know that it concerns
ANYBODY except the lady and myself But
| since you want to know-yes, did"
Lizzie had risen from her chair, was
| looking from one to another; at Jack
nervously playing with the teacup and
| spoon; at Jessie Sinking impudently.
Now she left the table and drew away
| toward the hearth rug and Mrs. Bowling.
you are not repeating tale put into
your mouth by my husband?'
.! have answered your question" said
Jack.
>
you'll answer all my questions
! r1 am not afraid" said Jack; and he
looked full at Lizzie, who had drawn
nearer to Mrs. Bowling.
Us it true. that you borrowed this
| money? 1t was not your own money!"
II borrowed it, but paid it back. And
| now 1 know how long it takes to earn
fifty pounds. I think 1 was very gener-
ous:" and Jack looked full at Jessie.
Strangely generous" said Mrs.
Bowling
your tales agree, but"
MY love" interposed Mr.. Bowling,
"allow me TO-
BE silent You shall speak when your
Il must speak now" said Mr.. Bowling
desperately. You are SO unreasonable
that"
Let me. speak," said Mr.. Crunden.
Miss Crunden.' said Mrs. Bowling. II
appeal to you as a woman. Am I un-
reasonable? rs it not my right to know
the truth?"s4
don't think you are unreasonable" She
had drawn nearer still, and now she stood
kby Mrs. Downing side with all the space
Fpf the room between her and Miss Bar
ter. Standing BY the parlor door. Miss
Barter looked { across the room and
smiled impudently.
Thank you, Miss Crunden." said Mrs
Bowling. Every woman of heart must
support me. And now as to you,
and she pointed al the unabashed Miss
Barter, ''if it is true that you accepted
the money from this gentleman and she
pointed at Jack, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself
good as engaged"
"Oh, say" Jack expostulated. Jessie,
you are really. That's not the fact.
Really and truly there are no grounds
for that statement"
You had given me the right to expect
it, said Jessie; land did expect it
and I don't care who knows you have
treated me very cruel ~
Then for a little while Jessie and Mrs
Bowling made it bad for Jack. 1t was a
dreadful scene
Their" said Jack. at intervals.
again and again. Nothing to do with
us. No business of yours. madam. Only
concerns the parties themselves"
Father, don't get up, cried Lizzie
often. Remember your leg. Sit still.
Don't get up"
Mr.. bowling was talking all the time
Bile. and I'll EXPLAIN etc.-but no one
listened to him.
Very good" said Mrs. Bowling at last.
I'VE will leave that part of the question.
Miss Barter can obtain redress from a
British jury. If there has been breach
of promise, jury will award damages
Yes" said Mr. Crunden, with a snort,
"and juries award damages for SANDER
and libel, Mrs. Bowling. Don't forget
that" ..,,f .....
sit still, father. Remember your leg"
The TRUTH" said Mrs. Bowling, with a
scornful laugh. lis ugly enough-no one
need add to it. Very well, Mr.. Vim
cent. The fact that concerns me is that
you borrowed the money from my hus-,
Dand'
mo, he didn't said Mr.. Bowling.
No, he didn't echoed Mr.. Crunden.
THAT Is what I have been trying to
say" Mr.. Bowling continued desperately.
The unpleasantness had rolled far from
the family circle; poor Mr.. Bowling could
no longer shield himself behind the indis-
erection of another. Honor compelled him
to confess at once, and inaeeu he stoutly
declared that the telltale counterfeit
]. B., so pounds-had no connection with
Mr.. Vincent's fifty"
''Ha. ha!' cried Mrs. Bowling. Now
we are getting to the bottom of tat
last. Oh what liars men are!'
Then for a little while she made 1t bad
for Mr.. bowling
But Mr. bowling reused, compelled to
fight. fought bravely and manfully-fght-
ing to exonerate brother Mason as well
as himself. Pale, desperate and yet not
without dignity. he told how-purely as
an act of kindness-he had given this
young lady capital to start her in trade
1t seemed deserving case and he had
gentleman-Mr. Vincent-had done the
same thing-without a thought that any
one could or would misconstrue the mo-
tive-from simple kindness.
ct would have told you Of it-and ex-
pected you to applaud me, but you are
so unreasonable. All ladies'" Mr.. Dowl-
ing added loyalty, ARE so unreasonable
in these matters that I kept 1t to my
self"
well answered" said Mr.. Crunden.
"And now, madam, perhaps you'll let me
have my word. 1 say hear, hear, to what
Mr.. Vincent and Mr.. Bowling did. Though
they showed themselves a DIT foolish
when they gave the money, they showed
their kind hearts. And wat is more"
and Mr. Crunden made a loud grunt, II
did the same myself. I gave her so
pounds, too"
Don't get up, father"
Mr.. Crunden, to produce more dramatic
effect with his words was about to rise
from his chair Sti.. seated, he bowed
to Mrs. Bowling.
Now. are you satisfied madam? Do
you wish to cross-examine me?
les. l did give ner fifty-on my honor
And why did I do so? Because, you
see, was a bit of fool-sorry for the
girl. But" and he turned round in
his chair and looked at Jessie-"1 suppose
you want to make out wanted to marry
you"
II don't know, Mr.. Crunden." said
Jessie, simpefing and flashing her cold
gray eyes misch!evously, you have al
ways been very. kind and chivalrous: 1t
"oh, poohT' said old crunden. with an