Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-15
Copyright, 1907. BY
=. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON.

vanished Immediately to save hi from EN-
barrassment. and also 10 prevent any delay
In getting to MaXines. But, unfortunately,
flesh and blood young man must stop for
conventional politeness be ore he can dis
appear. no matter what presses
| said How do you do?'' to every one.
adding that was as surprised to see them
as they could be to see me. | even grinned
civiliy at Lord Robert West though finding
him here with d.. looking particularly
pleased with himself. made me want to
knock him down.
oh. 1t was plan. as far as Mounty and
Lord Robert and l are concerned" ex-
planned Lady Mountstuart. "Of course
Lord Robert ought to have been at the
duchess bazaar this afternoon. but then
he won't show up at such things. even to
please his sister. and Di and Lisa We're to
have represented me there. Today and to-
morrow are the only days all three of US
could possibly steal to get away and look
at a most wonderful motor car. made for
a rajah. who couldn't take 1t after all.
Lord Robert certainly knows more about
automobiles than any other human being
does. and he thought this was just what
would want. D had the most horrid head
ache this morning. poor child. and wasn't
mt Tor the fatigue of a big crush. so.
she's a splendid sailor. l persuaded her to
come with us-and Lisa. too. of course. We
caught the afternoon train to Boulogne.
and had such a glorious crossing that we
actually all had the courage to dress and
dine al Madrld-wasn't 1t plucky of us?
But were collapsing now, and have come
back early, as we must inspect the car the
first thing tomorrow morning and do a
heap of shopping afterward."
IF you're collapsng l mustn't keep you
standing here moment, / said. anxious
for more than one reason to get away. Dt
wasn't looking at me. nalf turned from
me. purposely didn't doubt, she had be
gun a conversation with Bob West who
beamed with joy over her kindness to him
and her apparent Indifference to me.
'Collapsing is an exaggerat!on per-
haps." laughed Lady Mountstuart But,
instead of keeping us standing here. come
up to our sitting room and have little talk
and whisky and soda.
Yes. do come, Dundas.' her husband
added.
Thank you both" stammered. trying
not to look embarrassed. Butt know
you're all tired. and
And perhaps you have some nice
gagement.' piped Lisa.
Its too late for respectable British
young men to have engagements in naughty
Paris" said Lady Mountstuart. laughing
again (she looks very handsome when she
laughs. and knows it,. Isn't that true,
Mr.. Dundas?"
ut depends upon the engagement" l
managed to smile calmly. But then. as Di
suddenly turned and looked straight at me
with marked GOODNESS. the blood sprang
up to my face l began to stammer again
like young of schoolboy. I'm
afraid that 1-er-the fact is. l am engaged.
A matter of business. l wish 1 could get
out of it. but can't. and-er-I shall have
to run off l will be late. Good-by-
good-by." Then / mumbled something
about hoping to see them again before they
left Paris and escaped. knowing that / had
made a horrid mess o. my excuses. Di was
laughing at something West said as /
turned away. and. though perhaps his re-
mark and her laugh had nothing TO do
with me. my ears burned and there was a
cold lump of iron. or something that felt
like it. where my heart ought to have
been.
Now was Lord Roberts time to propose
now. when she believed me faithess and
unworthy-if he but knew 1t. And l was
afraid that he would know 1t.
l got out into the open air. feeling half
daZed as one of the under porterS called me
cab: / gave the name of a street in the
direction, but at some distance from Max
ines lest should hear which ought
not to hear, and 1t was only when we were
we'll away from the hotel that 1 amended
my first instructions. Even then l men,
toned the street leading into the one where
l was due, not the street itself.
"DepecheZvous," l added. for l had de-
layed eight or ten minutes longer than l
ought. and this had upset the exactness of
my calculations. The man obeyed; never
theless. instead of reaching the top Of Max
ines street at two three minutes before
twelve. l had intended, it was nearly
ten minutes past when l got out of my cab
at the corner, and when | came to the gate
of the house clock somewhere was strik-
ing the quarter hour after midnight.