Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20
Copyright 1906
by Harper & Bros.
CHAPTER I.


II was inns last day at home. He stood
In the center Of the fragrant garden and
watched the glory Of color suffusing the
Surrey hills toward the west. With sign
he turned away and walked to the house
..Ybere's Diana?" he called, as he came
from the garden through the easement
window Of the library.
.'Diana-why, she's in bed an hour ago, !
should hope replied his aunt Lady Eliza
beth Kerhill she and Mabel went with
Bates to see the decorations and then said
good night Surely you didn't expect me
to allow the children TO stay up for the
ball7'
Mabel was her daughter; Diana Marjori-
banks was a young girl of thirteen, who
had come to visit her.
Poor imps. they were SO excited all day
and followed me about the gunroom, where
i was doing some packing. They wanted
me to coax you to allow them to see the
ball, and the tenantry welcome Henry to-
night"
Lady Kerhin elevated her eyebrows in
questioning amaZement at JIM as she
neryously twisted the lace Of her gown,
and with an impatient gesture motioned
the subject aside. She was tall, angular
woman, with a profile like the head on a
bronze coin; there was suggestion of the
eagle in her personality, and by her friends
she was lkened to the famous Sarah
Churchill, the first Duchess OF MARI
borough.
Tonight her face showed that anxious
thoughts were crowding In on her as she
apprehensively watched the big, carved
oak door leading into the hall Jim knew
his aunts tirmness OF character, and as
silence followed his words, he feared
further discussion was useless; but the
wistful faces of the children at teatime in
the nursery, as they coaxed him 10 plead
for them TO see the fun. made him venture
final appeal.
You know. aunt Sir Charles brought Di
over to stay with Mabel so that she might
see the festivities and incidentally say good
bye to me-, SO you might turn angel and let
Diana dance once with me at the very be-
ginning Of the ball. I sha'n't my little
playfeliow for ages you know"
sound from outside held Lady Eliza
beths attention more intently than Jim
pleading words. He crossed to her in the
window-inclosure and laid his hand caress-
ingly on her shoulder.
The colonel wired me that we We're
leaving Paddington at tomorrow morning
and India is a long way off. auntie mine. y
Nonsense" answered Lady Elizabeth, as
she rose from the deep window seat You
are almost twenty, and Diana Is only q
babe-isn't she, HenryT' She glanced uI
and appealed TO the young man who rather
nosly entered the library.
Who's a babe? Diana? Why. mater
she's little witch. and l promised her / q
old Burrow should carry her off TO bed"
Henry Wynnegate. seventh Earl OF Ker-
hill dropped into a great settle close to
the fire. The ball was for the tenantry in
celebration of his return, after FIVE years
absence with his regiment. He a tall
HEAVIEST young soldier of seven-and-
twenty with the famous Wynnega te
beauty but II marred by the shifting
expression of his rather deep-set eyes and
the heavy lines about his mouth. Self was
his god IL showed in every expression OF
his face and In every action of his life.
Jim Wynnegate. his cousin. the son OF
the younger brother of the late earl
Henry's father, turned from the window a:
Henry entered In the young boys face
for he seemed younger than his years-on'
could easily trace the family resemblance
but Jim. with his great, clean spirit shin
ing in his honest gray eyes, invited conf
dence and won It, from a mongrel dog to
superior officer. He was taller than Henry
and as slim young saplng. The deli
cate, sensitive mouth balanced by
strong chin.
In the oak-IIned room, grown almos
black with age, the candle lights flcker.ni
in the heavy brass sconces, stood thes
three last descendants of great family
The earl's brother. Dick Wynnegate ha'
run away with the daughter of impe
cunious colonel. A few years later, Will
on service In India. he was shot, and III
Young wife lived only to bring the tin.
how Jim home and to leave him with he
husbands brother. Even then the fortune
of the Wynnegates were somewhat I'm
haired. but tie old earl had taken the bO
10 his heart, and on his death had confide'