Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
CHAPTER VIII-Continued,

CHAPTER V111-Continued.
To Helen Carstairs, naturally, the ordeal
Of the dinner was interminable. Separated
from Glynn by wide extent of flower
decorated table, amid which candles
cleaned softly, and silver lent it's sheen to
illuminate beds of maiden-hair and cycla-
men, she dared not look in his direction.
All of her efforts were given to self-con-
troll. The man who took her ina hand
yOme blond young Russian, with all the
languages of earth seemingly at his dis
posal-decided that the American heiress
not appropriated at this feast was as cold
rs the SHOWS of his own Caucasus. The
koumanian prince on her other side gave
Der UP also as a person impossible to in
terest. She went through it like an auto
maton, her one desire to see Posey signal
to the lady with the pearls that it was
time to arise from table.
Lady Campstown, watching this little
arama Of every day. felt worried and puz-
Fled. She had never given up the idea
that Clandonald had cared for Miss Car
stairs, and was only debarred from telling
her so from his pride Of poverty and the
clog attached to his career. Although her
iadyships secret heart yearned over
to see Clans allegiance transferred to her,
the American rival we'll disposed of in
some other way (nature not settled in her
mind), and Posey becoming a member of
their family, her very own to cherish
through life, the joyous regenerator of
her nephew's hopes and fortunes-she now
felt this to be a fairy tale beyond chance
Of reality. Much as she had talked to
Posey about Clan that winter (and one
must have experience of the wealth of
conversation lonely old woman lavishes
hood that belongs to her, has gone out to
the world, forsaking her, to know just
how much that was), the girl had never
in return given her hint Of interest in
him beyond the common. She had spoken
Of their meeting on shipboard, had ac-
coded to Lady Campstown's appeals for
interest in the chief events of his life, but
had ventured nothing on her own account
Slowly, but surely, therefore, Lady
Campstown had seen the evanishment Of
this hope. conceived in secret and brought
forth in fear. without a suggestion of 1t
having been consigned to Miss Winstanley
The arrival of Mr.. Glynn, duly presented
to her ladyship in form, had shown the
dowager the futility of her hopes. The en-
gagement with Glynn was real, tangible,
not boy-and-girl fancy that might drift
into smoke-it was undeniably there to
stay"
Lady Campstown, perhaps unwillingly.
could not withhold from Glynn the tribute
of admiration his manly exterior, his fear
less earnestness of character were wont to
extort from strangers. She had failed,
though, to discern in Posey any of the
usual signs and tokens by which a girl
takes the world into her confidence con-
corning her Joy at a lovers coming. She
marveled at the child's matter-of-fact de-
meanor, her off-hand ~onhomie, her warm
spirit of comradeship to Glynn. 1t must
be, thought the old lady, a little put out
by these conditions, which were not accord
ing to her recollectlons or her views, that
Is the way they do 1t in Amcrica!"
Thus. perforce falling back upon the
Helen Carstairs il ca again. that young lady's
arrival in Cannes had seemed little short
of Frovdential. Clandonald must, accord
ing to his promises and forecasts of travel,
be shortly In the field. There was no ques-
ton that he had once admitted to his aunt
1t was some American lady who had caused
the trouble from Ruby shortly after his re-
turn to Beaumanoir. He had been vague.
elusive, as men always are In telling what
their womenkind want to know about other
women; but there had been a girl an
American girl; Ruby had attacked him
through this girl, he had paid dearly to
silence the base tormentor, and then, in an
access of wounded pride and disgust had
again shaken the dust of his native land
from his feet, and journeyed into the I'M
known. Months had passed, long enough
for ClandOnald's angry feelings to subside.
lie must soon come back to Villa Julia,
where he had known SO many happy hours.
His aunt would make him thoroughly COM
Portable. happy. she well knew how to
40. She would go slowly. leaving Helen
and himself TO drift together again in the
natural order OF such things. 1t must, it
must come uJt all right!
While indulEirg n this optimistic thought
for the twentieth time in two days. Lady
CampstCwn had happened to catch a
glimpse Of Helen : face between two can
delabra. II was the first time she had seen
II in r,pose since the young ladys visit to
Beaumano:T. and she was struck with an
Increase of thought and pain in the rare,
fine countenanCe. Al once she decided that
Helen was frcttng after Clan, and her
warm heart bounded with sympathy. She
went up 10 Miss Ca-stairs when the wom-
en- were together after dinner and spoke
10 her cordially, fatteringly. Posey, from
where She sat with her two greatest ladies
--tarryiHg there, however, just long enough
to say few modest words, then leaving
them To what they desired, conversation
with each other-saw the talk between her
two friends. and ionged to join in it. Has
tening upon her rounds as hostess. she
in due time came up with them.
What a nice time you two dear souls
are having! she exclaimed. And how
I've wanted TO be with youi 1t is so much
nicer always TO lie with the few one loves
than with the many one merely has TO
know"
'You have been cleaning golden opinions
all the same" said Helen. Lady Camps
town has been telling me what Princess
z says of you as an sntertainer-that
you were born, not made"
II reckon-no. i fancy ] came by it hon
estly" laughed Posey. II always enjoy
the things we give so much more than
those We go to-
Il am asking Miss Carstairs to come to
me tomorrow for luncheon" said Lady
CampstOwn putting with loving fingers a
stray bit of Posey's lace in place. and
do Hope, dear, you haven't promised any
body else.
I'm come. surely" exclaimed the girl
Though i suppose i ought not to forsakt
daddy and John these few days We have
together. But To tell you the Notifying
truth. they are continually falling knee
deep into talks OF which / can't under
stand a thing. And sometimes l slip ou
with my dogs. and they don't even know
that I have gone"
"'Slip out tomorrow, then, at $780, ant