Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-20

Il have been anxious about you. You
are quite well, are you?"
THANK you for inquiring." I answered.
Yes. am quite WELL
She stood a moment in hesitation and
then heard her turn to go away.
Good night she called.
Good night I cried. And God bless
you.
I heard her retreat softly. while 1 sat
staring at the door as If would pierce its
wooden barrier with my eyes.
You scoundrel!" 1 whispered. facing my
pallfd reflection in the pier glass when she
mere image and outward semblance of a
man. without mans soul or honor! You
are coward!
Yet cowardce and hesitation still held
me- I knew I could not get out Of the
house without Mrs. Randolph knowing It
l was not sure that 1 really wanted to get
out-and the hours slipped away.
Twice I stole forth into the long hall.
shoes in hand. But 1 fancIed I saw a
servant watching me. and 1 went no
farther If could have gained the street
then unobserved. l believe I should have
fed. to lose myself somewhere. never to re-
turn. Yet in the shock of seeing the serv-
ant 1 was glad-glad had been seen and
stopped.
Going at times to the window, I looked
out on the cleaning lights Of the city, when
the house was quiet, lights that, on the
cross streets, ran on in twin lines Of bril-
liant flashes. And the roar Of the city came
to me-that interminable roar. Nearer
were the pattering of hoofs and the SUBJ
farther away the city's wild beast grumble,
as If the very paving blocks knew they
were being hammered for bread and blood.
And so l continued to walk the f1oor-con-
tinued to hesitate and delay. wearing out
the night and myself.
This wild-beast grumble became less as
the night advanced. But the lights con-
tinued to flash until day came, and looked
In Dallid staring ar he sLu
But in the breaking dawn there was one
brief period Of inefrable beauty, when the
old moon hung low. just over the house
tops, with pale-fame clouds grading it,
and the sky above blushing into delicate
shell pink. Even my troubled mind was
forced to note the beauty Of that scene.
In my studies of the situation, in my
backing and filing. there came to me now
and then the thought, almost the conv1c-
ton. that was not SO much to blame
was not so much the deceiver as the de-
ceived. At such times 1 still wondered
with vague apprehensions If it could be
possible that Mrs. Randolph was making
sport Of me. That involved the further
thought. disturbing to my vanity, that Miss
Marlborough and Jack Benson. and even
the English valet were all using me as the
butt Of joke. Perhaps in the morning 1
should be kicked from the house In dis
grace Well. l knew it would serve me
right deserved that. and far more.
With the gray dawn breaking I slipped
down to the street door, I wore my shoes
this time. and almost meant to leave the
house. Though servants were stirring 1
was sure I could get out, and be far
enough away before Mrs. RandoIph's ris-
ing hour.
had all the shrinking Of timid burglar
as stole thus through the halls and down
the stairway. and when I beheld servant
by the door 1 wanted to turn about in
fight. I saw, however, that If really
wished to get out Of the house now was
the time: AS I approached this servant he
opened the street door, and when he drew
back l saw that he had a morning paper.
A staring headline caught my eye and
changed my purpose instantly.
will! take the paper" l said, as boldly
as I could.
He relinquished it to me. reluctantly I
thought, and the next moment I was run
ming through the hall and climbing the
stairs. the paper clutched tightly.
On the upper. landing I glanced at 1t
again: then continued on into my rooms in
most undignifed haste. With shaking
fingers 1 closed and locked the door, and
sinking breathlessly into a chair stared
at those headlines, then began to read with
feverish intentness what was beneath them.
BACK FROM THE DEAD.
THE RETURN OF JULIAN RANDOLPH.
The Millionaire Clubman Again in the
Bosom of His Family.
Three columns wide and a fourth of
column in length, those headlines, with
others. fairly hurled themselves at me.
They told the story; yet more than two
columns of astounding and sensational COM
ment followed.
AS I read I sat dumfounded. This put
a new face on the matter. I had not
thought of the ubiquitous newspaper re-
porter. with his Unsuitable thirst for sensa-
ton. Some one had witnessed my meeting
with Mrs. Randolph and her slater and
some gossipy house servant had talked.
And here 1t was, spread to the light of day.
Added to the shock was the pity I felt for
Mrs. Randolph This was cruel.
The valet came before [ had decided nv
course Of action I tucked the offending
newspaper out OF sight and admitted him.
You are up early, SIR" he said.
The expression of his face was block
like. It was hard for me to believe that
this man possessed human emotions.
II did not sleep well,' explained.
That had not slept at all he must have