Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16

obedience to somewhat imperative sum
mons. There were other guests there,
whom, however. he outstayed AS soon
they We're alone. his hostess touched
him the and led him to her own
room.
AT last" she exclaimed, with an air of
real relief There sit down opposite to
me, please-I want to watch your face"
She was little paler than usual, and he
noticed that she had avoided talking much
to him at luncheon time. And yet he
thought that he had never seen her more
beautiful Something in her face had al,
tered. He could not tell what I was, tor
he was not man of much experience as
regarded her sex. Yet, in a vague sort of
way, he understood the change. A certain
part of the almost insolent quietness, the
complete sef-assurance of her manner had
nary woman! 80 -. .,f
Lady Ruth proved herself an excellent
tactician last night" she remarked. She
has given me an exceedingly uncomfort-.
able few hours. For you, we'll for you it
respite, wasn't it!
Il don't know that 1 should call it exact
ly that he answered thoughtfully.
She looked at him stea6fastly almost
wistfully.
."Wen.'' she said. II am not going to make
excuses for myself But the things which
one says naturally enough when the emo
tions provoke them sound crude enough in
cold blood and colder daylight. We: women
are. creatures of mood, you know. | Was
feeling a little lonely and a little tired last
night and the music stole away my COM
mon sense
Il understand" he murmured IAN that
you said shall be forgotten
Then you do not understand she
answered. smiling at him. What 1 said
1 do not wish to be forgotten. Only-just
at that moment, it sounded natural enough
and today-I think that l am a little
ashamed.
He rose from his seat Her eyes leaped
up to his expectantly and the color stream
ed into her cheeks. But he only stood by
her side. He cid nothing to meet the half
proffered embrace.
Dear Lady Emily he said. ''all the
kind things that you said were spoken to a
stranger. You did not know me- did
not mean any one to know me. 1t is you
who have commanded the truth. You must
have it. l am not the person seem to be.
l not the person. to whom words such
as yours should have been spoken. Even
my name is an assumed one. 1 should
prefer to leave 1t at that-if you are con-
tent"
Il am not content. she answered quietly;
Il must hear more.
He bowed.
II am man. he said. who spent ten
years in prison. the ten best years of my
life woman sent me there-a woman
swore my liberty away to save her reputa-
ton. l was never Of forgiving disposition.
! was never an smiably disposed Isp person I
ordinary good qualities with which the
average man may be endowed, and which
may have possessed. are as dead in me
as hell fire could burn them. You have
spoken of me as of a man who failed to
find a sufficient object in life You were
wrong. l have an object. and l do my
best to live up to it. l hate the whole
world of men and women. who laughed
their way through life while 1 suffered
tortures. l hate the woman who sent me
there. l have no heart, nor any sense of
pity. Now perhaps you can understand
my life and the manner of 1t.
Her hands were clasped to the side of her
head. Something of horror had stolen into
the steadfast gaze with which she was still
regarding him. Yet there were other things
there which puzzled him.
''Ths-is terribler' she murmured. Then
you are not-Mr Wingrave at all?"
He hesitated. After all. it was scarcely
worth while concealing anything now
Il am Sir Wingrave Seton he said. You
may remember my little AFFAIR."
She caught hold of his hands
You poor, poor dear she cried How
you must have sufferedt
Wingrave had a terrible moment. What
he felt he would never have admitted, even
to himself. Her eyes were shining with
sympathy, and 1t was SO unexpected He
had expected something in the nature Of a
cold withdrawal; her silence was the only
thing he had counted upon. 1t was a fierce
but short battle. His sudden grasp of her
hands was relaxed. He stood away from
her.
You are very kind he said "As YOU
can doubtless imagine, 1t is little too late
for sympathy. The years have gone. and
the better part OF me, If ever there was a
better part, with them.
II am not so sure of that" she whisper
ed.
He looked at her coldly.
why not?"
eff you were absolutely hea rtless" she
said. 'if you were perfectly consistent why
did you not make me suffer? You had a
great chancei A little feigned affection
and then a few truths. You could have
dragged me down a little way into the pit
of broken hearts! Why didn't you?"
He frowned.
zone is forced to neglect a few opportuni-.
| ties!'
She smiled at him-delightfully.
You foolish man. she murmured Some
day other you will turn out to be a ter
rible impostor. Do you know I think am
going to ask you again-what asked you
last night?
Il scarcely think that you will be so i'll
| advised. he declared colby. whether
| you believe 1t not. can assure you that
l am incapable of Affection
| She sighed.
II am not so sure about that" she said
| with protesting eyebrows. but you are
| terribly hard-heartedr'
He was entirely dissatisfied with the i'm
| preston he had produced. He considered
| the attitude of the warehouses uajustif-
| ably frivolous. He had an uneasy convic-
| ton that she was not in the least Inclined
| to take him seriously.
II don't think he said, glancing at the
| clock that I need detain' you any longer"
You are really going away, them" she
asked him softly. -r
Yes"
! ITO call on Lady Ruth, perhaps?' "