Evening star., 1907-09-01
Copyright. 1907, by
c. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON

| nobody would know one shoulder is higher
| than the other. 1t wasn't that l was par
| ucularly anxious to appear we'll before Dl
| tthouSh l have enough vanity not to like
| the contrast between us to seem too great.
even when she and / are 'aloue), but be-
| cause wanted her to think, when she came
| to my room, that I'd been there a long
| time
| I sure she would come and peep in
| at the door, to steal away If she found me
| asleep. or to inquire how l felt II / We're
| awake.
BY and by the handle of the door moved
| softly, just as had expected. and, seeing
| a light, Di came in. 1t was late and she
| tired she was radiant. When she spoke her
voice was as gay and happy as Ivor's had
| been when he first came into Lord Mount
| stuarts study with the foreign secretary.
| / said that l was much better and had
| had a nice rest; that II hadn't wanted to
hear how everything had gone at the ball
| should have been in bed and asleep long
| ago.
Everything went very we'll" said she.
II think it was great success
| Did you dance every dancer" l asked.
| working up slowly to what l meant to say.
! Except a few that l sat out
| II can guess who sat them out with you, -
said I. ''Ivor Dundas. And one was No.
13 wasn't it?"
| How did you know?"
| He told me he was going TO have thir-
| teen with you. Oh you needn't try to hide
| anything from me. He tells most things
to his Imp. Was he nice when he pro-
posed?"
| He didn't propose"
| 'lll give you the sapphire bracelet Lady
Mountstuart gave me If he didn't tell you
| he loved you, and ask If there'd be a
| chance for him in case he got Algiers.
| Il wouldn't take your bracelet even If
| If But you're a little witch, Lisa
"Of course l am!'' 1 exclaimed. smiling.
though l had a sckening wrench of the
| heart. And l suppose you forgot all his
faults and feelings and said he could have
| you, Algiers or no Algiers."
Il don't believe he has all those faults
| and failings you were talking about this
| pink. He may have f1irted little at one
time. Women have spoiled him lot. But
but he does love me, Lisa"
And he did love Maxine!' I laughed.
He didn't. He never loved her. 1-you
see. you put such horrid thoughts into my
head that-that just mentioned her name
when he said tonight-oh, when he said the
usual things, about never having cared
seriously for any one until he saw me. Only
1T seems treacherous to call them usual,
because-when you love a man you feel that
| the things he says can never have been
! said before, in the same way, by any other
| man to any other woman
only perhaps by the same man to an
| other woman" l Knocked at her, trying to
act as if l were teasing in fun.
Lisa, you can be hateful sometmes!"
| she cried.
| It's only for your good, If I'm hateful
now" l said. II don't want to have you
disappointed when It's too late. 1 want
you to keep your eyes open and see exactly
| where you're going. It's the truest thing
| ever said that love Is blind. You can't
deny that you're In love with Ivor Dun
das."
II don't deny It," she answered, with a
| proud air which would. 1 suppose, have
made Ivor want to kiss her
And you didn't deny it to him?"
NO. 1 didn't: But thanks to you, put
him upon a kind Of probation. 1 wish
hadn't now. wish I'd shown that trusted
him entirely. 1 know he deserves to be
trusted. and tomorrow shall tell him"
Il don't think 1 should commit myself
any further till day after tomorrow" said
drily Indeed, you couldn't If you
| wanted to, unless you wrote or wired. You
won't see him tomorrow"
Yes. SHALL" she contradicted me, open
ing those big hazel eyes of hers, that
looked positively black with excitement
Hes going to the Duchess of Glasgow's
bazaar. because l said should most likely
| be there, and 1 will go
But he won't
How can you know anything about it?"
Il do know. everything And I'll tell you
| what l know If you'll promise me two
| things"
What things?'
THAT you won't ask me how 1 found out
and that you'll swear never to give me
away to anybody"
vi course WOulun give you away,
| as you call it. But-Tm not sure 1 want
you to tell me- I have faith in Ivor. I'd
rather not hear stories behind his back"
"Oh, very well, then, go to the duchess
tomorrow l snapped, "and wear your
prettiest freck to please Iyor, when Just
about that time he'll be arriving in Paris
to keep a very particular engagement with
Maxine de Renzie."
looked violet instead Of black. Il don't
believe he's going to Paris!' she ex-
claimed.
II know he's going And know he's go
ing especially to see Maxine
1T can't be. He told me- tonight he
wouldn't cross the street to see her. II
made it a condition-that II he found he
cared enough for her to want to see her
give up all thought Of me. If I'm to reign,
must reign alone"
We'll. then. on thinking 1t over, he prob
ably did find that he wanted to see her"
mo. For he loved me just as much
when we parted, only half an hour ago.
yet at least two hours ago he'd ar
ranged meeting with Maxine for tomor-
row afternoon"
You're dreaming"
II was never wider awake; or. II I'm
dreaming. you can dream the same dream
If you'll be at Victoria station tomorrow,
or rather this morning, when the boat
train goes out at 10 o'clock"
II will be there!" cried Di, going from
red to white. And you shall be with me
to see that you're wrong. L know you Will
be wrong"
That's an engagement" said l., "At 10
o'clock. Victoria station, just you and l,
and nobody else in the house the wiser.
If I'm right and Ivor's there, shall you
think 1t wise to give him up?"
He might be obliged to go to Paris sud-
denly. for some business reason, without
meaning to call on Maxine de RenZie-in
which case he'd probably write me: But
at the station, shall ask him straight out
that is. If he's there, as I'm sure he won't
be)-whether he intends to see Mademoiselle
de Renzie. If he says no, I'll believe him.
If he says yes"
You'll tell him all Is over between your"
He'd know that without my telling,
after our talk last night"
"And whatever happens you will say
nothing about having heard Maxine's name
from me-
Nothing" Di answered. And I knew
she would keep her word.
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