Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
Copyright 1905, 1907,
BY Little, Brown & Company.
CHAPTER v.
The Gospel of Hate.

AAS SSSPSA VI AAotSs
And what" Wingrave asked his secre-
tary as they sat at dinner that night did
You think of Lady Ruth?'
In plain words should not like to tell
YOU" Aynesworth answered. II only hope
that you will not send me TO see her again.
why not?'
Lady Ruth" Ayncsworth answered delib-
erately. lis a very beautiful woman, with
all the most dangerous gifts of Eve when
she wanted her own way. She did me the
scanty honor of appraising me easy
victim, and she asked me questions
For instance?'
She wanted me to tell her If YOU still
had in your possession certain letters of
hers. Aynesworth said.
Good What did you say"
Il told her, of course" Aynesworth con-
tinued, that having been In your service
for few hours only l was scarcely in a
position to know. / ventured further to re-
mind her that such questions. addressed
from her to me, were, to say the least of
1t. improper
Wingraves lips parted in what should
have been smile, but the spirit of mirth
was lacking.
And them"
There was nothing else. Aynesworth
answered. She simply dismissed me-
Il can see" WinGrdve remarked, your
grievance. you are annoyed because she
regarded you as too easy victim"
Perhaps" AyneswOrth admitted.
There was some excuse for her, after
all, Wingrave continued Coolly. she pos
sesses powers which you yourself have al
ready admitted, and you, | should say, are
fairly impressonable person, so far as her
sex is concerned. Confess. now. that she
did not leave you altogether indifferent"
Perhaps not Aynesworth admitted re-
luctantly. He did not care to say more.
In case you should feel any curiosity on
the subject" Wingrave remarked. II may
tell you that l have those letters which
she was so anxious TO know about, and
shall keep them safe--even from you. You
can amuse yourself with her If you like
You will never be able to tell her more
than l care for her to know"
Aynesworth continued his dinner in ST.
leace. After all. he was beginning to fear
that he had made mistake. Lowell had
somehow Contrived to impart sItbtly
tragic note to his story, but the outcome of
II all seemed to assume more sordid as
pect These two would meet, there would
be rccriminations, a tragic appeal fer for
slVeneSs. possibly some melodramatic at
tempt at vengeance. The glamour of the
affair seemed to him to be fading away
now that he had come into actual contact
with il. 1t was not until he began to study
his companion during a somewhat pro-
lonSed silence that he felt the reac-
ton. 1t was then that he began to
see new things. that he felt the
enthusiasm kindled by Lovens strangely
told story begin to revive. 1t was not the
watching for events more or less common
place which would repay him for the step
he had taken. IL was the study of this
man. placed in so strange a position-a
man come back to life, after years of alb
solute isolation. He had broken away from
the chain which links together men of SIM
liar tastes and occupations, and which goes
TO the creation of type. He was in a
unique position, He was in the world but
not OF 1t. He was cropping about amongst
famiiiar scenes. over which time had
thrown the pail of unfamliarity. What
manner of place would he find-what man.
ner of place did he desire to find? 1t was
here that the real interest of the situation
eliminated. AT least so Aynes worth
thought then.
They were dining at a restaurant in the
Strand, which Ayueswerth had selected as
representing one, the more wealthy, type
of Bohemian life. The dinner and wine had
been of his choosing. Wingrave had stipu-
lated only for the best. Wingrave himself
had eaten very little the bottle of wine
stood half empty between them. The at
mosphere Of the place, the effect of the
wine. the delicate food and the music were
visible to a greater or less degree. accord
ing to temperament, amongst all the other
little groups of men and women by whom
they were surrounded. Wingrave alone re-
manned unaffected. He was carefully and
correctly dressed in clothes borrowed from
his new tailor, and he showed not the
slightest signs of strangeness or gaucherie
looked about him always, with the cold
easy nonchalance of the man of the world.
OF being recognized he had not the slight
est fear. His frame and bearing, and the
brightness of his deep, strong eyes, still
belonged to early middle age. but his face
itself, worn and hardened. was the face of
elderly man. The more Aynesworth
watched him, the more puzzled he felt.
Il am afraid" he remarked, that you
are disappointed in this place"
Not at ALL" Wingrave answered. 1T is
typical of a class, 1 suppose. 1t is the sort
of place | wished to visit
In a corner of the room Aynesworth had
recognized friend and fellow clubman,
who was acting at a neighboring theater.
He was dining with some young ladies of
his company, and beckoned to Aynesworth
to come over and join them. He pointed
them out to Wingrave
Would you care to be introduced?" he
asked. ''Holiwell is very good fellow,
and the girls might interest you. Two of
them are Americans, and they are very
popular"
Wingrave shook his head
Thank you no. he said. Il should be
glad TO meet your friend some time when
he is alone.
1t was the first intimation which Aynes-
worth had received of his companions SEN
tments as regards the other sex. Years
afterward, when his attitude toward them
was often quoted as being one of the ex-
traordinary features of an extraordinary
personality, he remembered his persever-
ance on this occasion.
You have not spoken TO a woman for so
many years" he persisted why not re-
new the experience? Nothing so human
iZing. you know-not even cigarettes
Wingrave's face fell, IL possible into
sterner lines. His tone was cold and hard
My scheme of nfe,'' he said may be
reconstructed more than once before I am
satisfied. But | can assure you of thisi
There will be no serious place In it for
women."
Aynesworth shrugged his shoulders. He
never doubted but that in a month or two
his vis-a-vis would talk differently.
Your scheme of life,' he repeated
thoughtfully. That sounds interesting!
Have you any objection. l wonder, to tell
ing me what manner of life you propose
TO lead?
II was several moments before Wingraye
answered him. He was smoking a cigar
In mechanical sort of way. but he OBJ
viously derived no pleasure from it. Yet
Aynesworth noticed that some instinct had
led him to choose the finest brand.
Perhaps" he said. letting his eyes rest
coldly upon his questioner, IF / told you
all that was In my mind you would waive
your months salary and get back to your
journalism"
Aynesworth shrugged his shoulders
Why should you suppose that?" he ask
ed. Il am not a moralist myself, nor am
the keeper OF your conscience. l don't think