Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The Moth and the Candle.

Tomorrow morning. AynesWorth, re-
marked. I'VE shall land
Wingrave nodded
Il shall not be sorry he said shortly.
Aynesworth fidgeted about. He had some
thing to say, and he found it difficult.
Wingrave gave him no encouragement He
was leaning back n his steamer chair,
with his eyes fixed upon the sky line Not
withstanding the incessant companionship
of the last six days. Aynesworth felt
that he had not progressed single step
toward establishing any more intimate re-
lations between his employer and himself.
Mrs Travers is not on deck this after
noon" he remarked a trifie awkwardly.
Indeed" Wingrave answered. Il hadn t
noticed =,
Avnesworth sat down There was nothing
to be gained by fencing
st wanted to talk about her, sir, II l
might, he said.
Wingrave withdrew his eyes from the
sea. and looked at his companion In cold
surprise.
ITO me?" he asked.
YES, l thought. the first few days, that
Mrs. Travers was simply vain little wom-
on NJ the world perfectly capable of taking
care of herself, and heartless enough to firt
ali day long, if she chose. without any risk
so far as she was concerned. Dehe'e
made a mistake!
calmly, 'but why talk to me about the
| lady? 1 fancy that l know as much about
her as you do
Very likely; but you may not have real
lied the same things. Mrs. Travers Is a
married woman. with husband In Boston.
and two little children, of whom. believe,
she is really very fond. She is foolish,
| good-natured little woman, who thinks her-
self clever because her husband has per-
mitted her to travel a good deal, and has
evidently been rather fascinated by the latl-
tud:na rianism of continental society. she is
| little afraid of being terribly bored when
| she gets back to Boston, and she Is very
| sentimental"
~ had no idea," Wingrave remarked
that YOU had been submitting the lady and
her affairs to the ordeal OF your m . Gus
gift Of analysis. l rather fancied that you
took no interest in her at all.
II did not" Aynesworth answered, until
| last night" s.,o
ingly. ,. s,o nd
been tearing up some photographs. and she
| talked little wildly. l talked to her then
| for a little time"
Cant you be more explicit?" Wingrave
asked. Aynesworth looked him in the face.
She gave me the impression" he said
that she did not intend to return to her
husband
Wingrave nodded.
"And what have you to say to me about
this?" he asked.
Il have no right to say ANYTHING. OF
course" AyneswOrth answered. "YOu might
very properly tell me that it Is no concern
of mine. Mrs Travers has already compro-
missed herself to some extent. with the peo-
Pile on board who know her and her family.
! If she can help it, and for the last two or
three days she has almost followed you
about. You may possibly derive some
amusement from h her =. society for short
explain yourself exactly. Wingrave
said.
brusquely. Talk sensibly to her! Don't en-
courage her if she should really be contem-
plating anything fooish!"
| I'm not a moral!st, but she's a decent lit
| tie woman Don't ruin her life for the sake
| OF little DIVERSION
| wingrave, who had been holding a cigar
case in his hand for the last few minutes
opened 1t, and calmly selected cigar.
| Aren't you a little melodramatic. Agnes
| WORTH" he said.
Sounds like it. no doubt" his companion
| answered, but after all. hang 1t, she's not
| a bad little Sort and you wouldn't care to
meet her in Piccadilly in couple of years
| time"
Wingrave turned little In his chair
There was a slight hardening Of the mouth
a cod CLEAN in his eyes.
| THAT" he remarked. ''s precisely where
| you are wrong. 1 am afraid you have for
! gotten our previous conversations on this OF
| a similar subject. Disconnect me in your
mind at once from all phi1anthropic notions
| l desire to make one happy, to assist al
no ones happiness. My own life has beer
| ruined by woman. Her sex shall pay me
where it can. If can obtain from the lady
| in question a single seconds amusement
| her future is a matter of entire indifference
| to me. She can play the repentant wife, OF
| resort to the prrmeyal profession of hel
| sex l should not even have the curiosity to
| inquire which.
| I'm that case" Aynesworth said slowly
II presume that need say no more"
| "Unless-t amuses you" Wingrave an
| swered. ut really Is not worth while"
| Perhaps sAynesworth remarked, ut is
! as well that should tell you this / shall
1 put the situation before Mrs. Travers ex
actly as see 1t. shall do my best to dis