Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
THE POWERS AND MAXINE.

Lord Bob: that 1t would be rather nice be-
ing duchess some day. and that. besides.
perhaps 1vor would be sorry when he heard
that was engaged to somebody else.
But then, as I said. quite suddenly 1t was
as II a sharp knife had been stuck into my
heart and turned round and round would
have siven anything to run after Ivor to
tell him that I loved him dreadfully and
would trust him in spite Of all.
You look as pale as IL you were going
to faint" said Lisa. in her little high
keyed voice. which, though she doesn't
est corners of the biggest rooms.
1 did think it was unkind o. her to call
every ones attention to me just then, for
even strangers heard. and turned to throw
a glance at me as they passed.
1T must be the light l said, for /
don't feel in the least faint" That was a
fib. because when you are as miserable as
l was at that minute your heart feels cold
and heavy, as though it could hardly go on
beating But 1 felt that if ever fib were
excusable. that one was. 'Im little
tired. though" l went on. None OF us
got to bed till after three last night and
this day, though very nice, of course, has
been rather long. think, If you don't
mind. Aunt Lii, I'll go straight to my
room when we get upstairs
We all went up together in the lift but
said good night to the others at the door of
the pretty drawing room at the end of
Uncle Erics suite.
''Shan't come with your asked Lisa.
but said no" 1t was something new
for her to offer to help me. for she isn't
very strong. and has always been the one
to be petted and watched over by me.
though she's severa! years older than 1 am.
Aunt Lillian had brought her maid, with
night but Lisa and I had left ours at home,
and Aunt Lii had offered to let Morton
help us as much as we liked 1 hadn't
been shut up In my room for two minutes,
bod $n ,1r
she could do anything. But 1 thanked her
and sent her away.
I had not yet begun to undress, but was
standing in the window. looking along the
Champs Elysees. brilliant still with electric
lights. and full Of carriages and motor
cars bringing people home from theaters
and dinner parties. or taking them to res
taurants for supper.
Down there somewhere was 1vor. going
farther away from me every moment.
though last night at about this time he had
been telling me how he loved me. how l
was the one girl in the world for him, and
always, always would be- Here was l. req
Numbering in spite Of myself every word
he had said, hearing again the sound of his
voice and seeing the look in his eyes as he
said it. There was he, going to the woman
for whose sake he had been willing to break
with me.
But was he going to her? 1 asked myself.
II not. when they had chaffed him he might
easily have mentioned what his engagement
really was. knowing as he must have
known, exactly how he made me suffer.
Still-why had he looked so miserable II
he didn't care what I thought, and was
really ready to throw me over at a call
from her? The whole thing began to APP
pear more complicated. more mysterious
than / had felt it to be at first. when l was
smarting with my disappointment in Ivor.
and tingling all over with the humiliation
he seemed to have put upon me.
oh to know, to know, what he's doing
at this minute!" l whispered. half aloud,
because 1t was comforting in my loneliness
to hear the sound of my own voice To
know whether I'm doing him the most aw-
full injuStice-Or mott!
Just then, at the door between my room
and Lisa's. next to mine, came a tapping,
and instantly after the handle was tried.
But I had turned the key, thinking that
perhaps this very thing might happen
that Lisa might wish to come and not wait
till I'd given her permission. She does that
sort of thing sometimes, for she IS rather
curious and impish Uvor calls her Imp,
and if she thinks people don't want her.
that is the very time when she most wants
them.
ooh. Di, do let me in,'' she exclaimed.
For a second or two l didn't answer.
Never in my life had liked poor Lisa l>ss
than I'd liked her for the last four and
twenty hours, though I'd told myself over
and over again that she meant well, that
she was acting for my good, and that some
day l would be grateful Instead of long ng
to slap her, as / couldn't help doing now.
But always before, when she has irritated
me until I've nearly forgotten my promise
to her father (my stepfather) always to be
gentle with her In thought and deed, have
felt such pangs of remorSe that I've tired
to atone, even when there wasn't really
anything to atone for, except In my mind.
l was afraid that If l refused to let her
come in. she would go to bed angry with
me- And when Lisa is angry she generally
has a heart attack and Is i'll next day.
obi are you there?" she called again.
Without answering. l went to the door
and unlocked it She came in with rush.
II feel per ectly wild, as If 1 must do
something desperate" she said.
So did I, but 1 didn't mean to let her
know that.
I'm going out" she went on. IF 1
don't, l shall have fit.
Out" l repeated. You can't It's mid
night
Cant? There's no such word for me
as can't when l want to do anything. and
you ought to know that" said she. Its
only being Ill that ever stops me, and I'm
not i'll tonight. l feel as II electricity were
flowing all through me, making my nerves
same way. Your eyes are as big as half
crowns and as black as ink"
II am little nervous" l confessed. And
I couldn't help thinking it odd that Lisa
and l should both be feeling that electrical
sensation at the same time. Perhaps it's
in the air. Maybe there's going to be a
thunder storm. There are clouds over the
stars and a wind coming up"
Maybe It's partly that, maybe not"
said she. But there's one thing I'm sure
of-somethings going to happen
DO you feel that, too?" l broke out be-
fore I'd stopped to think. Then l wished I