Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
Vera's Warning.

Keen enjoyment OF inc evening" Ntio io'
got her fears. She was young enough to
appreciate to the full the joys Of life.
She was strong and vigorous, and most
things pleased her. Besides. there was
ALWAYS the reflection that the gates would
be closed to her before long. Once she
had taken her fate In her own hands.
and had gone into the world to get her
living. there would be no more Of this
A little longer and she would say good
bye to Lord Ravenspur and Walter. OF
lcoursa the wrench would be a bitter one
for she was by no means blind to the
hardships and privations of the poor.
Still, she put that out Of her mind now
She was going to have a very pleasant
evening. and by this time tomorrow she
would be far away from the heat and dust
and hustle OF London. In her minds eye
she could see the yacht sliding over the
water. She could see the moon shining
on the waves and turning their crasts to
molten silver.
| The big house was crowded to it's ut
most capacity, for Lady Ringmar was
one Of the most prominent OF society
women. and invitations to her entertain
ments were eagerly sought a,ter The
rooms were filled. At the end of the long
corridor Vera caught a peep Of the
garden. all agow with points of flame
from the electric lights entwined about
the trees and shrubs
An hour or so passed pleasantly enough.
then. as the heat grew more intense,
Vera's mind turned to the garden. There
We're huge blocks of ice, looking delicious
| ly cool. behind banks of ferns. The air
hummed with the noise Of electric fans,
and yet the atmosphere was heavy and
Ion IN Of no
past. and Vera stood at the head of a
| fight Of marble steps, which led to the
garden. She was quite alone. She was
looking for Walter. whom she had not
seen for some little time. She turned
with smile as some one murmured her
name. She saw that it was Ravenspur's
friend. Sir James Seton, who was stand
| ing by her side.
$50 you are all alone" he said. What
are those young men thinking about? 1t
was very different in my day"
| Vera smiled somewhat family. She had
every respect for Sir James. He was
kindly disposed enough, but in the eyes Of
youth he was regarded as something of
bore. There was no help for it when he
suggested turn in the garden.
certainly" Vera murmured, only /
don't want to walk far. 1 have enjoyed
my first season in town immensely, but ]
am beginning to long for the fresh ar
Quite right" Sir James agreed; Just
the same with me. Why people box
themselves up in London during the most
beautiful months In the year I can't
imagine. They talk about England being
decadent country! A man wants a real
stamina to struggle through the three
months which we call the season. Some
OF these men are perfect marvel to me.
Take Ravenspur. for example. That man
works as hard as any man in England.
He Is here. there and everywhere. and
| yet he finds plenty of time for this sort
of thing. too. If there is anybody envy,
ut is Ravenspur."
| Il am sure you have no need to envy
lanybody," Vera laughed Besides, in
many ways you are very like him Most
people see strong resemblance between
you two"
| Sir James chuckled, as If well pleased
with the compliment.
| DO you really think so?" he asked
eagerly. We'll. 1 suppose what every
body says Is bound to be true. At the
same time. these resemblances are not al
ways desirable. For instance, look what
happened to me only the other day
Don't You know? 1t was the last time
dined with your guardian. Didn't they
| tell you about it? 1t reminded me of the
days when / was a soldier-quite an adj
venture, too, l assure you. l was com
ling up Cheyne row, more or less in the
darkness. when a man darted out OF the
shadows and attacked me- l had some
difficulty in beating him off. l don't
know whether the man was mad or not,
but his intentions were quite serious"
Really" Vera exclaimed, with widely
opened eyes. And what became of the
man? Was he locked up?
oh, he got away before 1 could do
anything Still, it was very unpleasant
while 1t lasted, I assure YOU
1T must have BEEN" Vera said
lthoughtfuly. But, my dear Sir James,
don't quite understand what this adj
venture has to do with your likeness to
Lord Ravenspur"
You see, when the fellow rushed at me
he addressed me as Ravenspur, just as
the hero of the me!odrama addresses the
villain when he is caught in the last act.
There is not the slightest doubt that l
| was mistaken for your guardian. Indeed,
as soon as the man realized his mistake
| he drew of at once. I am rather sur
prised they did not tell you"
| Vera was listening uneasily enough
now. In the ordinary course OF events
she would have heard all about that
mysterious occurrence. Why had they
kept the knowledge from her? AS she
sat there thinking the matter over she
began in her mind to piecs events to-
gether. So this sudden flight from Lon
don was dictated by personal fear on the
! part OF Lord Ravenspur. He wanted to
get away from this relentless foe. There
was no other way to safeguard himself
| Lhan by thlS yachting cruise. And hither
to Vera had never detected in her
guardian the slightest sign o. nervousness
or fear. This foe, then, must be man
OF extraordinary determination and tanac-
Iity of purpose.
| Vera could see 1t all more clearly now.
| She recollected the disturbance in the
conservatory on the night of Sir James
Setons visit to Park lane. She recollectcd
with even more significant force the
cries and the shattering of glass in the
conservatory the previous evening. And
why, for the first time in his life, had
| Lord Ravenspur caused the bioodhounds
to be brought up from Hampshire? All
these questions Vera asked herself but
she could think of no reply. In some
vague way her wonhn's instinct told her
that she was mixed up in the bu 5iness.
| If so, 1t would never do for her to desert
Lord Ravenspur at this critical moment.
She would have to stay by him until the
danger was past.
| She sat there replying to the chattering
remarks of her companion at random,
until even he saw how prcoccupicd she
was.
Il am afraid you are not quite your
self tonight" he said.
Il am sure l beg your pardon Vera
murmured. Il am not quite myself l
| wish you would do me a favor, Sir James.
Would you mind finding Waiter and send
ing him to me?"
Sir James trotted off obediently enough
and presently Walter came along. He
looked somewhat warm and heated.