Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-25
CHAPTER VII.

jim visits a doubtful. pleasure. but since
his first day at Pont street there had been
40 decided outbreak on his cousins part.
Tho autumn brought with 1t the calami
tous war in South Africa. and all thoughts
were concentrated on preparing the Yeo-
many of the country to he ready to join the
regulars in the Held. Jims services were
readily enlisted hy Henry. and In the or
gauizatiOu of the c0unty's Yeomanry he
became an active force. His work often re
quircd him to spend days at the Towers
With the passing OF the last days of the
old year Hcurys moodiuess increased; even
Lady Elizabeth seemed hopeless and una
Die 10 avert them, and Jim could see the
bitter dIsilusioument that Diana daily en-
CoUutgred During the winter Henry's at
titude toward Diana changed: her presence
was an irritation to him. At times he made
every effort To regain his lost footing, but
again and again he forfeited the newly
acquired grace which her Clemency granted.
Days OF absence from the Towers were now
not uncommon. The light gradually faded
from Lady Eizabeth's face, leaving II
haunting gray mask. But word was
spoken by either of the women to Jim.
Both were interchangeable in their efforts TO
relieve the condition of the soldiers freez-
Ing on the African Veldt. A fund was
Started in the county to he used for the
widows and orphans of the fighting men,
and Henry was placed at the head of It.
In London the innumerable bazaars and
fetes given to swell the various funds of re-
lief We're the principal functions of the
fashionable world. Jim. who had Just re-
turned from visit to Scotland over the
holiday season, standing near a stall
In Albert Hall presided over by Mrs. Ho-
bart Chichester Chichester Jones. AS she
eagerly turned toward him there was no
9oubt of the American woman's desire to
gain his appreciation. A friendship had
sprung up between them since Jims return
from India. and her frankness amused him.
il was Sadie Jones second year in London
ana the half Of the great houses that had
led o no
open to her and she was q much-sought
parsonage at their festivities
Whether this was due to her insouciant
face, with its up-tilted nose, or the slight
lisp that made her American accent seem
go fetching her friends could not decide
Her enemies-and Sadie Jones had them
al Battle Creek-deClared it was her charm
ing characteristic OF never remembering a
social slight; OF generously forgivine the
offender and in true Christian spirit offer
ing the other cheek. They forgot what Jim
ana her sponsors in London could plainly
sect was her frankness that RACED to the
ground her social barrier. When she spoke
quite frankly of boarding house her
mother had kept in a mining town where
hobart Jones had been paying guest. and
Tod IN picturesque eNaggeratiOn of her
starved youth and piuful hatred of her en-
Nlronment-of the longing to escape to the
great life of Europe, with it's men and WON
tn of tradition-she disarmed the gossips
She frankly acknowledged what was her de-
tractors store of tittle-tattle. 1t was a
unique game and 1t won.
JIM watched her with tolerant interest as
the lhNelG!ed young suardsman into Civ
ing a substantial donation TO the cause
As he idly surveyed the scene he wondered
az Diana failure to attend the fete The
tired women who had been in attendance
We're dlspos!ng of the remains of their
stock. The eager crowd that had throneed
the hall and paid a half-crown to be
served tea by duchess, or 10 see a peerless
oct as barmaid in rivalry to a popular Rosa
ora fi1i.4l liz.
out.
Jim started to leave the nag bedecked hall
win IT'S litter Of packages and debris
slreWn floor proofs of the DAYS profit
able traffic, Sadie Jones. who had been
skillfully effecting her sales and keenjng
him in sight, turned to him
VAT and drive home with me to din
neT- The brougham's at the door. / have
news for you of Lady kerhill l have lust
returned from visit"
Mrs. Jones lived in box of a house in
Surzon street. 1t was a setting especially
designed 10 suit her small, bird-Iike per
hohailty, But Jlm'S stalwart frame seemed
gFotesQGeIy out of proportion in the small
French salon, The dinner was an anus
ing te-a,tete with Sadie at her most
NlNdC!0us best, telling anecdotes of the
plains she loved.
Sometimes long for the smell Of the
hIkaIl II chokes one, but find the fogs
It"
Hitherto her descriptions of the prairie
had often made Jim long to see the coun-
Wy she painted so wildly. Suddenly she
turned 10 jim and with quick decision
said:
4 can't understand your Establishments
point OF view. Why, in America If Hobv
Jones mad treated me as Lord Kerhil is
treating MS wife, there would be ructions
Yes, ructlons, she calmly went on, in an
sWer TO JiTns look of amaZernent Lord
Kerhill is your cousin, know but LADY
herhlil Is an angel. Why don't you do
something"
For moment Jim could not quite grasp
her Irrelevant outburst Then he learned
mat Diana's failure to appear at the
bazaar was due to days of accumulated
anxiety at the Towers Henry had been
away for a. week without a word of ex
PLANTATION to those at home
or course" Sadie Jones continued as
che leaned back and puffed her cigarette
Il know the truth. We all do here in
town. He's drinking Unfortunately ann lead
Ing most fragrant life An earl NAV be
stable boy, l find, and Kerhin Is GER
taln!y behaving like one. Lady Elizabeth
IS trying 20 cover up the situation. and
Lady kerhii! seems dazed by recent
= OF the sincerity Of her interest in
Diana Jim could have no doubt Under
Ter frivolities she had an appreciation of
what was fine in men and women. AS
she talked she was carefully watching
u" effect Of her words on Jim; her in
suhet rad long ago told her that Jtn's
interest In Diana was no usual one-hov
unusual she did not care TO probe She
Know that he was the one person who
might have an influence over Henry: she
A-S" knew that by this conversation she
might De stirring up a situation that
N"uId Tar from benefit her, but she pIayed
y" game falr She was fich-Jim was
almost poor. Often she wondered ana \
h"i+a-hui $" far her dreams, she knew,
were punt alone upon her desires
Ihey talked for another hour and when
jim It't the turZ"n street house he prom
is"d Sadie Jones he would see Henry From
her window Sadie watched Linn svyfrpiro
down the street. She Lad tried 10 serve
Diana but she asked. what had sbr ar-
comPisA"d for herself? She lighted another
cigarette and settled her foot against Tho
fender She was thinking OF Jtm's face as
u had listened TO Aer tax about Diana
The fire burned gray. \ line Of dead
soldiers, as the boys at Battle Creek had
called the halt-burncd cigarettes Law on
thu hrarthStone-a tribute To the length Of
lyr revere. Another expression Of the bows
al home came back forClbly to her as She
left the room and crossed TO her bedcharn-
her After all. she had been dead game"
Gain or loss, she did not regret her even
ines work
As Jim walked along Piccadilly he knew
That HeHTy's AaisuHs were now town-talk
1t was useless TO close his eyes TO the sus-
PIGEONS OF the past month. Sadie Jones
represented the worlds opinion, and what
she tried 10 warn him about would soon be