Evening star., 1907-08-24

ity for doing a thing as no one else ever
did 1t before or was likely to do 1t after
ward.
Lane had not returned to the house, as he
had promised, nor had he hastened to draw
revocation of that power of attorney
The tme-consum!ng demands of certain
business before the superior court was his
first excuse. Then l learned he had left
the city, after sending to Mrs. Randolph a
note stating that an important matter had
called him away suddenly. l knew what
that important matter was-he had gone to
Philadelphia.
But while he was trying IN Philadelphia
TO get line on my past l was scanning
our probable battlefield and preparing for
him as well as l could. and was getting
wonderful amount of happiness out Of my
new position, in spite of condemning con-
science and anticipatory sufferings.
So the evening came in which l was to
meet some OF the people who had written
and wired their congratulations.
That afternoon the Evening Moon had
sensational scare heads above half col
umn of guesswork. which 1t probably de-
Julian Randolph did not appear, all who
had read of his return" would know what
was meant.
You do not believe any Of that stuff"
l said. when we had gone through the
slurring questions and broad hints of "mys-
terry lying behind that return
Mrs Randolph looked at me with fright
ened eyes. l confess 1t was a foolish ques-
tfon. when the part 1 was enacting is con-
sdered.
Julian" she said don't be silly"
Can we go through the ordeal tonight
after this? l sad looking at the offensive
newspaper.
Very easily" she said with sweet Sc
renity.
Yet confess to a great dread when the
ordeal came.
The affair was supposed to be quite in
formal which only meant that, though they
could not be wholly omitted, there was to
be as little as possible of the fuss and
feathers of fashionable society.
Mrs Randolph wore that distracting
dress of pure white, with the contrasting
red rose as the only color The brilliance
Of her complexion. the heavenly blue of her
eyes. the glory of her shining brown hair,
drew such attention that l was quite jeal-
Gus. Miss Hansborough. her evening dress
displaying dazzling shoulders, helped us to
receive"
We stood Just within the entrance to
what Mrs Randolph called "our garden"
large glassed-in space filled with palms
and flowers with a fountain splashing in
the center, and an orchestra hidden behind
the palms playing popular airs and Strauss
waltzes Brilliant lights flooded the gar
den" making 1t light as day.
The whole gave me sense Of the wealth
of Mrs Randolph. which hitherto 1 had
not felt. She had been SO girl!sh, so nat
ural unaffected and affectionate, that
the fact of her wealth had not been i'm
pressed on me thoroughly, in spite Of the
richness of the brown-stone mansion, the
retinue of servants, my valet and those
indications Of Courtney Lanes piratical at
tempt.
1 recall that in their reports the next
morning the newspapers spoke Of the dis
tinguished company" There were many
names honored in two hemispheres, as one
of the papers stated. How l bore myself
under the strain Of meeting these people.
many of whom 1 was supposed to know,
puzzles me still: but l met them, sup
ported by Mrs. Randolph and her sister.
Occasionally there was an Introduction
Mr.. Sturtevant, let me make you ac-
quainted with my husband"
And Mr.. Sturtevant, a high-shouldered
eye-glassed man, who looked to be lit
erary burner Of midnight OIL but who was
really Wall street banker. murmured my
name. mentioned casually the state of the
weather, openly fattered Mrs. Randolph on
her appearance and, crowded by Others
drifted on.
Later in the evening came near getting
a ''cropper." The dancing was in progress
and Mrs. Randolph had been torn from my
side by Sir Philip Cuthbert, who would not
be denied. 1t was then that John Denton,
whom all New York knows as society
favorite' and first nighter," remarked
with laugh as he squeezed my hand, find
ing me for the moment alone:
You recall what you told me at the
Bachelors CLUB the day before you were
married?''
He beamed amiably.
didn't remember it, of course, and I
had to say so.
Harry Tremaine was with US. Recall
1t now?'
No" said, in desperation.
Denton looked hard at me as he stirred
his glass.
with harsh laugh. 1T was only a few
thousands that I hold your 1 o U for as
result Of that poker game. You went
abroad. 1 understood. and I've heard moth
ing of it since. But If you want to re-
pudiate tt"
He drank his wine.
Il have no such intention" 1 declared,
uncomfortably hot. Il had simply forgot
His manner was arctic as he walked
away.
Near the close when many had gone and
the hour was late, or, rather, early, being
came by me, brushing my shoulder quite
as If by accident, to attract my attention.
"At the farther end of the garden, near
the door," he whispered. ITS Courtney
Lane with that reporter. And know that
the reporter was not invited
His communication startled me. I looked,
and saw Lane and a slim, dark young man,
with eyeglasses perched on his thin nose,
coming toward me.
How the reporter got in don't know"
said Jerome. but he shall be thrown out,
sir, If you give the word"
Mrs. Randolph, dancing with Harold De-
hOSleI uOdleu ny f1eT azure eyes were
shining, her cheeks like pink peones; her
diaphanous white draperies half revealed
and half concealed her loveliness. My
eyes followed her with anxious longing.
Behind her came Miss Hansborough and
her escort. but my eyes were for Mrs. Ran
dolph alone. Lucky dog-Dekoster! Some
thing choked in my throat when saw her
smile up into his face. And it made my
sight blur strangely. For the moment I
forgot Courtney Lane and the reporter
who were making their way slowly toward
me. Mrs. Randolph did not see Lane, l
observed.
Then he stood before me, the reporter