Oxford Democrat., 1908-02-04
(coNTINUED.l

surreptitious reading. unconsciously
educating herself thereby possibly far
beyond what many girl gained from
systematic schooling? Surely the girl
had race" back of her. with her cour-
age to face ghost. her love OF books
so strong rs to overcome obstacles that
would have daunted any ordinary
character and her native refinement of
thought and instinct which he felt In
her presence so keenly.
But he hethought him Of another
reason why he did not wish to repeat
to her ut once Mrs Morningstar's tale.
There was the paper he had thrust in
to his pocket ut the sound of her step
In the hall bearing that confession"
Until he had read that lie would rath-
er tell her nothing.
Twill YOU wait" he begged her, "and
let me think it over first before l tell
you what | know? Believe me-" he
added as he saw her look Of disap-
pointment. that l hold your welfare
sacred and that In asking you to wait
I do what seems to me to be for your
good"
He was surprised at the glow which
irradiated her countenance at his
words. She was so unused to being
considered. he reflected, that a mere
tone of kindness called forth all the
latent brightness Of her soul. Little
did he dream how his words sang In
her ears, Il hold your welfare sacred"
and that the music Of the spheres
could not have seemed to her more
wonderful in spite Of the fact that
since that night on the terrace her
heart had been heavy with the knowl-
edge that he loved Georgiana.
II will wait" she said, an unwonted
thrill in her voice that held him with
its spell. until you are ready to tell
me-
A disturbing possibility had suddenly
occurred to him. Surely If that con
fession" amounted to anything Eunice
would herself have found it out. He
had supposed that he had come upon
discovery, and he felt a pang of dis
appointment as he realized the prob
ability of his having been mistaken.
"Those books on the top shelf, those
Balzacs," he suddenly said, "they were
the only books found dusty. All. of
course" he added, "you don't read
French; that's it!'
Then perhaps, after all. she had
never seen this paper In his breast
pocket-extraordina indeed, If dur
ing all these years the secret of her
history should have thus been within
her reach and yet escaped her. A de-
sire came to him to take it out and
read 1t with her. but he thought better
Of it.
"You know nothing really of your
self-your name, your origin. your life
before you were left here with the
MorningStarS?'
A pensive Groop to her lips as she
shook her head was her answer. After
moment she looked up at him. her
ewes almost solemn as she spoke.
You say it is for my good that you
withheld for the time what you know
Of this room. 1t is. then, as have often
suspected. bound up in some way with
my life:"
He hesitated an instant. LET US not
speak of it just yet. Eunice."
Very WELL" she acquiesced gently.
II have so often wished" she added.
that. If inaninate things can really
take OH impressions from the lives Of
the people that use them and after
ward give out those impressions, this
place would speak to me Of its his
Tory"
1t was not to be wondered at that
her IDEAS were thus fantastic. he
thought. The effect Of her desultory
reading upon one who lived a life as
Isolated from the world as a nuns and
whose mind was left undisciplined by
any other mental exercise was so curl
Gus as to be almost phenomenal.
"But do you know how soon you can
tell me?" she asked.
Probably the next time we can be
alone together. And don't let 1t be a
week from now. When and where shall
It be-"
'In this room tomorrow nightY' she
suggested.
Cant you come to me on the ter
race againT' he proposed. quite unwill-
| Ing 10 expose her to the scandal which
must arise II they were found alone In
this chamber in the small hours Of the
night
"we would not be interrupted or In
sny way disturbed here" she said, hei
clear eyes so Innocent OF any impro
priety in her proposal that he would
no more have suggested IL TO her thar
be would have offered poison to
babe.
"You know" she added, "they al
have great fear OF this part Of the
house. ON the terrace we might bt
seen. Ape"-
She stopped short as though to ware
or an anathema upon Abe.
But Kinross realized that perhaps
she was right. They ran little or NJ
risk OF interruption In this room.
| Let US meet here. then. tomorrow
night. and will tell you what ] can"
He was conscious Of the fact that II
the course OF their talk she had seem
ed 10 him like one reused out OF
long torpoT. like dropping wild Hover
revlying under soft rain.
..Do you know. Eunice. II isn't true
what you told me the other night
that YOU have no education Yor
have read and. ! have reason to be
lieye. assimilated the best Of Englisf
letters"
"You call me educated?" she asked
with interest.
Technically an educated person II
no doubt one who knows the multlpli
cation tables. I am not sure that yo'
do"
She shook her head sadly. "No," sh'
humbly acknowledged. sand I can
spell either"
"Your education is dreadfully ont
lsided," he said. smiling. "But taxi
comfort. This is the day for special
ties. I believe that your knowledge o
English at least Is rather thorough"
"Would 1t serve me in supporting
myself?" she eagerly asked.
"Surely. The wonder to me is tina
you have not through some occult proc
ess learned to read those Balzacs."
She looked at him doubtfully.
"You never even glanced into them?