Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19


is half the battle OF woman's life.
She met Gaunt's impertinent glance
with look of surprise. He was not In
the habit of paying her compliments.
Then she laughed uneasily.
1T would do you good to stay here a
Bit she said. quickly That's what
want to see you about. Dick. That's why
I've rushed up the hill. want to have a
serious talk with you"
ITS no good giving me a lecture. Bet. !"
he replied, coldly. They've all tried Il.
and that sort of thing irritates me. I'm
not doing any harm to you. or Henry or
the mater You and the mater are snug
enough here. and old Henry is perfectly
happy making a corner In gum arabic.
I've decided on the sort of life I'm going
to live, and there's an end to 1t.
please stay here bit. Dick" she
pleaded. "just for a month
You're irresistible, Bet. when you look
at me like that Well. then. I'll miss this
please you. Bet. That means I don't go
till tomorrow for the other trains stop
at every station all the way to town."
Don't go tomorrow. Dick. Stay here
for month or two and look after the
estates
Williams does the work WELL" he re-
Piled with laugh land If interfered 1
should make a mess of it. Why do you
worry me like this and look so serious
about it all? Do you think that my
mother is ir?''
Il know that she is very ill.," she said
gravely. very. very Ill. But If you would
only stay here it would make such q diff
ference. You will never regret it-never
as long as you live
Poor old mater he replied. Look
here. Bet. II you really want to do us all
q good turn, l wish you'd persuade the
mater that I'm not worth worrying about
She's got Henry. as precise and dutiful a
son as woman could want. In a few
nv-e,Sk .,I,o b. =
tether and die. Then Henry will step into
my shoes and you'll all live happily ever
afterward."
How can you be so brutal" she ex-
claimed. $50 wicked. SO heartless! Do
you think that we wish you to die?"
Sir Richard was silent. He did not
think so. but he wished to appear in the
worst possible light, so that his subse-
quent conversion might appear the more
wonderful.
do you really think this, Dick?" she
repeated.
why not?" he replied. "But there's
no need to get excited. Bet. 1t is some
times cruel. but it is never wicked to
speak the truth. You know we'll enough
that I should not cause nearly so much
Henry. He's making pots Of money. I
wonder you haven't fallen in love with
Henry, Bet. He'd make an excellent hus-
band. and then-when he comes into the
estate
How dare your she cried, turning as
If to leave him.
Don't co. he said, quietly. "Stay here
by the sea and get all the fresh air you
can. You'll want it after a talk with me.
I'll go on to the station and drive back
in the carriage. The man will be waiting
there for me-"
"Oh. Dick'- she exclaimed, f1ercely.
"stay with your mother for a month or
SO. You will never regret it-never.'
He looked at her grave. handsome face.
and the thought occurred to Nm that it
might be very pleasant to make love to
woman like this. She was so utterly diff
ferent to the other women of his ac-
quaintance. and it would be new ex-
perience.
And so. while appearing to hesitate.
Richard Gaunt made up his mind to stay.
"I'n see. Bet. I'll see." he, said. after
long pause. AT any rate. I'll stay to-
night. I'll think oyer what you've said.
But I think. if you really want to help
suade her that I'm not worth worrying
about"
Surely that Is not the way a man
should speak of himself"
1T is the way I'm obliged to speak Of
myself
'Obliged?' she queried. scornfully. my
dear Dick. do not believe that you are
SO weak as all that. Live down here for
a month and do bit of shooting. Youth
soon get INTO auOIHcT way VI lOOhlHS dl
things
"Well. I'll see. Bet. 1t is possible for a
man to make q change in his life. But
I'm getting on in years, and the clay Is
too hard to mold. 1t would require some
great force to eees en nan ssed sbarn
w. There was something in the tone of
his voice that she did not understand.
Il mean that a mans character Is
pretty well formed at my age. and that 1t
requires great upheaval to break 1t and
mold it afresh. But we are getting out
of our depths, Bet. 1 must get along to
the station. or the man will wonder
what's happened to me- VIII you come
with me?'
mo. / must set back to your mother.
She Is not we'll this morning."
"And you came UP here just 70 ask me
to Stay?
Yes" she replied, firmly. that is why
I came after you. You don't suppose
"Oh. no. my dear Bet. didn't fiatter
myself that you came up to see me. I
know you better than that"
81 wished to see you"
Yes. for my mothers sake.
Precisely. for your mothers sake"
yet there was time. Bet, when you
wanted to see me for my own sake. 1t
was close to this very spot, was it not.
that 1 gave you that ring? 1t cost seven
and sixpence, II l remember
Alright"
The woman laughed merrily.
"What an excellent memory you have.
Dick
II sometimes wish / was boy again.
"And live your life all over again. and
make it different life? Not you. Dick.
You'd be just the same
II believe l should" he answered.
quietly. well goodbye. Bet. till lunch.
l may be a few minutes late"
He raised his hat and walked on IN the
direction Of the station. He was very
pleased with himself. He had started the
think over. He had worked. like the mas
ter of craft that he was, firmly yet dell
cately. 1t was like fishing for trout in
clear stream.
The woman watched him till he had dis
over the edge of the slope. He
did not turn to look back at her or wave
his hand.
Then she placed her elbows on the
stone WALL and supported her face In her
hands and looked out across the sea.
The water below was sullen and gray
In the light of that winters morning. No
waves broke the monoto-
nous color of it's surface. but long swell
lifted it up in smooth ridges and there
was thunder of surf on the rocks below.
1t was a desolate scene. but the woman
loved it. and the sea itself had almost be-
come a friend to her.
Then she turned away from the water
and looked at the ugly white house. which
glared up at her from the woods below.
and as she looked, there was small
break in the clouds overhead. and thin
shaft of sunlight smote the gray roof of
Gaunt Royal. She took it as sigh.
Perhaps" she said to herself. God
will send light into his darkness"
But the golden ray vanished as swiftly
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