Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-17
CHAPTER III-Continued.

destination. She would not go to her
father-never forSiving him for his for
ner conduct-but Travelled down to Mex
leo to her mothers brother, Seth +. Por-
lock, a crusty bachelor, who had quar-
relied with every relative he had in the
world.
To him she told her story and he be-
fr!ended her. In his house her chiid
was born; and she and her babe so won
upon him that he would not let them leave
him She left her own people to believe
her dead. and took her mothers name:
and when the old man died he left her
every stick and stone of his enormous
fortune.
Trouble had bleaohed her once golden
hair: but after the birth of her child her
figure had developed. and her wrinkles
disappeared in the ease ana comfort OF
the mii.onaire's house. Her appearance
was changed beyond recognition.
For six months OTTER the death or oet'i
PorIock she STAYED i'll Mexico to realize
her many possessionS--doinG it all with
the natural shrewdneSs which the OLD
man had carefully nurtured-and then
had resolved to see life in tie American
cities.
The knowledge of her wealth. added
to her own personal charms. brought
her many proposals of marriage: and
this decided her to settle the question
whether she was wife or WIDOW. TO IN
St1tute search Tor HCr nuSDtiHu. DEL /
Hunter. and eventually to come to Eng
land herself to direct it.
On the Aronia's passenger list the
name of Dorrison recalled to her that
she had once heard her husband speak
of some relative of the same name; ana
1t was this slight fact which had induced
her to encourage Gilbert Dorrison's very
ready advances.
Her keen Wit enabled her to read HIM
easily; and when she heard that Dorrison
was the family name of Lord Broad
stone she saw at once there was little
or no hope of getting any clue to her
husbands whereabouts. To associate such
a drunken. dissolute shack as Bert
Hunter with an English peer was OBJ
viously ridiculous
But Gilbert DOrriSon had proved very
entertaining ship companion, and. despite
her belief that he was paying court to
her money, he had won upon her good
feelings SO far that she felt she would
like to know more of him.
She wanted to know something of what
the man himself was underneath the sur
face of handsome looks and courtly
geniality.
She gave him a smile when he returned
with the book and thanked him. Ana
now leave me alone for an hour while
[ see what you are like in print. and then
I'll tell you whether l wish to keep it
longer
..Rather rough. isn't it, to send me
laughed
You won't be jealous of your own
speeches. surely. / shall be studying
you all the time. Don't forget that
1T will be long hour he rejoined
as he turned away with a rueful shrug
Of the shoulders.
1t was volume of newspaper cut
tings. reports of speeches chiefly. with Il
few personal paragraphs about the MI.
The speeches she SKINNED, the para
mis- Sha
and then suddenly she came upon a paper
lying loose; and glance at the first
line drew an exclamation of surprise
ard interest.
Yes. dearest although you tell me
you have cast me off forever and will
never return to England to make me
your wife. God forgive me for having
trusted to your honor. and you, for the
wrong you have done me-.
She had read SO far in single glance.
noted the address-30O Roath Road. Car
dif-and in putting the letter back in
the book she saw the written name
Gladys Llewellyn."
At that moment she caught sight of
Dorrison returning. and in flash re
solved to test him and see how he would
act when he knew she had seen the let
ter. She let the book lie open upon her
lap with the letter in full view.
rs the hour up alraady?' she asked
smiling sweetly. You see how interest
Ell l must have been. ! thought 1t
vas only few minutes. Some of your
speeches are brilliant
He glanced at the book and started
very slightly as he saw the letter; but
she noticed both the glance and the
start.
Il am glad you would even read one"
he replied. Il find no difficulty in
speaking luckily
There is something here that is not
speech Was this left for me to see?
read half dozen lines. And she
picked up the letter. Who is-Gladys?'
TIE moment was long enough to en-
able him to answer with complete self
possession. With a very serious air lie
said: NO. that was not for YOU to see.
Of course. l ought not to have been so
careless a. to leave il there 1t * the
one real trouble I have at present. l
am going to see what I can do in tho
matter Ny man. Gardiner. has been a
scourdrel. I fear I learnt of this when
on YOUR side recently: bit am resolved
that Justice shall be done"
He seems to have taken your name,
1T is Ills also. by unfortunate CO.
Incidence
She shrugged her shoulders with inten-
tional Indifference. Men Will be men.
Poor girl
They need not be scoundrels. Mrs.
Porock. But she shall be righted.'
II am glad to think you are SO chival-
rous. And now shall we say no more
about ito" she said with sigh.
II am sorry the thing has been brought
to your knowledge. | have promised
him that strict secrecy shall be observ-
ed if he does the right thing
why, of course. For the girls sake.
whoever she is. ! would be silent
= mute. HellO-there'S the first luncheon
bugle. For a quarter of an hour YOU
can give me the surroundings OF some
of these speeches"
You are quite niggardly with your
time this morning." he said. with glance
nf reproach and a light laugh. as self
nossessed as though the affair of G'advS
IJewelIyn had not even been mentioned
Had he told her the truth? That was
the thought in her mind he took the
book of cuttings and made it the pre-
text for a very interesting sketch of
English political life. So interested in
deed that the full half-hOur slipped away
md the second bugle sounded.
They were not alone again until after
dinner. The night was warm. the sea
very calm and the moon at the full-an
enhancing night for the last of the v"'--
age; and Sadie was leaning on the ~
Warks gazing at the brilliant ladde"
the moon on the waves when Dorri on
Joined her.
You face is set toward the light.
That is always your way. L know. he
said.
Il was just letting my thoughts tangle
themselves Wondering. as | suppose
every one does when approaching a new
country what it has in store for me-
..Happiness of course: for YOU carry
that with YOU" he answered. gently.
..Heaus of friends. too: you have the
magnetism that attracts. And you may