Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23

been nodded to purer and nobler things.
He had returned to England q man OF
whom any woman might be proud. And
to what end had all this been done? That
he might marry her? That he might be
worthy of her love? No. that he might
devote his life to a great work and sacri-
fee everything TO the accomplishment of
She bowed her head in her hands and
prayed that God would be merciful to
both OF them.
Then the door opened and Alice entered.
Her face was white and tear-stained She
was picture of helpless misery
well. Alice" said Lady Betty. kindly,
when is he coming?"
A hard look came into the girls face
a look that no one had ever seen there
before.
He is not coming" she said. colby.
"He has said he will not come"
Did he say anything else?'
Yes" answered the girl. clenching her
hands. He has said goodbye. He
thinks it is better we should not meet any
more"
Lady Betty was silent. She was look
ing at the expression on the girls face
and wondering what evil thoughts were
in the mind of this innocent child.
us this religion" the girl continued,
Hush. Alice. hush. This is wicked
you are too young to understand-'
II read a book not long ago" Alice
went on. with the bitterness of reckless
despair. Poems by a Mr.. Swinburne."
where did you get it?" asked Lady
Betty. sharply. She did not approve of
Swinburne for young girls.
From the public library. l did not
like 1t. But remember two lines and I
think he must have been speaking the
truth"
She paused. white-faced and wild-eyed.
like a woman who IL going to cast herself
over precipice.'
"Well?" asked Lady Betty. gently.
Il remember them well. 1 was shocked
at the time.
Thou hast conquered. o pale Galiiean.
And the world has grown gray with Thy breath
All! I believe 1t. 1t is true!"
Her voice rose to a scream. She passed
her hands to her head, as though in pain.
Lady Betty came quickly to her SIDE ana
placed one arm round her neck.
Alice" she said. gently, dearest
Alice
HE has been taken from me-" the girl
continued in the same hard voice: 1T is
cruel. 1t is not right that he should be
taken. That man is a devil"
A look Of horror came into Lady
Bettys face. This gentle girl seemed to
have cast herself off from all the firm
Of blasphemy. If only the girl would
burst into tears. go into Mysteries. faint
anything would be better than this hard
and bitter voice of despair.
Lady Betty took her arm from the Slrl
neck and walked over to the desk.
Alice" she said. sharply. you had
better go home. 1 cannot listen to you.
I don't think you know what you are say
ing. shall not try and help you while
you talk like this"
Yes, had better go home.' she said.
mechanically.
Thou hast conquered. o pale Galilean.'
No. no. do not mean that. do notch.
Lady Betty. Lady Betty. what have
said what have I done? Oh. forgive me,
save me"'
Her hard, even voice rose into cry OF
fear and entreaty. and then she burst into
a storm of tears. Her frail. little body
was convulsed with a parOxysm of weep
ing She pressed her hands to her face
and the tears ran down her cheeks. The
madness was over.
Lady Betty came to her side and took
the girl in her arms.
ut is all for the best. dear" she said.
gently. 'You may be sure it is all for
the best You must be brave. All Will
come right one of these days. and IL not.
Alice, we both have work to do and We'll
do 1t WE'LL
The girl flung her arms round Lady
Bettys neck and the two women cried to-
gether. each of them for the lover she
had lost.