The Washington herald., 1908-07-30
CHAPTER XvII-COntinued.

large IN II she had been baptized and
confirmed; upon its altar. each sunday,
she had placed flowers. To her. the
three-decker pulpit was sacrosanct. be
cause from it the Word emanated for a
hundred and fifty years She had been
angry when Hugo suggested that such
denominations should be pulled down. A
Mottisfont IN this. as in many other
things. she held tenaciously 10 any OBJ
ject Of familiar use. Mrs. Giles Motifs
font offered 10 present a brass iectern;
the whole family protested.
These thoughts fitted. like bats. IN and
out OF Hugo's mind. fortffying his de-
termination TO get possession Of the be
loved object without making a confes-
sion that must place IL hOpelessly be
yond his reach
a trim parIormaid greeted him with
a smile. Miss Vennable was at home.
but the rector had gone upstairs TO take
a nap before dinner These hornely de-
tails flowed huenuy from the girls lips
Obviously she regarded Hugo as d friend
OF the family. and likely. no doubt, to be-
come q son Of the house. What had es-
capped the eyes Of the protagonists was
pain as prlnt 10 this village maiden.
Nor did she usher him into the formal
drawing-room. but led the way confident
Is 10 the cosy dining-rOou-
Joy was talking 20 lady, who sat with
her back 70 the light. when Hugo's name
was announced Joy rose at once and held
out her hand
I an glad 20 see you she said in that
tone Of delightful intimacy which indi-
Gates that one steadfast friend Is speaking
TO another. That tone she had used ever
since his first visit TO the rectory- Then,
as he took her hand and pressed It. she
lowered her candid eyes and the blood
few 10 her cheeks. Il was the most nat
uraI thing in the world that he should
cau. but she was wondering what Burgess
had told him. From the moment when
she confessed that there was another,
she had realized THAI the other might
hear OF e. and draw humil!aung infer
ences. Fortunately. her bisshes were OBJ
secured by the pink light from the shaded
lamp. She turned 70 the LADY behind her.
.iMoHie. you have heard ne speak 0f
Mr. Charters
Hugo felt his heart stop he had run
an inconceivably reckless and stupid risk
Knowing that Mrs. Giles MottlsfonI was
at the Park. he had not considered the
probability Of meeting her al the rectory-
she held out her hand Hugo had 20
come forward. and doing so such light as
there was fell fsu upon his face. lie
realized instantly that Mrs Giles identi-
fed him. Her eyes sparkled. her lips
closed. Her fingers just touched his,
seeming 10 chill him through her gloves
Then be heard Joys voice. soft and
clear Father says you've been an angel
% him"
He muttered something tnarticulate-
Mrs Giles rose.
I must be or she declared Good
By. dear" she kissed Joye twice. with a
warmth which rather surprised the girl
Come 70 ne whSleTeT You can
Hugo moved 20 the door, opening il, as
Mrs. Giles approached with a slow. gliding
motion He thought OF her as a snake
{ about 70 strike Their eyes met defiance
I ia his. fl hers ildexlble resolution
Miss VennabIe has talked d great deal
about YOU. AIr Charters. bur she forgot
I 70 mention that your Christian name IS
Hugo. Had she done so. I could have
told her that I knew you quite well
She bowed formally and passed out
Hugo heard the sibilanr swish OF her
silk skirts as she crossed the hall; she
had struck swiftly and surely Il Hur-
/ derous instinct seized hin to follow and
wiring her neck lie felt his fingers curry
/ ing inwards. while iuviolata custom
/ twisted his lips into a conventional smile
| because she might lock hack She did
not. Conscious Of having done the right
thing at the right moment Mrs. Giles
was too well bred a woman % exhihi,
I triumph. She was very sOrry for JOY
I but she counted Hugo the meanest man
F in the kingdom. for her cousin had. in
Z deed. talked a great deal about Mr. Regi-
/ maid Charters.
/ iIs closed the door aid came back into
the middle OF the room Joy was look
I ing al him with a glance so wistful. Sc
pure. so trusting. that the evil IL him
/ withered as II touched By some white
fame The incredible had happened; she
I had heard and had not believed
Is MoIlie quite mad2' she said, IN q
I low voice.
/ Standing before him. her youth. the
freshness Of her the viTgilal sweetness
I the delicate rose and pearl cOlOring. i'm
pressed themselves forever upon his brain
and heart She might have been his
/ had he been worthy. Gazing at her. he
notec a slight change. slight inasmuch as
il was concerned with outer things. hei
dress. her bearing. London had put its
/ hallmark on her. He OWNED somehow
that this pretty frock had been bought
for him. Her hair. with its s0ftuess as
Of spun silk. was arranged more care
| fully. more IN accordance with the pre-
vailinE mode He gaZed at her hulgrfly
as a man gaZes at some dear. svyee;
| country whose shores are fading from
I his sight
| The silence became atTOcious-
/ A lump in his throat prevented speech,
her face changed Indignation was rising
white and frothing. as boiling milk: the
soft curves Of her figure became rigid
| almost angular; the eyes began tC
/ sparkle coldly. Ike stars on frosty
night.
Have you nothing to say2'' she asked
coming a step nearer
1T is true, I an Hugo Charteris."
OH
! The exclamation was the one sign OF
weakness she betrayed Il sobbed from
/ her throat; a low vail Of anguish. the
pitiful cry OF q mortaIly wounded crea
| ,ure. 1t told him that he haG sIair
something which could never live again
| that blythe. joyous faith in her owl
power 10 recognize and acclaim good a.
something immeasurably apart from evil
Henceforward. good and evil to he
would overlap She would view all thing.
| and persons with blurred. doubling ewes
| Hugo seized her. At his touch sh,
shuddered. but he held her fast.
4 love you" he said hoarsely. %
/ love YOU. 90 you understand I could
have killed that woman Just now. JOY
I am yours. I never belonged TO any