Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12

from the door and stood in the window
looking east The Silver Lady came and
stood beside him. She did not seem to
notice his face but In the mysterious way
Of women she watched him keenly. She
wished to satisfy her own mind before
she undertook her self-appointed task.
His eyes were turned toward the head
land toward which Stephen on her white
Arab was galloping at breakneck speed.
He was too good horseman himself
and he knew her prOwess on horseback
too we'll to have any anxiety regarding
such q rider az Stephen. It was not fear,
then. that made his face so white and
his eyes to have such an illimitable sad
ness.
The Silver Lady made up her mind. She
knew this man: all her instincts were to
trust him. She recognized a noble ma
ture. with which truth would be her
surest force.
"come." she said. "sit here. friend;
where another friend has often sat with
me. From this you can see all the coast
line. and all that thou wilt" Harold put
a chair beside the one she pointed out
and when she was seated he sat also.
She began at once with a desperate cour-
age:
II have wanted much to see thee. l
have heard much of thee, before thy COM
ing" There was something in the tone
Of her voice which arrested his attention.
and he looked keenly at her. Here. in
the full light, her face looked sadly
white. and he noticed that. her lips trem-
bled. He said. with all the kindness of
his nature. for from the first moment he
had seen her ne had taken to her. her
purity and earnestness and sweetness APP
pealing to some aspiration within him:
you are pale! / fear you are not we'll!
thing for your" She waved her hand
gently:
May. 1t is nothing It is but the re-
suit of a sleepless night and much
thought"
''Oh! l wish had known! could
have put off my visit: and could have
come any other time to suit you" She
smiled gently:
81 fear that would have availed but
little. 1t was Of thy coming that 1 was
ment she went on quickly. her voice be-
coming more steady as she lost sight Of
herself in her task:
BE patient little with me. 1 pray
thee. l am an old woman, and until re-
Gently 1t has been many and many years
been ruined. I had come to believe that
for me earthly troubles were no more.
But there has come into my life new
concern. I have heard so much Of thee.
and before thy coming" The recurrence
Of the phrase struck him. He would have
asked how such could be, but he deemed
1t better to wait. She went on:
Il have been wishful to ask thy advice.
But why should not tell thee outright
that which troubles me? I am not used.
at least for these many years. to dis
semble. I can but trust thee in all. and
lean on thy mans mercy to understand
and to aid met
II shall do all in my power. believe
met said Harold. simply. Speak free
ly!' She pointed out Of the window
where Stephens white horse seemed on
the mighty sweep Of green sward like a
little dot.
1T Ia Of her that l would speak to
thee!'' Harolds heart began to beat
hard: he felt that something was coming
The Silver Lady went on:
why thinkest thou that she rideth at
such speed? 1t Is her habit" He waited.
She continued:
Doth II not seem to thee that such
reckless movement is the result Of much
trouble: that she seeketh forgetfulness?
He knew that she was speaking truly;
and somehow the conviction was borne
upon him that she knew his secret heart