Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-02

VI the lamp seemed only TO intensity the
darkness. A few small figures moved in
band of light between two vast
shadows. The murmur of voices came to
his ears like the sound Of wind in the
trees. Was there ever a place SO well
designed by God to keep man unspotted
from the world.
Then suddenly there came call from
the silence Of the desert, and an answer
ing shout from the group of men under
the trees And at once the whole SETTLE
ment hummed like hive of bees. Men
came forward with flaring lamps. and the
women's voices rose to shrill cries of ex-
element. But Gaunt listened for other
sounds that he expected to hear from the
desert. and soon he heard the soft thud
Of hoofs on the sand and the voices OF
men.
He rose to his feet and retreated be-
fore the advancing line of camels. Then,
as the first arrival came into the light. he
stood aside to let them pass. The huge.
ungainly beasts numbered past him and
he counted them. Sixteen in all, and per-
haps a dozen men, but he could not see
in the faint light. The sight fascinated
him. It was wonderful to think of the
distance they had plodded across the
trackless waste of sand. They seemed
to bring with them the breath Of civiliza-
ton. In a vague. ridiculous way ne
thought Of a hanson. These ugly beasts
were the sole connecting link with the
daily life Of London.
AS the last three passed him, abreast:
and not in single file the faint odor Of
some perfume came to his nostrils. II
recalled more vividly than any words
could have done the dollhouse life which
he had cast behind him. 1t was strange:
startling. out of place in the pure air or
the desert. It suggested, In some subtle
manner. the temptations which he was
still afraid to face.
He turned and followed the caravan.
and stood by the side Of his companions
under the trees. Lights flared on all
sides and there was the grave ceremony
Of welcome. A young, swarthy Fellow
with a keen. hawklike face, came for
ward and embraced each of his brothers
with ludicrous solemnity. Then he threw
himself at his fathers feet and received
blessing. The whole scene was quaint
and almost biblical, and In the flare OF
the lamps it was really picturesque.
$50 that is the SON. Gaunt said to
himself. What about the wife,"
Ben Asan returned to the camels and
no one moved; then once more ne came
forward with woman. Her face was
yelled UP to the eyes, but her form was
slender and graceful. Gaunt regarded
her with interest A woman who would
voluntarily exile herself in the wilderness
for love Of man must be woman OF
Element had done so, but then they were
desert-born and desert-bred. This one
had left the life of city and followed
her husband into what was scarcely bet
ter than tomb.
Sir Richard Gaunt moved a little closer
to the aged patriarch and watched the
husband and wife PROSTATE themselves on
the ground. One of the sons stood behind
his father and held aloft a flaming torch.
The whole scene was as clearly cut as a
cameo. The old man mumbled something
and raised his hands.
Then the two. still hand in hand. rose
to their feet, and the young man uttered
q single word.
"Hamil!"
The onlookers took up the cry. and the
air rang and echoed with the word
"Hamil." 1t came in full-throated chorus.
and then was repeated by voice after
voice. and then. after a pause. there was
an echo Of the name in the distance.
Sir Richard Gaunt kept his gaze fixed
on the woman's face. He could see moth
ing but the eyes and the broad, low brow,
and the CLEAN of dark hair. Then the
eyes looked at him steadily and without
shame. and as he encountered the look
sudden fire seemed to scorch his body,
and the blood leapt through his veins and
every nerve tingled. He turned on his
heel and strobe away into the darkness.
He had seen that look in woman's
eyes before.
Four days afterward the caravan de-
parted, bearing Sir Richard Gaunt's let
ter on the first stage of its long journey
to England.
The letter was short and did not con-
Germ itself with details. 1t ran as fol-
lows:
Dear Betty: You will be surprised
to learn that am still alive. l shall not
return to England till next year. am at
present in the Desert Of Arabia, learning
to be man. Please forget me, for am
not worthy of you. I only wanted TO
cruelty punished. and at last am able to
see things clearly. l look up to you now
as one who Is far above me. I wish to
repay you for all you have done can
do 1t best by keeping out of your HE. l
work. now from morning to night, and
am contented If did not work should
starve. It is dull, and / have no pleasure
but rest. Still I am content and my
health is good. Between you and me lie
a thousand miles Of sand and all the
journey from the nearest port to Eng
land. Perhaps you will think me brute
for writing like this. But 1 am at least
honest. And always remember this: 1
am learning to be man..
yours. in all reverence and anection:
dick GAUNT.'
ing as possible with wax and tassels of
silk. was committed to the charge of the
ancient and honored leader OF the cara
van. Sir Richard Gaunt produced four
purchased the goodwill Of the bearer. 1t
was understood that the letter was of the
highest importance, and that it was to
be taken by triangular route to Port
Said and then to be stamped and posted
to England.
AS Gaunt watched 1.-THE line of camels
fade to a thin thread and then to a small
speck on the horizon of sand, he sighed
and wondered If he had done right. He
had. at any rate, acted from unselhsh
motives. Then he returned to his work
and had no more time to think OF Eng
land.
He was surprised to notice that one of
the camels was left behind. In the life
Of the desert these animals played as I'M
portant a part as railways In England.
It was easier to imagine the Great West
ern leaving an engine as present to
some obscure village in Gloucestersh1re
than to comprehend gift of such start
ling magnitude.
On inquiry he learnt that the new bride
had wept so long and copiously for the
animal which had carried her into cap
tivity that Ben Asan had purchased 1t at
fabulous price. 1t was Of no possible
use and was even an incumbrance, Tor II
consumed food and water. But to Hamll
1t was a link with civilization. and she
took exercise on it daily, as a lady might
drive In the park. Gaunt laughed when
he heard about it. This Hamil of the
dark eyes was evidently destined to be
the new woman Of the desert. the pioneer
of strange. unfeminine actions.
In a few weeks time, however, he be-
gan to take a most undesirable interest
in this woman who had come so strange
ly into the desert from the world beyond.
He had only heard that she was beautl-
full. for he had never seen more than her