Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-31
CHAPTER xII-Continued.

w day. l went early. By
the way, here is the rib
bon you wanted: I think it's exactly the
same as the pattern. AS he spoke he
took tissue-paper parcel from his pocket
and handed it to her.
Thanks she said. did you meet any
friends there"
Not many He answered, guardedly;
he had a secret to keep.
where did you dineo'
AT the club" He began to he uneasy
at this questioning. but he did not. see
any way to avoid answering without
creating some suspicion
did you sec any one you knew at the
club" Her voice as she spoke was q
little harder. little more strained.
Harold noticed the change. rather by in
stinct than reason. He felt that there
was danger in it. and paused. The pause
seemed to suddenly create a new fury
in the breast OF stephen. She felt that
Harold was playing with her. Harold.
If she could not trust him. where then
was she to look for trust in the world?
II he was not frank with. her. what then
meant his early coming. bis seeking her
In the grove. his proposal of marriage.
which seemed sudden and so mop
perfume" He must have seen Leonard.
and by some means have become ac-
Gnainted with her secret OF shame.
His motive?
Here her mind halted She knew az
we'll as If it had been trumppted from the
skies that Harold knew all. But she must
be certain . !" Certain.
She was standing erect. her hands held
down by her sides and cienched togethe'
till the knuckles were white: all her body
strung hrlr-like an overp't ched violin.
he q flung
it downward with passionate move
ment
Answer met she cried imueriously.
Answer me. Why are you nlaying with
me- Did you see Leonard Everard last
night? Answer me. l say. Harold An
Wolf. you do not lie. Answer me-
AS she spoke Harold grew cold. From
the question he now knew that Stephen
had guessed his secret. He did not know
what 10 do. and still remained silent.
She did not give him time to think. but
spoke again. this time more coldly The
white terror had replaced the red:
Are YOU not going to answer me
simple question. Harold? To be silent
now is to wrong me. I have right to
know
In his trouble. for he felt that say what
he would he could only sfve her new pain.
he said. humbly:
Don't ask me. Stephen. Won't you
understand that l want to do what is
best for you? Won't you trust me?'
Her answer came ndrShly. A more eN-
perienced man than Harold. one who
knew women better would have seen how
overwrought she was and would have
made pity the pivot of his future bearing
and acts and words while the interview
lasted; pity. and pity only. But to Harold
the high ideal was ever the same. The
Stephen whom he loved was no subject
for pity. but for devotion only. He knew
the nobility of her nature and must trust
II to the end. When her silence and her
blazing eyes denied his request. he an
swered her query in low voice:
II did Even whilst he spoke he was
thankful Tor one thing-he had not been
pledged In any way to confidence.
Leonard had forced the knowledge on
him. and though he would have preferred
million times over to be silent, he was
still free to speak. Stephens next ques-
ton came more coldly still:
Did he tell you of his meeting with
me?''
He did
Ibid he tell you allo" 1t was torture
to him to answer but he was at the stake
and must bear II.
IT think so, If 1t was true
What did he tell you? Stay. I shall
ask you the facts myself: the broad facts.
We need not go into details. -
oh Stephen She slenced his plead
ing with an imperious hand.
''If can go into this matter. surely you
can. II / can bear the shame of telling.
YOU can at least bear that of listening"
casm. which sounded like the rasping of
:, roughly sharpened knife through raw
flesh. Harold sroaned in spirit: he felt a
weakness which began at his heart steal
through him. 1t took all his manhood to
bear himself erect. He dreaded what
was coming. as of old the once-tortured
victim dreaded the coming torment of the
rack.