Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26

uteS afterward Lady Betty Drake eIltereu
the room. She was dressed in black and
her face was very pale She had scarcely
been outside the house since the death OF
Lady Gwendolen, and the want of fresh
air had worked a change in her healthy
appearance.
Sir Richard Gaunt rose to his feet as
she entered and threw his cigar into the
fire.
please sit down. Bet" he said. gently;
II want to have a few words with you.
will not keep you more than minute
or two"
She did not answer him. but seated her
self in an armchair before the fire. He
stood on the hearthrpg facing her and
clasped his hands behind his back.
Are you leaving here today Bet?" he
asked. after an awkward pause.
Yes. Dick" she replied. In low voice
by the midday train. !"
Henry Is leaving by that train. He
will be able to look after YOU"
was staying on for day or two. He said
he thought Of looking at a gold mine In
the neighborhood."
Sir Richard Gaunt laughed.
"weil. you can take it from me. Bet, that
he's not staying on here, and rather
fancy he's going up by the twelve-hfty.
But didn't ask you In here to talk about
Henry want to make my peace with
brute the last few days. but you must
forgive me. ! did not wish to cut myself
of from your society, but had no desire
to meet my brother, and could not very
well exclude him from my circle. 30
your brother, Dick-why. surely-at
such time
'oh. yes. you'd think so. wouldn't you?
But and Henry are not on good terms
we'll. 1t doesn't matter about that. Bet.
l wish you'd stay on here and use this
hOnSo as v0Nr own I will go back to
town.
mo" she said, earnestly. mo. you
must not do that, Dick. You must stay
here: 1t has done you SO much good"
that 1 can live here alone? Not 1! Lon
don is the place that calls me, Bet, and
] cannot resist the call. :! may as well
leave here at once. You like the place.
Why don't you live in it? You can pay
me rent If you choose. You have your
work here among the poor and all that
sort of thing. They'll miss you and yeu'll
be sorry to leave. Why. you've been here
since you were ten years old. Bet"
sa sory shall es so4ry to TO esSe
well. 1t isn't necessary. don't want
you to go and it isn't really necessary.
I want to go myself"
mo. you must stay, Dick"
mother erAi is de dead d. and I only stayed on
here because =" He paused He
could not frame the lie in appropriate
words.
You must stay for your own sake"
Nonsense. Bet. Who cares what hap
pens to me? So long as my mother was
alive-and that reminds me. want to
thank you for keeping me here against
my will. I hope you will try to forget
what took place on Aran Cawddy. 1t
was a brutal act Of violence. gross in
suit to a good and pure woman. I shall
always remember 1t with shame. l want
to ask for your forgiveness. Bet, before
you leave here. Try and look on 1t In the
best light you can: try and find some ex-
cuse for my disgusting conduct. / can
find none myself. It is possible we may
not meet again and I don't want you to
think Ill Of me all your life"
Lady Betty did not answer. There was
no anger on her face. but she seemed to
burst into tears. The man misinterpreted
her silence.
Don't be hard on me. Bet" he ex-
claimed. after a pause.
Thank you." he replied. simply. He
had no particular desire to be forgiven,
but 1t pleased him to assume the pose OF
suppliant And II in the future he
to be on epod terms with Lady Betty. For
the present he had thrust all thoughts
of matrimony out of his mind. and he
was glad to think that the woman had
declined his offer of marriage, made on
He did not intend to renew the offer
for the present.
For a few moments there was pause.
and then Lady Betty rose to her feet.
Il must finish my packing" she said.
calmly. IFS this all you have to say to
me?'
"Yes-that 10 to say. no. II can per-
suade you to stay here and let me leave
you Ia possession Of the place"
replied af frm N.Y. you have made such a
good start. 1t will be SO much easier for
you. II you stay here. You must promise
me this. Dick, please"
She looked up into his face and he
turned his eyes away from her. he was
a little ashamed of himself.
Perhaps. Bet: but don't worry about
me. l am not worth it."
She looked at his hard. evil face, and
he could not fathom. 1t was almost too
tender for pity, or sorrow. or disappoint-
ment He shrank from 1t insttnctively.
1t might be something more difficult to
deal with than hatred. :.
Eyes. you are worth 1t" she said. soft
ly. ''You have intellect and the power to
do good. You must stay here"
She came closer and laid her hand on
mot alone" he muttersd. ut would be
Il will stay here too." she whispered.
your he cried, with q start. why
Bet it would be-what would people
say?''
Her cheeks grew red and she trembled
with shame. But she was firm In her
purpose. She would save this man at any
cost.
"They would say nothing" she con-
tinued. III we were married"
"Marrisd?" he repeated - married?
Why. Bet. you told mo"
Yes but I have thought the matter
over since then. will marry you, Dick +"
Gaunt was too dumfounded to form a
suitable reply. He was caught in a trap
from which he could not escape with
honor He had asked her. In a moment
of passion, to be his wife. He could not
tell her that he had altered his mind. Yet
he knew that he must speak at once. He
realized all that the occasion demanded
of him.
'It would be wicked" he stammered
1T would be too great q sacrifice. You
are saying this out of pity. Bet. You do
not love me. You said you didn't love me.
/ cannot accept such a sacrifice. I am
not fit-no. Bet, 1t Is sweet and good Of
you. but should be brute to take ad-
vantage Of your kindness. For 1t is only
kindness: 1t Is not love-"
Then you did not mean what you said
on f Aaan g Ss.' he replied, hastily, "of
course I meant it, but l should never
have said 1t. cannot accept your sac
rifice. You do not know all that has
happened In the past"
II do not want to know. It you will
stay here for q year and lead the life OF
q good man will marry you at the end