Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
CHAPTER XVIII
The Circle of Peril


The Circle of Peril.
Even Sadie had underestimated the in
tensity of Broadstone's anger fer she
had not known one of the chief causes.
He was in truth nearly beside himself
with jealousy. fear and chagrin.
On the previous day he had received
letter from Gertrude Hamyl. in which she
announced her betrothal to Harold Wy
nocke.
I'VE must both do our best 10 forget
the past. We can't do as we wished. so
you must not blame me for doing what
| can. We had better not see one another
again. 1t was just another case of ii
might have been if we had met earlier.
Good-bye,''
On the top of that had come the news
of Dorrison's return to the Towers. and
Sadie's anonymous letter had reused his
fears and made him terribly afraid of his
cousin. He was quite shreWd enough to
draw the inference she suggested. He
knew the truth as TO Jack Petherby's
death: and while he was bitterly discon-
certed on Gertrude Hamyls account tina:
Eva was getting better instead of worse,
he was morbidy convinced that if his life
alone should stand between Dorrison and
the title and fortune the same diabolicai
cunning would be directed against him.
And he Was an egreSious coward.
His one idea was that If Eva died he
would go abroad. far out Of Dorrison's
reach, and persuade Gertrude 10 go with
him.
Now. however. everything was failing
him. In week Eva would leave the
Towers. and he cursed Sadie bitterly as
the cause of this. That II was she who
had thwarted the attempt on Eva he had
not even the faintest suspicion: neither
do he see that it was she who had quiet
~ forced his hand and brought about the
collapse of the attempt to WOO Eva's re-
gard.
What to do he was at loss to decide.
He must have Dorrison's advice. and to
Sc. that he must hide his new fears of
him. and he must keep away from the
whisky bottle, lest the truth should slip
out.
Meanwhile Sadie, on her part was
strengthening her defenses of Eva Under
the preteXt that her bedroom was
draughty she had the bed removed to
room which communicated with Eva
and placed close to the door which open
ed from the one room to the other.
She hurried the arrangements and prep
arations for their tour SO that they could
get away two days before the time Eva
had fixed and in order to have reason
for inducing Eva to fall in with this plan
at the last moment Sadie planned to
have an urgent message calling her to
She resolved, too, that soon as Eva
was safely away in her charge. she would
write to both Broadstone and Dorrison,
telling them who she really was, and
what must be done.
AS a further step to disarm Dorrison's
suspicious. she gave it out that 1t would
be nearer fortnight than week before
Eva would start for the continent.
In the meantime, every night would
find her OH the watch. Whatever might
be attempted against Eva now would
have to be some drastic STEP and the
night time would thus be more dangerous
than the day. Two or three hours sleep
in the day would enable her to keep her
night vigils. and it would be an easy mat
ter to feign indisposition and induce Eva
10 watch by her side while she slept
Despite the almost feverish agitation
which these thoughts and plans induced.
Sadie let no sign of them appear when
she was with Eva. Their chief topic
now was the forthcoming tour. where
they would go and what they would see.
Paris, Switzerland. Rome, Venice, the
Riviera. were on their lips all the time.
They read about the places and discussed
them. to Eva's unending delight.
She grew enthusiastic in the contem
plation of the journey. and took almost
childish pleasure in settling details and
planning all manner of pleasant jaunts.
That DorrisOn had arrived. they knew.
and on the following morning he asked
PERMISSION to see Eva.
II have really come as a peace dele
gate. Eva" he said. after he had ex-
pressed delight at finding har so well.
''Bertram has told me of the unfortunate
affair the day before yesterday, and
assure you he is profoundly repentant and
intensely ashamed. l had long talk
with him last night, and he is really
miserable at this-this state of war" He
used the phrase with a smile and a lift
Ing of the hands
There is no war between us Mr. Dor
riSOn.' said Eva.
But YOU are leaving Broadstone.''
I'VE are going on the continent for
month or so; that is all. That is not
leaving Broadstone in any such sense as
you imply"
But the household knows OF the cause
and servants talk. These things get out
and scandal grows
The household knows of many other
things
Il know. of course. There is no use in
blinking facts. told Bertram his treat
ment of you had been abominable through
out"
II don't think can thank you for that
] don't think | want any one to Interfere
in the matters between my husband and
myself"
II only speak member of the fam
ily-a man of the world Eva. who knows
how the world feeds OF the garbage Of
scandals such as these
1T is not I who have added 10 the gar
bage heap" replied Eva. pointedly
oh please. don't think I have ever
suggested such thing I can quite nm
derstand how you iceland am the first
10 admit YOU have only too much cause
for complaint. My only suggestion is that
YOU should delay this trip-say for a
month-so that the cause and effect should
not be so apparent
So this was the object. thought Sadie:
and when Dorrison said presently that
the weather month later would be much
more agreeable for a tour. she said quiet
ly: That is perfectly true, Eva
What. are you for a postponement,
too Margaret"
THE continental hotels are horrible
when they're crowded with tourists. dear:
and if we waited We could book our rooms
we'll ahead everywhere.
Il did not expect TO find you on Mr.
MEDICAL,