Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
CHAPTER. vi.
fNLApELRHN INQUIRER,

Lady Editha Travers was never more
surprised In her life than when she re-
ceived the following note from her
brother:
my Dear Editha: am keenly desir-
Gus OF ending our long estrangement. AS
the years roll on l do not get any
younger''-Anthony and Cammarleigh had
wrangIed violently over this statement
land I am beginning to feel. somewhat
lonely. Will you lunch with me quite
quietly on Wednesday? I shall be by
myself. although my secretary. an ex-
ceedingly charming young man"-Cam-
marleigh had objected to this, so An
thony had added-"and distinctly intel
lectua1 and good company, may join US
afterward. should like you to know
him Your affectionate brother.
Percy
1t must be admitted that 1t was a slight
error In policy for Anthony's name to be
mentioned at all in the letter. but even
Anthony's fnesse failed him sometimes.
Lady Editha passed the note to her
daughter. Sybil. a girl barely eighteen,
not yet out, and Of a quite fairylike
beauty.
sybil looked 1t through carefully and a
smile rippled over her delicately beautiful
little face.
Il wonder what he waits. mamma"
Exactly what wondered. my dear.
Cammarleigh had the mind of man who
might have been expected to make COM
petence out OF groceries,
Hes my godfather" said Sybil, land
hes never given me anything
Lady Editha looked thoughtful.
Il shouldn't wonder II that had some
thing to do with his quarreling with me.
II never struck me before
1T has often struck me-" said Sybil.
But then you are so much more worldly
wise than ] am. dear" This remark ad-
dressed by Lady Editha, forty years of
age. and handsome In a commanding
way, to the glittering morsel of human
loneliness before her. sounded almost RI
dicuious. but Il showed her appreciation
OF her daughters character. Sybil Travers
was one OF those feminine natures which
seem 70 have been born on the alert: not
that her manner suggested distrustful
or cynical mind. for she appeared all life
and toyousness A cousin of hers at
Elton. In writing her a love letter. had be-
gun It with the words: You little
duck!'-and he had hit her off to per-
lection 1t was the impression she in
variably conveyed to the masculine mind
She had an extraordinary gift for carry
Ing mirth wherever she went. and as a
consequence Of being an antidote even to
the most profound boredom she was al
ready enormously popular. although as
yet she had only been visible In the tran
sition stage between schoolroom and ball
room. Somebody once described her as
pocket Venus, which was quite absurd,
for It would not seem right to talk OF
Venus as sparkling. and Sybil Travers
was nothing IL not sparkling.
Perhaps. after ALL said Lady Editha.
the cravings of natural Affection"
Don't be silly, mamma. You know
perfectly well there's nothing natural
about Uncle Percy. But still, he must
save great deal OF money-and I've
never had q chance OF showing him how
fascinating ] can be-
You were beautiful child. but he
never took the least notice of you"
Have you any natural affection for
Uncle Percy, mammal"
We'll, after all. he's my brother"
You mean that If he hadn't been YOU
might not have disliked him SO much,'
Perhaps. Your father hated him."
What on earth does he want us to
meet his secretary for?'
He used to have quite mania for sec
retaries; the way they came and went
made one positively dizzy. but in those
days he always kept them in the back
ground"
"Well, are we to go. mamma-for of
course, shall go with your
~ don't know, I'm sure"
SYPHILIS smooth brow puckered with
thought.
II think. mamma, that II I were you