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

really that Is not what | came To speak
of today At first. a; al eventS.'' h.,
added. with a sublime naivete as the sub
Ject OF his debts and his imperative want
of money rose before him. He must look
after his OWE interest. Stephens eyes
flashed: she saw more clearly than ever
through his purpose. Such admission
At the very outset Of the profYer OF mar
riage. which she felt was coming. was lit
Tie short of monstrous. Her companion
did not seq the look of mastery on her
face; lie WAS looking down At the mo-
ment \ true lover would have been
looking mp.
II wanted To tell You stephen that
nave peen thinking over what you said
I" me In Your letter and what you said
I'm words. and | want to accept AS he
was speaking ne was looking her straight
in the face.
Creak.
stephen answered slowly. with puz-
zled smile winch wrinkled UP her fore
head:
Accept what said in my letter, Why
Leonard. what do you mean" That letter
must have had lot more in il than
thought. seem, To remember that il was
simply Inc asking YOU to meet me. Just
. let me look atat: should like 10 he sure
of what it actually is" As she spoke
she held out her hand. Leonard was non
plussed: he did not know what to say
stephen made up her mind TO have the
letter back. Leonard was chatting under
the position forced upon him. and tried TO
divert his companion from her purpose.
He knew we'll why she had chosen that
exposed position for their interview.
Now. as her outstretc hed hand embar-
raised him. he made reprsal: he tried to
take 1t In his in a tender manner.
Creak. Squeak,
She instantly drew back her hand and
put it behind her in a decided manner
She was determined that whatever might
happen sle would not let any watcher at
the windows. by chance or otherwise see
any sign of tenderness on her part.
Leonard. thinking that his purpose had
been effected went on breathing more.
freely:
Your letter wasn't much. Except of
course. that II gave me the opportunity
of listening to what YOU said: 10 all your
sweet words. To your more than sweet
proposal
Creak. Creak.
Yes, 1t mus: have been sweet to have
any one wh3 was in a position to do so.
to offer TO help you when you knew that
you were overwhelmed with debt So The
words We're brutal. Stephen felt so but
she had no alternative. Fine feeling and
forbearance were thrown away on n man
who made love with n whip, I,eonlrd
had some of the hard side OF human ma
ture. but he had also some of the weak
side. He went on blindly:
Il have been thinking ever sipca OF
what you said. and | want 10 tell YOU
that l would like to do as you W sh," AZ
to be out of place. He felt that 1t would
be necessary to throw more fnrvor into
the proceedings. The sudden outburst
which followed actually amused Stephen.
! even in her state of fear:
"Oh, Stephen. don't you know that I
love you, You are so beautiful | love
you. / love you. Won't you be my
wife,"
This was getting too much to close
| quarters. Stephen said. in calm, bus
nesslike way:
my dear Leonard. one thing at a time!
[ came out here. you know. 10 speak OF
your debts, and until that is done l really
won't go into any other matter OF
course If you'd rather not . 80 Leon
ard really could not afford this: matters
We're too pressing with him. So he tried
| TO affect a CHEEKY manner, but In his
! heart was a black resolve that she should
! yet pay for this.
| "All right. Stephen. Whatever you
wish l will do: you are the queen of my
! heart. you know
How much is the total amount?' said
Stephen.
This was a change to the prosaic which
made sentiment impossible. He gave over.
for the time.
Go on" said Stephen. following up her
advantage. AS he still hesitated, she
spoke again:
Don't you even know how much you
owe?'
The fact is. I don't. Not exactly
shall make up the amount as we'll as
can and let YOU know. But that's not
what l came about today" Stephen was
going to make an angry gesture of dis
sent She was not going to have that
matter opened up. She had had quite
enough worry already today She
waited however. for Leonard was going
on speaking after his momentary pause.
She breathed more freely after his first
sentence. He was unable evidently TO
carry on a double train of thought
uhn hat i,ar al
lenders letters that the governor got"
Stephens anxiety lessened This omen
acknowledgment of his true purpose
seemed To clear the air. Blackmail is not
d pleasant thing TO face. but il was a re-
lief 10 Stephen from the continuance OF
that awful phase of loyemaking which
she had herself begun.
What is the amount" Leonard looked
quickly at her: the relief OF her mind
made her tone seem joyful.
"A monkey. Five hundred pounds. you
know. Eut then there's three hundred
for interest that has to be paid also. It's
an awful lot % money. isn't ill., The
last phrase was added on seeing Ste
phen's surprised look.
Yes" she answered. quietly "A great
deal of monrI-to waste, They were
both silent for a little while. Then she
said:
'Wha; does your father say 10 it?"
''He in an awful wax. One OF
these baastly dunS had written to him
about another account and he was in a
regular fury. When | told him | would
pay il within a week he said very little.
which was suspicious, and then. just
when / was going out. he sprung this on
me. Mean Of him, wasn't it? | need ex-
pect no help from him" As he was
speaking he took mass of letters from
his pockets and bagan to look among
them for the money-lendcrs' letter.
why. what correspondence you have
there. Do you keep all your letters In
Il
"All | don't tear up or burn. 1t wouldn't
do To let the governor into my secrets. He
might know too much
And are all these letters from duns?"
MOSTLY. but l only keep those letters I
have 10 attend to and those care for"
Show me the bundle" she said. Then
seeing him hes tate. added:
You know if / am To help YOU To get
clear you must taxi me into your conf
dence. l dare say | shall have to see a
lot more letters than these" III or tone
was too quiet. knowing already the 81
len; antagoniSm between them he began
to suspect her and knowing. also. that
her own letter WAS not among them. he
used his wits and handed them over Ia
her without "A word She. too. suspected
him. After his tacit refusal to give her
the letter. she almost took il for granted
that IL was not among them She gave
no evidence of her feeling. however. but
opened and read the letters In due Sc
quenC": all save two which being In
female hand she gave back To him with
out word. There WAS "A calmness and
an utter absence Of concern. much less
Of jealousy. about this which d sconcert