The Washington herald., 1908-05-29


easily things happen to help a man down
ward, how the forces which are operat-
ing in the direction Of degeneration seem
70 be always on the alert 20 grant any
reasonable wish which may tend to keep
man earthbound. while the spiritual
forces only whisper from the stars in
faint, agonized voices, and are seldom
ready with the lucky incident, the fortui-
tous chance. 20 turn the tide IN their di-
rection. Here was a young man who
had wished that for five years he could
sin without limit. Immediately some
wretched thing had prompted him 10 men
ton Won Tarsenheim Won Tarsenheim
having made limitless sin a possibility,
the young man had come to Paris, and
found a woman who seemed 70 have
been calmly waiting during several
months for just such q victim.
Lord Ancestor tried 20 shut hts eyes
TO what Vandrakens life with her must
be-the awful degradation Of il, its soul
soiling effect. For while Lord Ancestor
was man without "A creed or a religion,
he firmly believed that there was an un-
known quantity connected with life, and
a god or gods, a power or powers. who
juggled with men in some great game
whose stakes were beyond mems little
comprehensions.
The world was clearly either an acci-
dent or a design. II an accident. Il
could not have lasted so long without
smash: il a design. there must be a de-
signer-and why had he designed one
kind OF animal entirely beyond all the
others. and different in life. II that ami
mai was 20 be equal IN death?
It seemed TO him that the odds were all
in favor Of some sort Of after-life: and
50 he worried about Vandraken. and tried
his best. but without eject. 70 neutraIize
the chain OF consequences his idle words
had launched into creation.
He had not been able TO come 10 Paris
with Vandraken. but had followed fort
night later, 20 find the Cobra in full pos
session. and the palace already the talk
Of Paris Then. after staying a week
and finding ne could do nothing. he had
returned 10 keep an engagement 70 shoot
IN Scotland. IL was one OF these houses
where the hostess paired her guests with
a studied Indifference 10 the moral code
but as she was too slap-dash 10 keep
closely IN touch with the fckle amOurs
OF all her friends. she sometimes con-
fined in a remote Highland castle. IN the
same corridor. two souls with but = sin
gle thought. and that thought how 70
see each others face no more.
Lord Ancestor found that Lady Donoyle
had, as usual. been assigned to him. They
met in the corridor. and laughed over H.
The fires Of temptation again. Riviei"
laughed Lady Donoyle, on their way
down % the drawing room, through the
endless stone passages. IT'S funny that
our hostess. who is the most ackle Of
-reFfFe a Of rrff p
bounclsss fidelity. This Is the fifth year
she has tried 20 lead US astray."
she could hardly be expected 10 know
OF that dreary habit which you call
your morals, could she?'. he answered.
Il wonder how many Of your friends
give you credit for *? Turn to the left
that's the haunted corridor"
With hair Ike mine, and a husband
Ike mine. you can't blame them II they
guess wrong" replied the lady.
How is he?" growled Lord Ancestor.
Broken his neck yet? Does he still
imagine he is an angel?"
"Oh, yes" she answered They have
made a pair Of wings for him now, and
he is quite happy. HIS last idea Is that
he is the Angel GABRIEL he blows a
coaching horn and flaps his wings. It
would be comic IL II wasn't tragic You
may smoke a cigarette with me in my sit
ting-room tonight. Il you care 20
RIVE; usual rules and regulations. Of
course.
At Cai,loch Castle it was the custom
that the shooting party should not as
semble in the smOking-rOom the night
befoEe the 18th Of August, so il was easy
for Lord Ancestor 70 accept Lady Do
noyle's invitation.
Their rooms were In one Of the old
wings Of the castle. Lady Donoyles sit
ting-room had once been the state bed
room, and had a vaulted ceiling and a
huge fireplace in which great logs were
burning brightly. Lady DOnOyle had got
into a blue tea gown. and was arranging
little table with decanters and sy-
phon as Ancestor entered,
There were no lights except two can
dies on the mantel: their feeble flame and
the wealth Of glow from the wood fire
only lit up one end Of the great shadow
at the darkened portion OF the chamber
the woman with the glorious redgold
hair, bending so intimately among the
decanters, seemed 70 be taking part in
play in which he was cast for the low
er's part
There is nothing which makes a man
yearn so greatly over a woman as the
knowledge that she holds an answer 10
his passion under p wistful control There
is nothing he values so much as the
knowledge OF Il: there is nothing he so
greatly longs TO test as the strength OF
It.