Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

Anthony felt that subconsciouSiy Syoll
understood him. and, what was more re-
markable considering her brtnging-up.
that she appreciated him. In fact, they
thoroughly appreciated each other. Had
1t been otherwise they would, instead OF
with charming and unusual philosophy
accepting the situation, have been calling
each other selfish and heartless and ex-
employing their own individual selfish
ness by each calling upon the other to
give up all worldly advancement and
cheerfuly face poverty and hardship for
loves sake: indeed. Anthony put 1t to
Sybil very seriously whether they ought
not to go through the usual formula. but
at the mere idea they laughed unrestrain-
edly.
There was one thing Sybil did not un-
derstand about Anthony; indeed, NOT
knowing what marvellous successes ne
had lately had in the world of unreality
and romance how could she? What she
did not grasp was his determination TO
fight for her till she was actually
Duchess of Frant. The usual common.
place lover would crudely have Informed
her of this fact. thereby filling her with
feminine pleasure in the knowledge that
she would have two lovers, at any rate
as far as the altar steps. Besides. she
would be on the defensive. Anthony
holds the most strongly fortified position
In art or nature.
When they had finished saying good
bye they sat down, and jSybil poured out
some more tea, while Anthony cut an
other piece of cake, whereat George gave
a soueal of relief and stood on his hind
legs.
Sybil was very anxious to ask Anthony
for some information on the subject OF
his birth. but she found 1t even more DIM
cult than folly had done Toby had only
to surmount the presumed ignorance OF
childhood Sybil would have to glide un-
observed through the complicated re-
straints imposed on her by her sex.
Anthony realized what her object was
before she had begun and played win
love. A little cruelty seasons love won
derfully, at any rate to the epicure.
DO you know that people say very
strange things about you?" she asked.
IL am sure they do. he answered; i
am personality. and I require explana-
ton" And he began to talk Of some
Again and again Sybl brought the
conversation back in the hope of inducing
him to return to the subject: out ne
she was really reduced to high state OF
nerves by the manner in which he baked
her, she said, irritably:
II told you the other evening that there
was mystery ABOUT you, anu 6ni QUIZ
there is"
Anthony gave her the benefit OF a
glance from his wide-open eyes
Eyes. there is a mystery. I should say
that it was the most extraordinary mys-
terry that could be imagined"
docs anybody know it?''
NO" said Anthony, nobody. Would
you believe it if 1 told you that l found
magic wand lying in Grosvenor
Square,"
Yes, if you showed it to me" -
II won't do that. but one of these days
there will be somebody that l shall show
it to-
And who will that be ?"
MY wife" Anthony made the remark
lightly, as a sort Of revenge in jest for
the. fact that she was about to marry
another man. but as soon as he had made
it some vague conviction that he had
found the weapon he wanted entered his
mind. why he could not say. With ready
genius he had realized that woman's
strongest passion is curiosity.