Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15


| dressing Christabe1. He seemed to feel that
| he was in danger Of getting out OF the character
OF an 1ndulgent parent, and added, with
| laugh, Unless, OF course, its confidential"
"Of course it's not that" she said. For all
| that she paraphrased the letter instead OF
reading it.
He says he can't keep the treasure that
! the reward belongs to me because l really
found it; and that he has brought it to me.
Of course that's nonsense" she commented.
Il didn't find it. ! just found out where it
was. And l don't in the least want it. He
says he hopes that won't object to his having
invested it for me IN stock OF the company.
That's about all, except that he wants me to
stock myself"
"What!' The word lett Beaumont's lips
like the report OF pistol.
He asks me quite seriously" Christabel re-
peated, to come to the meeting myself and
vote the stock. don't. quite see why. Well,
YES, do in a way"
Well, You are not going-of course:" If
the sentence started out to be command, It
had the grace at least to end itself like ques-
ton. Its perfectly clear why he wants you
to 60. He thinks he can persuade you to vote
that stock against me. It's enough if it was
voted against me to beat me-
She laughed outright in perfectly spontane.,.
Gus amusement, What an old goose you are
she said. why, Mr.. Smith knows whose side
I'm on. Unless he's perfectly raving mad,
he'd never dream Of my voting any way but
for you. Father, can't YOU understand! It's
just-it's just that he's beaten; Tor of course
he can't use the help I'd given him aeai inst
silly the way Pm putting it; but he's given me
the stock so that ne could surrender to me, IN
a way, instead OF to You. That's all. There
isn't word in his letter about how he wishes
I'd vote it, not even hint. He only asks me
quite seriously to be at the meeting
WELL, he's asking altogether too much!"
'" Beaumont had paid very little attention
to her explanation. He had risen from his
chair, and was pacing up and down the room
with an air of increasing agitation; Alto
gether too much he repeated. All my l1te
I've kept the mire of business away from you.
It's nothing woman understand It's
something | never wanted any OF my women
kind to be stained with Your mother lived
and died without"
II know" she interrupted softly; but it's
a little different with me, isn't it? Why, father
DEAR l can understand things l know men
have to fight. They have to see which one IS
the strongest. They've always done that since
the beginning Of the world, and women have
sat around at home and pretended it wasn't
so. And of course in every fight somebody
has to find out that somebody else IS stronger
than he is, and of course it's hard for him, and
he feels discouraged and poor, and has to sell
his automobile and begin again. Only, Mr..
Smith never had an automobile. But when
it's fight between men that play 1alr and take
defeat standing up, the way you and he do, 1t
doesn't seem wrong to me. Why, you have
been in business al your life, and You aren't
rrlirv!"
He made no reply; he seemed, indeed, to be
paying very little attention. After little
silence she went on:
He's beaten, and I'm sorry; but l wouldn't
have had it the other way about. You know
that. You know / fought your side. But
if he wants me to go to the meeting, think
will. He knows / understand. He asked me
the morning we saw the Pheasant coming in,
if should think any the worse OF him if he
had to be arrested, and put in Jail perhaps.
And told him that ! was just as sure that he
wouldn't do anything bad or dishonorable,
as / was sure that You wouldn't l sha'nt
be a bit shocked, father dear; ! shall under
stand"
He had again resumed his chair opposite
her; but his distracted stare and the nervous
drumming OF his fingers on the desk made her
doubt whether he had heard much Of what she
had been saying Even if he had, she had
evidently not succeeded in clearing up his per-
plexity
With her own hand she covered and quoted
his restless fingers, and her little caress was
successful at least in gaining for her his atten-
ton.
Father" she said Il wish you would tell
me what it is that troubles you. ] suppose you
think some things might be said against you
at that meeting that would distress me because
didn't understand them, because / didnt