Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-01
CHAPTER XVI.
A Present Of Chocolates.

Lord Broadstones attentions to Eva
Increased as the days passed. She found
N him lover woong with the ardor Of
passion, instead of husband who had
treated her with neglect and Indifference
In ail the months of their married life
He studied her whms sedulously, and
sought to anticipate her wishes in every
thing. Sumptuous presents were ordered
down from London and he never saw her
without taking her something of the
kind; and everything was chosen to sup
ply some want she might chance to ex-
press or he should discover.
Sadie was not forgotten. either. He
was shrewd enough to know-or some one
was Shrewd enough to tell him-that Eva
would have more delight in a present
given to her friend than to herself. and
Sadie was almost embarrassed by the
profuSiOn of his gifts.
II have done you gross injustice in
the past: you must accept this or / shall
fear am never to be forgiven he told
her more than once. when she had tried
to refuse his peace offering. In many
ways he included Sadie in the campaign
TO win Eva's confidence and regard
He was unremitting in his efforts to ar
range pleasan outings for Eva, and Sadie
found the utmost difficulty in refusing to
accompany them.
You must come. Miss Hutchinson he
urged. when they were going for full
days drive. Eva wishes it-and Eva's
wish is law. you know. You are our
friend-yes, my friend as much as hers.
Do let me say that. for on my honor I
feel it. l hate myself when I think how
behaved to you. You never come with
us. you know. 1t will cheer her up. She
is still brooding over poor Jacks death.
wean her thoughts away from that NOR
bid sorrow"
But Sadie would not She was unwill-
ing to be more in his company than
necessary. She had heard from Eva that
his talk turned constantly upon America
and his life there. and she was afraid
lest by some slip of hers his suspicious
about her identity might be started.
Sadie was indeed in state of great
perplexity. She had had the anonymous
letter sent to Lord Broadstone from Lon
don; but so far nothing had come Of it.
She had detected no difference in his
manner. carefully as she had looked for
it.
1t was true that Dorrison had left
Broadstone, but he had gone before the
letter could have reached the Towers.
The two men had not met, therefore. since
its arrival.
In the meanwhile, Eva was certainly
ailing. DIR. Bradford had seen her. but
had treated the matter as of no impor-
lance. The result of the shock of her
brothers death and the reaction due to
the forthcoming event which had so
changed everything at the Towers, was
his verdict.
But Sadie was nervous and apprehen-
sive. and yet utterly at loss what to do
To hint her suspicious to Eva was i'm
possible. She was so delighted at the
change in Broadstone that the merest
suggestion would have been secuted as a
sheer impossibility. with the almost GER
tain result that Sadie would have had
to leave the Towers
Dorrfson had been away a week but his
absence had made no difference, either in
Broadstone's attentions to Eva or in her
growing indisposition She continued to
lose her color: her appetite failed: she
was subject to nausea: and her spirits
alternated between excessive brightness
and intolerable depression. Even the
mention of her little one would fail to
rouse or cheer her at times
Once more Sadie found herself forced
to face the urgent necessity OF avowing
herself in order to remove Eva from be-
yond Lord Broadstone's reach. Yet the
task was infinitely harder and more en-
barrassing than ever.
Absorbed in thoughts Of the kind she
was starting for a walk in the park on
the day when Eva and Broadstone had
gone for their long drive. and was cross
Ing the hall when she noticed postal
packet on the table. She was expecting
one and glanced at the address 1t was
for Lord Broadstone addressed in Dor
rison's handwriting.
(To be continued tomorrow