Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09


have to work In the evenings. But you
mustn't think of marriage just yet. ANA
when you do. you mustn't leave me. 1ou
must bring him round some day-pernaps
] can keep YOU both with me. l don
want to lose you.
The girls eyes glittered and. though
she did not speak. the look on her face
was eloquent of gratitude. Then she left
hind her.
Five years had left their mark on the
face and character of Lady Betty Drake.
She was no longer young when Sir Rich
life had given her all the glow and
strength of youth. Now she was white
faced and distinctly middle-aged For
five years she had spared neither body
nor brain in her work among the poor
of London.
the East End she built home of refuge
for the lowest and most miserable of her
own sex. and there she started a work
that was destined to place her name
among the list of those women who have
left their mark on the world.
Lady Betty only allowed herself a few
seconds OF reverie after the departure of
Alice Carter. The episode of the two
her mental balance. But she soon re-
gained her businesslike composure and.
rising from her seat. took down letter
file from the shelf. Then she drew out a
piece of pale blue handmade paper. and
opened the letter out on the desk before
her. She read 1t through carefully again
and again. 1t ran as follows:
Dear Madam: Failing the discovery
of q certain person within the next two
months we shall have a large sum of
cause which you have so much at heart.
We have been debating whether to use
it in a fresh venture on similar lines to
the one which you have started. or
hot 70 fr fha oyofn ypa ~
q scheme which is already working con-
Germ and which has an organization to
deal with those who are to benefit by the
legacy. Although nothing definite can
yet be settled. as the term named In the
will has not yet expired. we should like
to have the pleasure of few words with
you. II convenient to you, Mr.. John Sarl.
jr.. who Is one Of the trustees. will call
on you at o'clock on Thursday next.
I'VE have the honor to remain, yours
obediently.
JOHN SARL & SON.
In reply to this Lady Betty had written
to say that she would be pleased to see
Mr.. John Sarl. jr., at $3.50 pm.
She was now awaiting his arrival. She
had no intention Of falling in with any
scheme which would take the reins out
of her own hands, but she was well aware
that her own income was quite insuH-
cient for the great task that lay before
her, and she shrank from an appeal to
public charity. 1t was possible that she
might be able to accept this money. or
else be of assistance to those who had
the handling of It.
At $50 to the minute Mr.. John Sarl. jr..
was announced. He was a small, thin
faced man. and Lady Betty was relieved
to find that he was we'll advanced In
years. The term Junior had suggested
to her a smart young sprig OF a LAWYER,
matters at all freely. This man, however.
could not have been a day under fifty,
and was probably nearer sixty. HIS mar
was almost white, and there were deep
lines about his mouth and eyes.
This Is a great honor. / assure you.
he said, after the preliminary greetings
had passed between them. "a great honor
to have the privilege of talking to you,
Lady Betty. l think we explained our,
selves In the letter we ventured to send
to you. 1t occurred to us that something
might be done--yes. certainly something
might be DONE"
Il understand you have not got this
money yet?"
mo no. I fear not-that is to say. 1
hope not. A most unfortunate case. Lady
Betty, most unfortunate. 1t was left by
our late client to his sister. II she could
be found At the time of his death he
had not seen her for ten years. She had
left home-the DID, sad story, fear. You
have heard it often
Every often"
I'VE have advertised every day for five
years: we have employed detectives-a
sad waste of money, 1 fear-so mucn
gone out of the estate but necessary and
proper expenditure. We have heard MOTH
ing Of the missing woman. l fear she Is
dead. but perhaps not, perhaps not. Inc
world is a large place. and even London.
so much might have happened to her In
these fifteen years..
How terriblew said Lady Betty. slow
". perhaps the poor thing Is starving.
and with all this money waiting for her.
fr~ry ou
power We could do no more. Yes. there
is half a million pounds waiting for her"
Half a million?"
Eyes, nearly that. A lot Of good could
be done with it: Lady Betty Perhaps 1t
came into 1t, or some drunken husband
we'll. maybe, 1t is all for the best. But
to come to the point. Lady Betty l
think we expressed our views In the let
ter. Now. what do you say to our pro-
posal?''
.'The money would be very useful. -
Lady Betty replied. my own money is
tied up and 1 can only use the income.
There is so much work to be done 1t
frightens me to think of It, This home.
as perhaps you know. is only center.
We have others In the country-even
abroad in the colonies. Eventually they
will become self-supporting At Least.
REQUIRE money. There is room for ten
times as many. I take the women from
their surroundings, give them something
to live for, teach them how to earn an
honorable living, and when they leave
they are strong enough to fight against
evil"
Good. very good. but the past-the
stain cannot be washed out. Lady
Betty"
"It is washed out. Mr.. Sarl. at least
so far as the world Is concerned. Our
homes are not branded with any name
They are refugees for the destitute, even
social clubs. but they are not known Ia as
being homes for q particular class. The
woman who enters our doors leaves her
past behind her. Often she energies with
another name. She becomes good
worker an honorable woman. sometimes
even a faithful wife.
"A wife? You do not mean to say
Yes" she interrupted. sharply. why
not? Is only man to be given chance
of true happiness?" And as the words
came from her lips she thought OF 81
Richard Gaunt.
.'Of course, of course" Mr. Sarl replied
gently. VERY proper-ah. you are the
sort Of woman we want In the world
Lady Betty. II we could only pull to-
gether You ought to have the handling
of this money. Now. can't we nix ul
something's"
Are you willing, to place 1T absolutely
The lawyer looked on the carpet and
traced out a pattern with his umbrella.
Not quite that. I'm afraid. he said
after a pause. mo. that would hardly bt
proper or businesslike. Lady Betty. woulo
it? 1t would be unusual. and DON
think quite according to the testator's
ideas. But II we could combtne-if, say