Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14

turings and the eyeglass of that internal
old woman. 1 don't intend
Stephen stood up, her hand upon the
gong.
Mr.. Everard. if you do not remember
that you are in my drawing room. and
speaking of my dear and respected aunt,
l shall not detain You lonser!"
He sat down at once, saying surlily:
make me so wild that-that =" He
chewed the ends of his mustache angrily.
She resumed her seat. taking her hand
from the gong. Without further pause
she continued:
"Quite right, It has been Miss Rowly
who paid your debts. At first I had
promised myself the pleasure, but from
something in your speech and manner she
thought it better that such an act should
not be done by woman in my position
public. have created wrong impression
in the minds of many of our friends"
There was something like a snort from
Leonard. She ignored it.
so she paid the money herself out of
her own fortune. And, indeed, must say
with much gratitude. When an old lady
took away the incubus from a young
mans life an incubus which he had him.
self bound there by his willful thought
lessness. and perhaps his wrongdoing:
when she set him free from obligations
that might later on have crushed him.
that would certainly thwart his ambitions
and might possibly ruin him; who pre-
served. SO far as she could. his good
name. and all this to the tune Of a good
many thousands Of pounds. well. he ought
thenceforth to speak of her with respect.
Certainly to her relatives!" Leonard S
curiosity was aroused; he wished for flu
ture purposes to know exactly where and
how he stood in the matter. so he ven
tured on another question:
"Wlat did / saw do that nut YOU Off
doing the thing yourself?"
Il had intended to avoid. If possible.
giving any reason. But since you have,
with your masculine directness. put the
question to me. l shall answer it frankly:
1t was because you manifested. several
times, in manner there was no mistak-
ing. both by words and deeds, an inten-
ton of levying blackmail on me by using
your knowledge of my ridiculous. I'M
maidenly act. No one can despiSe or de-
plore or condemn that act more than I
do; so that rather than yield a single
point to you. l am. If necessary, ready to
face the odum which the public knowl-
edge of it might produce. What 1 had
intended to do for you in the way Of
compensation for false hopes raised to
you by that act has now been done. That
it was done by my aunt on my behalf,
and not by me, matters to you no more
they received the money. made no COM
plant of injury to their feelings on that
account.
Now. when you think the whole matter
over in quietness. you will. knowing that
l am ready at any time to face. if neces-
sary. the unpleasant publicity, be able to
estimate what damage you would do to
yourself by any expose. 1t seems to me
that you would come out of it pretty
badly all round. That. however. is not
my affair; it entirely rests with yourself.
/ think 1 know how women would regard
1T. 1 dare say you best know how men
would look at it. and at you.'
Leonard knew already how the only
man who knew of it had taken it. and
the knowledge did not reassure him!
you jade. You internal. devilish, cruel.
smooth-tongued jade" He stood up as
he spoke. She stood up. too. and stood
watching him with her hand on the
gong. After a pause of couple of
seconds she said. gravely:
Zone other thing / should wish to say.
and 1 mean it. Understand me clearly.
that 1 mean it," Her appearance left no
doubt as to that, even if her words or
the tone in which they were spoken. left
any doubt. Her great black eyes blazed,
but with a cold glare. like moonlight over
a snowfieId You must not come again
into my grounds without my special per-
mission in each case. l shall not allow
my liberty to be taken away or restricted
come to the house, come in ceremonious
fashion. by the avenues which are used
by others. If you are hunting, and the
hunt comes over or near my grounds. you
can have the same freedom as the others.
so long as you do not abuse il. You see.
1, have thought the matter over. and have
arranged for the contingencies of neigh
borly life. You can always speak to me
in public. or socially. in the most friendly
manner; as / shall hope to be able to
speak to you. But you must never trans
gresS the ordinary rules of decorum. If
you do. l shall have to take, for my own
protection, another course. / know you
now, 1 am willing to blot out the past,
but it must be the whole past that is
wiped out!''
She stood facing him. and as he looked
at her clear-cut aquiline face. her steady
eyes. her resolute mouth. her carriage,
mastery in it's self-posessed poise. he
saw that there was no further hope for
him. There was no love and no fear.
You devil," he Kissed
She struck the gong; her aunt entered
the room.
"Oh. is that you. auntie? Mr.. Everard
has finished his business with mel" Then
to the servant, who had entered after
Miss Rowly:
MIR. Everard would like his carriage
BY the way" she added turning to. him
in friendly way as an afterthohght,
will you not stay. Mr.. Everard, and take
lunch with us? My aunt has been rather
moping lately; / am sure your presence
would cheer her up"
Yes. do stay, Mr.. Everard!" added
Miss 'Rowly. placidly. 1T would make a
pleasant hour for us ALL"
Leonard, with a great effort, said with
conventional poiteness:
Thanks, awfully, But I promised my
father to be home for lunch!" and he
withdrew to the door. which the servant
held open.
He went out filled with anger and de-
spair. and. sad for him. with fierce
overmastering desre-love he called it
for the clever. proud imperious beauty
who had so outmatched and crushed him.
That beautiful red head. which he had
at first so deSpised. - was henceforth to
blaze in his dreams.'
CHAPTER xxi.
The Man.