Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-28
CHAPTER XIII.
Great News Indeed.


Great News Indeed.
The unnatural calmncss which Eva had
shown at the funeral was noticeable Tor
the rest of the day. Sadie had looked Tor
A relapse on the return to the Towers;
but after the one outburst in the car
riage, she maintained just the same col
lected spiritless manner.
She spoke of Jack and his death without
sign of emotion. He might have been
no more than dear friend. And In the
same level way she referred to her meet
ing with Don Stuart.
There was time when 1t would have
upset me to meet him; but that all over.
I was glad to see him once more, and yet
in way i think l am sorry. ] asked him
to come to the Towers. 1t all seems so
different Of course, Jacks death has
altered 1t ALL she said once, in a matter
Of-fact way.
Il shall have to find something to rouse
you.
Am I dull? 1 don't want to be. But
it doesn't matter. Nothing matters now"
When Don Stuart came, she received
him with the same outward indifference
You look stronger, Don, and older.
hope you are doing we'll
Yes, l am doing we'll" His heart
was wrung with the pity he could not
put into words nor keep out of his eyes.
do you see much change in me. Don?'
A ii
calm as this?" Not knowing, he thought
the change was due to unhappiness
caused by Lord Broadstone's fll-treat-
ment.
She smiled-a faint. weary smile. II
have never been more contented than I
am now. 1 think l might say never
happier.
'Happier?" he cried.
"Oh, no; not for the reason YOU are
thinking. Not because I am my Lady
Broadstone I should have had that kind
of happiness if they had let me marry
you. But in another way I am happy
now
He could not speak for the fire of feel
ing kindIed by her words.
''You don't understand. But you will
soon. Everybody will. My dear new
friend Margaret Hutchinson-you saw
her at the grave OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
who is she?" he asked, really at loss
how to answer her.
IAN angel. think; certainly as dear a
friend as could have found In my lone
illness. She has done me only one I'M
kindness since she came She would not
let me die in the hours Of darkness after
Jacks death"
Eva
She nursed me back TO the conscious
ness of misery. But only for time, thank
heaven
Its enough to break mans heart to
why. Don, how foolish you are. Every
body wants me gone, and not single
reason is there why l should stay. Ber-
tram and 1 no longer pretend that our
marriage was anything but mistake.
Jack was the one tie that made me care
to live. And now he has gone
oh. this is beyond bearing he cried,
getting up and pacing the room. Some
thing must be done
''Impulsive as ever, Don," she said,
watching him with a smile. Cant you
see that my death is the only way out?
Please heaven. it will not be long either.
n uh hpr
at Broadstone would be. The dreariness,
the misery. the emptiness. When / think
of it | shudder with lOathing. There is
no other way to happiness for me, Dom"
Yes, there is. One other way, Eva,
lie burst out. impetuously. Passion had
Joined forces with pity now and goaded
him till the bonds of restraint gave. Il
love YOU ever. Come to me. Give up
all this to the man who wants your
money and let me work for YOU.
There was a long silence. Eva sat star
ing out blankly in front of her, not a
trace of emotion on her face nor in her
eyes.
II am sorry you have said that. Don"
she replied. collec,edly. Il would not
Lave done it had Jack been alive. and l
could not so dishonor his death. He knew
how ] loved you'll love you still just the
same. But If you had asked him. do you
think he would have had ii so? No. you
know that. | must go 10 him innocent of
wrong, Don, or l could never face him
at ALI
Forgive me. but l was desperate at the
sight OF your misery. Eva" lie cried. bit
terlV repenting his ou;burst.
But j am not miserable DON she re-
piled. smiling again. Il am going to be
quite happy. And you must go.
Your words have parted us, dear. don't
blame YOU. But we shall not meet again -
Il can't leave you like this. I cannot -
Jack would wish it. You must so. Don.
Goodbye.
Strong he was, the tears were in his
,l.,..
bent to kiss it. but she drew it hurriedly
away. NO. Don. not that. God bless
you,'
Before he left the Towers he asked for
Sadie; but she would not see him lest he
should guess her secret. She had returned
TO Eva, who telling her freely what
had passed.
The experiment of bringing him to
BToddStone had failed to rouse Eva from
her apathy; but it had justified her in
making fl Don would gladly welcome the
chance of making Eva his wife. and Sadie
gathered enough from Eva to feel con-
tdent that. when the truth told and
she could so to Don in all innocence. she
would go
Il think I have never before quite real
lied how Eve must have felt when she
returned to the gates of Eden and found
The way blocked. l was sorely dazzled,
Margaret. The gates OF ar earthly Eden
opened" paused and sighed
heavily-'and only dear Jack stopped me
from passing in. Ii almost made me wish
10 HVe-ony almost though; and the
sigh changed TO a weary smile.
III the bar could but he removed said
Sadie. quietly.
All There was no mistaking the in
tense feeling behind the exclamation. The
Frightening of the face and the light in
the eyes spoke of the possibilities of hap
pinesS so 4lgerly craved, so longingy ap-
preciated. earnestly and Solemnly re-
nounced. How YOU can move me- Mar
Saret, But don't ever speak of it again,
please. If YOU love me-
long silence fell between them az
Sadie sat thinking how To tell the news
and when-what Eva would think of the
part she had played. and how she would
bear the telling.
With a hesitation quite foreign TO her,
Sadie shrank from the task now that tile
moment for it had come She would put
i, off until the morrow. and until Eva
l,rI l,od ina W hat