Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-10

he reflected that Cammarleigh had told
him that he was incapable OF sincerity.
that he was simply in love with his own
poStures.
Sybil Travers read the challenge and
accepted IL: that is to say, she gave him
to understand by the subtle process
known to lovers. which is utterly impos-
Sible of transcription, that she also was
prepossessed: that as he was only man
he might offer up his heart a burning
sacrifice on the altar of love. but that
woman she intended to get the very
highest price she could for her wares. al
though not averse to inhaling gratefully
the perfume that arose from the burning
Of Anthony's sacrifices.
You are ambitious said Anthony
Sybil gave silvery laugh.
How strange you should associate me
with ambition! / don't think / ever
thought of anything so serious Never
theless, she felt that youth who could
detect her real shape beneath the con-
ventional coating was to be reckoned
with.
"All the same. you are ambitious.
"I don't quite know in what way women
can be ambitious
THAT in itself is most ambitious re-
mark. for it shows that You are pro-
foundry dissatisfied with the limitations
of your sex"
II don't think ! am" she said. Il only
want to enjoy myself"
"Yes, but believe yours to be a mind
which will make provision for something
beyond mere enjoyment"
You are describing me as an altogether
serious person. and I'm not sure that it is
very fiattering.
mo. don't suppose women like to he
called serious. They realize that they
are in danger, of being found out.
do you think, Mr.. Brooke, that women
have ever really been found out?'' -
Anthony looked at her in amaZement
It was one of the most wonderful re-
marks he had ever heard from so young
girl.
said
Both Sybil and her mother had in
stinctively felt from the first that An
thony was vagabond and adventureY.
and, like women. at once fell in love with
the rake who wore what were. no doubt,
the rags of reputation so gracefully. His
tacit admission that with them lay his
making or undoirg pleased them. and.
feeling that he was not likely to discredit
any effort they made for his advance
ment, they were fully ranged on his side.
Yes. Anthony, it was very clear, under
stood women.
"You believe in pleasure?" asked Sybil.
Everybody believes in pleasure. Per-
sonally. I believe in all emotion. People
are SO foolish; they see a BODY exhausted
with emotion and they talk as If the pos
SCISSOR of that body had made a failure
of his life. just they think a rosy
checked old gentleman of a hundred has
been physical success. After all. there
must have been something wrong with
the Imagination of centenarianS
What would you describe as perfect
ly successful life?"
"A life which has loved and wept to the
full of it's capacity. 1t is destructive OF
the personal appearance. but personal APP
pearance is only of relative Importance
after you are thirty. and for you and me
thirty will never come
The door opened and the Duke of Frant
was announced.
The Duke of Frant small and anaemic.
but who compelled belief in his eminently
distinguished appearance just because he
was duke. bowed to Anthony and gave
him weak smile.
Anthony felt instinctively that Sybil
had made up her mind to marry the duke.
lust as he felt that she had not the least
partially for him. AS matter OF tact.
she had decided upon the Duke of Frant
when she was still in the nursery. She
had not lost sight of him during his Eton
days, although she had found it infinitely
pleasanter to flrt with his schoolfellows.
The duke. quite believing that he was
sure to get her in the end did not mind
this very much. He had been brought up
to believe that, short of royal princess
in which case he might have had TO eX-
ert himself somewhat-the selection of a
wife was a pure matter of his own taste.
Providing that he chose her outside
lunatic asylum he did not expect more
than mere maidenly coyness.
Sybil had already been proposed to by
German prince. whose assets were three
sides of a ruined castle halfway up an al
most inaccessible mountain. Hers was
not a character, however TO snatch at
the shadow for the substance. and she
realized that to the English social palate
nothing can be better than a duke. Be-
sides. the Frant assets were very tangi-
BILE and their possessor was real power.
The Duke of Frant did not take tea
Hardly anybody does take tea in this
country" said Anthony. In fact. there
are very few palates which know what
tea Is.
The duke looked at Anthony with just
the slightest raising of his eyebrows. In
telligent conversation when ii was uncon-
nected with racing or politics seemed to
him lacking in taste. There was always
the chance that some of the company
might find themselves out of their depth.
He made no reply to Anthonys state
ment: he was waiting for him 10 go. But
Anthony was in no hurry. He knew per-
fectly we'll that the physical and mental
comparison in SYPHILIS eyes must be all in
his own favor. so he talked On in an en-
tirely outrageous manner till the duke
wondered If he We're mad.
Sybil, womanlike, encouraged Anthony
to do his best. She was not sorry TO have
even an absolutely ineligible young man
to play off against the duke. and by the
time Anthony rose to go his grace vas in
a high state of irritation with him for
taking the lead in the conversation and
boiling brilliantly across a country yhere
ne was utterly unable to follow lie was
much treasured on hearing that he was
only Lord Cammarleigh,s secretary. After
all, he reflected, Anthony could not pos
sibly be taken seriously. and seer stary
might be allowed to talk well. even If, al
a rule. his handwriting is unr-adable.
(To be continued tomorrow