Evening star., 1909-04-14

among those CeIts of the outlying fringes,
among whom racial tendencies remain un-
altered by changing circumstances. and
by whom traditions are preserved not by
historical purposes but by the exercises of
faith. know that there is something
which has name but no external bounds
or limitations, no quick principle no set
tied purpose. Something which to an alien
idea can at all be arrived at by such-any
Idea. however rudimentary. phantasmal
or vague-it can only be acquired at all by
a process OF exclusion. The name Is ''The
Gloom: the rest is q birthright. Those
who can understand 1t need no telling or
explaining; others can no more understand
1t than those born without ewes can see.
1t is quality opposed to no other; it can
exist with any. 1t can co-exist with fight
ing, with song, with commerce. 1t makes
no change In other powers or qualities Of
the children of Adam. Those who pos
sess 1t can be good or bad. clever or silly,
heroic or mean. 1t can add force to i'm
agination. understand nature. give quiet
those who have it do not think Of it or
even know 1t; or. II they do. hardly ever
speak Of 1t.
Athlyne had his full share Of it. Being
young and strong and Of a class In life
which seldom lacks amusement, he had
the same. though he did not think of 1t,
the force was there. In his present emo
tional crisis 1t brought the lover in him up
to the Celtic ideal-an ideal so strangely
saturated with love that his whole being.
his aims and ambitions. his hopes and
fears. his pleasures and pains yielded
place to 1t and for the time became
merged In It, To him the whole world
seemed to revolve round Joy as pivotal
point. Nothing could be of any use or in
terest which did not have touch Of her or
lead to her. So. he wanted to know be-
yond the mere measure of intellectual be-
lief II Joy loved him or was on the way
to doing so. When he was satisfied as to
this he would be free to act: but not be-
fore.
On the journey he had allowed the
chauffeur to drive. as he wanted to think
over the matter without fear of Interrupt
from time to time notes in his pocket
book. He had now made up his mind
that he would write q letter to Col. Cgilvie
telling him the whole circumstances. This
he would keep In his pocket so that at the
first moment when he was satisfied as to
joys views he could post 1t. in case he
could not have the opportunity OF per-
sonal explanation. After dinner the sec
ond night of the journey and then In his
bedroom he sat up writing the letter and
then copying 1t out on his own note paper
OF which he had for the purpose brought
q supply with him. When It was COM
pleted 1t left nothing that he could think
of open to doubt. When he had got this
off his mind sleep came to him:
Next day he took the wheel himself:
and that day when there. was fitting OPP
portunity the car hummed along merrily
at top speed. Before sunset they had ar
rived at Bowness. There he left the car
in charge of the chauffeur. on whom he
again impressed the necessity for absolute
silence. The man was naturally discreet.
and he saw that he was In a good situa-
tion Athlyne was satisfied on leaving
him that his orders. would be thoroughly
carried out.
In the forenoon of the next day he took
the steamer which plies along the lake.
and in due course landed at Ambleside.
His heart beat quickly now and his eyes
searched keenly all around him as he
moved He would not miss chance OF
seeing Joy.