Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04

C1teO ClanOr OF welcome ana inquiry, StOOu
rooted to the floor by her friends words.
IL am so surprised" she half SIAM
mered in agony of confused doubt and that
was the only lame phrase she could utter during
u few trying seconds.
Bower frowned. He hated scenes between
women With his first glimpse of Mllicent he
guessed her errand. For 'Helen's sake, in the
presence of that rabbit cared crowd. he would
not brook the unmerited flood of sarcasm that
he knew trembling her lips.
Miss Wynton has had an exhausting day."
he said coolly. She must go straight to her
room and rest. You two can meet and talk
after dinner" Without further preamble, he
took Helen's arm.
Millicent barred the way. She did not give
place Again she paid no heed to the man.
. shall not detain you long" she said, looking
only at Helen. and speaking in low clear voice
that her stage training rendered audible
assure myself that what l told was true.
l found it hard to believe. even when l saw
your name written at the hotel. Before l go,
| let me congratulate you on your conquest
| and Mr. Mark Bower on his" she added with
clever pretense of afterthought
| Helen continued to stare at her heTplessly.
Her lips quivered: but they uttered no sound.
! 1t impossible to misunderstood Millicent's
object. She meant to wound and insult in the
grossest way.
Bower dropped Helen's arm and strobe close
to the woman who had struck this shrewd blow
at him. 81 give you this one chance" he NUT
tered, while his eyes blazed into hers. Go to
your room or sit down somewhere till / am
Tree! shall come to you, and put things
straight that now seem crooked. You are
wrong horribly wrong. IN your suspicious
Wait my explanation. or, by all that | hold
sacred, you will regret it to your dying hour -
Millicent drew back little. She conveyed
the suggestion that his nearness was offensive
to her nostrils And she laughed. with due
semblance of real amusement What! Has
she made fool of you too?" she cried bitingly.
THEN Helen did exactly the thing she ought
/ not to have done. She tainted.
| Spenser, in his own vivid phrase, was look
ing for trouble" the instant he caught sight of
the actress. Had some Mahatma devised
magic lantern focused on the screen of his inner
consciousness a complete narrative of the Cir
| cumStances that conspred to bring Millicent
Jaques to the Upper Engadne. he could not
have mastered cause and effect more fully. The
| unlucky letter he asked Mackenzie to send to
the Wellington Theater-the letter devised as
a probe into Bowers motives, which was now
cruelty searching its authors heart-had un-
doubtedly supplied to a sighted woman the
clue to her rivals identity Better posted than
Bower in the true history of Helen's visit to
Switzerland, he did not fail to catch the most
significant word in Millicents scornful greeting
And with both cavaliers!"
In all probability she knew the whole ridi-
culous story, reading into it the meaning lent
| by Jealous spleen.
| But if his soul was vexed with sense of by
gone folly, his brain was cool and alert. He
saw Helen sway slightly He caught her before
she collapsed where she stood. He gathered
her tenderly in his arms. She might have been
| a tired child, fallen asleep too soon. Through the
meshes of her blue veil he could see the sudden
palor of her cheeks. The tint of the silk added
to the lfeessness of her aspect. Just then
Sponsors heart was sore within him. and he
was an awkward man to oppose
/ George de Courcy Vavasour happened to
crane his neck nearer at the wrong moment
| The American sent him flying with a vigorous
elbow thrust. He showed Bower aside with
scant ceremony. Millicent Jaques met steely
glance that quelled the vengeful sparkle in her
own eyes, and caused her to move quickly, lest
perchance, this pale faced American should
| trampe on her. Before Bower could recover
his balance, for his hobnails caused him to slip
on the tiled floor, Spenser was halfway across
the inner hall and approaching the elevator.
An official of the hotel fastened forward with
ready proffer of help. This way" he said
sympathetically. The lady was overcome by
the heat after SO many hours in the intense
cold. Bring her to chair in the office"
| But Spenser was not willing that Helen is first
wondering glance should rest strangers,
NO" he said: ring for the elevator. This
lady must be taken to her room,-No. SO, be-
lieve.-then the manageress and chamber
maid can attend to her. Quick! the elevator!"
POWER turned on Millicent like angry
- bull. You have chosen your own method"
he growled. Very well. You shall pay for it /"