Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-14
BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER.


that" l cried for lack OF something else
to say.
But she could not stop The flood had
burst down the bars, created by the years
of self-restraint. and for the time IL swept
over them as il would. Never before
had I so longed for the right to protect
and comfort her. never before had | felt
so deeply that this right should be mine.
but | rejoice even now TO remember that
I took no advantage of her emotion and
unguarded moments. Though j would
have given worlds TO put my arms about
he~ and to tell her what she was to me-.
did not even touch her. my hand did not
even reach the falling lace of her sleeve,
but 7 stood looking down at her with
death In my heart.
/ could not stand II. and ! walked over
to the window--we We're both forgetful or
careless whether any others came through
the door that stood open 10 all. l turned
my eyes away and GaZed out OF the
window, because II is too terrible thing
to look on when the woman YOU love IL
crying her heart out and you are help
less l stood there motionless and seeing
nothing. while l stu heard her low sohs.
Then they ceased as suddenly as they
had begun. and she called me. I turned
around and she was standing before me.
with the ghost of pit.ful little smile,
that she had forced. upon her face
I've been weak and foolish" she said,
but you will forget about 1t, wont you,
Harry
She put her hands together like little
child and the sight OF Alicia appealing to
me favor for what belonged TO her
as right touched new chords OF SYM
patty.
Il have forgotten 1t already" I replied.
You are strong. Harry" she said.
Then why not forget me too! l have
brought nothing but misery into your
life and l am poisoning II for You now.
You are re-established. you are young.
you are at the beginning OF a great and
brilliant career. you are to have life full
OF happy work and-and there can be
some other woman. Why waste another
thought on met"
Alicia" 1 said gravely. II may be
strong. but I could never be strong
enough to forget you. do not know
what my career is to be. but nothing in
it could displace you-though ! have not
the right to say that to you-and though
II is unlawful for me to love you. / am
and shall always be powerless to love
any other woman"
The look she gave me sent a thrill Of
delight through me. l suppose that every
man In love is egotistical, looking upon
| himself as a sort of sun, but l believed
| that she was glad when i refused to
| separate my life from hers. Poor Alicia.
how often have I used that expression
| and how much she needed support and
sympathy.
Woman alone can effect sudden and
complete Observation-Disclosures is, In the
appearances. Now she turned away from
| me and sitting down at the piano again
| began TO play a reckless. defiant little
| air. something from the French. l SUI
| pose, because IT had that gay lit which
| I always associate with the French ma
| ton when IL is In it's cheerful mood.
"You see," she said with little SMILE
| that L am not the coward you take me
1 to be-
| / was glad to see her again in her
! usual command OF herself. but the as
sumption of gayety moved me almost as
| much as her tears. Fate was certainly
| In her most freakish mood when she gave
| such a woman to George Grey.
You were never a coward, said.
The, little air finished in a shower or
notes like the high-throated triIlfng OF
bird. Then as Der hands rested quietly
a moment on the keys she leaned over
and said to mo:
BE careful with yourself. I do not
know what 1t is or how it will show it
| self, but there is some movement against
| you. have heard fragments only"
Anxiety showed in her tone, anxiety
| for me, I was again foolish enough TO
believe, but the warning even from
| Alicia made no great impression upon me-
and l received 1t with a lightness that
was not affected
| I'm not afraid" 7 said. ''in this strug
| gle here over measures we give and take"
THAT Is not ALL she said earnestly.
| watch over yourself.
! Il will I said to reassure her, and
| then 1 left her at the piano. where she
! glided away again into one of those
| as l passed down the hall and 1 feared
! that ii was omen of evil
(To be continued tomorrow.)