Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-27
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
" J.
Copyright. 1908. by Edward J. Clods.,

| er's contriving. She never really like
| Laing, but he was what people term ::
| good match and he has at least justified
| that estimate of his worth by dying sud
denly and leaving his widow nearly tw,
| hundred thousand pounds"
"a most considerate man." murmuret
| Warden.
Then you have not forgiven her?'
I Forgive! What a harsh word from
your lips. Pray consider. On your owl
estimate she owes me two hundred thou
sand thanks"
Arthur, I don't like you as a cynic.
am old enough to be your mother In
deed. it was my love for your mother
your welfare, and I should be doing
wrong If I hid from you the fact that il
nearly broke Rosamunds heart to throw
you over
II trust the lapse Of years has healed
the fracture" he said
Lady Hilbury looked at him in silence
for a moment She remembered the
white-faced subaItern who heard. at hel
hospitable table. that Rosamund Miller
had married a wealthy planter at Madeira
after her departure from the coast
lis there another woman?" she asked
quietly.
Not single spies. but whole battalions
How l have managed to escape their
combined charms all these years is a
marvel. Seriously. Lady Hilbury. you
would not have me take wife to my
special swamp. and 1 would not care to
leave her in England drawing half my
pay. All my little luxuries would vanish
at one fell swoop."
81 would like to see you happy. Ar
thur, and there is always the possibility
OF marrying some one who would de.
mand no sacrifices"
is Mrs. Laing out?" he inquired.
Yes OF course you want to meet her
again?''
Il think not. l don't mean to be un-
kind but the tender recollections 1 cher
ish ARE too dear to be replaced by fresh
set"
THAT sounds theatrical-a sarcastic line
out OF some comedy of manners. If So
you shall have a wider stage than my
boudoir. We lunch at 1 o'clock. It is
l2:45 now, and Rosamund is always pune
tual."
Warden, though raging at the dilemma
made the best of 1t.
How long has Mrs. Laing been a
widow?" he said.
Nearly a year. Evidently your bush
campaign shut out the usual sources OF
intelligence
He glanced at his watch.
Il really must catch the 3 o'clock train
to Cowes," he explained. IT am on gov
eminent service, and I suppose it would
be quite impossible to arrange everything
In a couple Of hours. I am unacquainted
with the formalities, but even special
license demands"
How unkind! Arthur, what has hap
pened to you? How you are changed"
Never changed where you are con-
eerned: Lady Hilbury" he cried. senti-
ment for once gaining the upper hand
you to whom I owe SO much! That, in
deed. would be the wintry wind Of in
gratitude. Now, let me make amends.
My behavior shall be discreet-my dec
orous sympathy worthy of High
Church curate. I was staggered for q
few seconds. l admit. but the effects of
the blow have passed. and my best ex-
cuse Is that other things are perplexing
me. I have no secrets from you, you
know, so let me tell you why am here"
Sure of an interested listener in the wife
of an ex-ruler of the great Niger terri
tory. Warden plunged into an account Of
recent events. 1t was not necessary to
mention Evelyn Dane in order to hold
her attention. The first reference to
Figuero and the Oku chiefs attained that