Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-01
CHAPTER VII-Continued.

A man who was talking to Evelyn wa:
summoned to a bridge table, and Rosa
mund took his place unobtrusively.
Then you really were on board the
Sans Souci at Cowes Miss Dance" She
began. with a friendly smile.
Yes said Evelyn. at loss to deter
mine why her brief sojourn in the SoleI
should attract such widespread attention
And you met Capt. Warden there?''
The attack was so direct and uneX
and finched from it, Still. she was not
to be drawn into admissions like fright.
ened child
Il met several people on the island.
she said. "Cowes is a crowded place
during regatta week.
Rosamund. lone does not forget "a mar
of Arthur Warden's type so readily-and
after a violent Irritation. too! You see.
know all about it. Little birds whisper
these things Arthur did not tell me
when he came to see me in town. OF
kind-hearted people willing enough to
gossip if they think they are annoying
one
There was sufficient innuendo in this
brief speech to justify Mrs Laing's worst
estimate of scandalmongers. Not one
barbed shaft missed it's mark. If words
could wound. then Evelyn must have sue
cumbed. but the injuries they infiict are
not always visible. and she kept stiff
upper lip. though her heart raced in wild
tumult.
1.-The inference is that you are far more
interested in Capt. Wardens visits to
Cowes than 1 or any other person can
pretend to be-" she said, slowly.
She meant the cold-drawn phrase to
hurt. and in that she succeeded, though
hor in
had come from afar.
We'll. perhaps you ought to be told
that he and / are engaged said Rosa
mund. stung to sudden fury of lying.
Don't imagine 1 bear malice. You are
sweetly pretty, and Arthur is SO sus-
ceptible! But he is also rather thought
less. We were pledged to each other
years ago. but were kept apart by-by' a
mothers folly. Now l am free and he
came back to me. though 1 had to insist
tween my husbands death and the an
nouncement of our engagement. All our
friends know our sad story. and would
forgive some measure of haste, but one
has to consider the larger circle of the
public"
Then, indeed. Evelyn's blood seemed
to chill in her veins. The room and its
occupants swan before her eyes. and the
pain of repression became almost I'M
bearable, yet she was resolved to carry
tainted.
II gather that you are warning me
against Capt. Warden's thoughtlessness.
as you term it? she said, compelling
each word at the bayonet's point as 1t
were
"Oh. 1 was not speaking seriously, but
we can let it go at that
And you wish me to understand that
you are his promised wife?''
There, at least. l am most emphatic, -
frsR tc,,
perhaps, for woman SO well equipped
with the armOr of self-cOnceit.
Il suppose, then. that the late Mr..
Laing has been dead a year as l form
one of that larger circle whose favorable
opinion you cOurt?
: For an instant Rosamund's black eyes
flashed angrily. She had expected tears
and faltering. not resistance
II only meant to do you good turn,
yet on the raw" she sneered.
pray do not consider me at all. BY
your own showing. l have no grievance
no locus standi, as the lawyers say-but,
since you have gone out of your way to
give mere stranger this interesting in
formation, / wish to be quite sure of the
facts. For instance. let us suppose that
I have the honor of Capt Wardens ac-
quaintance-am I at liberty to write and
congratulate him?"
That would place me in false posi-
ton"
All. Is tucIc LlOINlHS " Uc Sdlu LOT
me? You spoke of a violent Irritation,
think. If I may guess at the meaning of
a somewhat crude phrase, 1t seems to
imply a possible exchange of lovers vows.
ard one of the parties might be misled-
and suffer-
I'VE women are the sinners most fire.
quently.'
Il do not dispute your authority. Mrs.
Laing I only wish to ascertain exactly
what l am free to say TO Capt. Warden?'
Tell him you met me, and that l am
we'll posted in everything that occurred
at Cowes And. for goodness sake. let
me see his reply. 1t will be too killing to
read Arthur's verbal wrigglings, because
he is really clever. don't you Think
Somehow. despite the steely tension of
every nerve. Evelyn caught an undertone
of anxiety in the jesting words. Her
rival was playing a bold game. 1t might
end in complete disaster. but once COM
mitted to it there was no drawing back
THE proceedings at Cowes were open
to all the world Evelyn could not help
saying. Even you, with your long ex-
perience. might fail to detect in them
any trace of the thoughtlessness you de-
plore.''
Then you have met him elsewhere?'
nf