Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26

for anything more to happen, anything
more that served to wreck human hap
piness, if not very life itself.
She felt, moreover, she had right to
know what it was affecting Van. He had
come unbidden into her life. He had
swept her away with his riotous love- He
had taught her new, almost frightening,
Joys of existence He had drawn upon her
very soul, kissing into being nature de-
handing love for love. He had taken her
all for himself, despite her real resistance.
She could not cease to love so quickly as
he. She had rights, acquired in surrender,
at least the right to know what evil thing
had wrought its way upon him.
But, fret as she might, and burn as she
might with Impotence, love-created an
GER and resentment of some infamy
doubtless practised on them both, there
was nothing in the world she could do.
She wrote again to Glen, and had the
letter posted in the mail She asked for
information Was he better? Could he
come to Goldite soon? Had he met Van?
Had he understood that confession in her
letter? Had he really purchased mine,
with Searle, or had he, by some strange
mischance, concerned himself with the
others in taking the Laughing Water
claim? She explained that she was wholly
in the dark; that worry was her only COM
panion. She begged him to come if trav
cling was possible, and told of her e.-ort
to see him.
That Bostwick had opened and read her
together with Sundry questions and refer
ences to himself, she could never have
dreamed. 1t is ignorance always that
battles, as we grope our way in the world.
And Beth had not yet entirely lost all trust
in Bostwick himself.
SEARLE, in the meantime, having gone
- straight to the Laughing Water claim
from Chenille Kent, had remained three
days away from Goldite and had taken no
time to write. When he came at last, the
girls suspicious were thoroughly aroused.
That the man was dangerous trickster,
a liar, and perhaps a scoundrel, she was
rapidly becoming convinced.
He arrived at the house in the late
afternoon, while Mrs. Dick and Beth were
engaged together in the dining room,
sewing at quilt. The meeting was there
fore a quiet one, and Beth escaped any
loverlike demonstrations he might other
wise have made.
Mrs. Dick, in her frank dislike of Bost-
wick, carried her work up stairs
WELL well, sweetheart" Bostwick eX-
claimed You must have heard the
news, of course. expect your congratu-
lations!"
He rose and approached her eagerly.
She was standing. She moved chair and
placed herself behind it.
Il suppose you mean the claim you've
taken" she said. You're elated over
that"
Good Lord! aren't your" he answered
It's worth a Million maybe more, that
Laughing Water claim! And to think
that Van Buren,, the romantic fool, put
ting marble slabs on the graves of the
demimonde, and riding about like big
tin toreador, should have bought a prop
erty on reservation ground, and lost it,
gold and all
His relish in the triumph was plainly
unctuous. His gunmetal jaw fairly oscil-
lated in oil as he mouthed his contempt
of the horseman.
Beth famed with resentment inside
Her love for Van increased, despite her
judgment, despite her wish, as she heard
him thus assailed. She knew he had
placed stone on Queeny's grave. She
admired the fearless friendliness of the
action the token whereby he had linked
the unfortunate girl in death, to the
Il, L 4