Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-25
CHAPTER XII.

REQ. Crleo fora, staring at telegram
she had just received.
Mrs. Oldrieve woke with a start from
her after-luncheon nap.
who, dear?'
why, Emmy and Septimus Dix. Read
it,
Mrs. Oldrieve put on her glasses with
faltering fingers. and read aloud the words
as II they had been in a foreign lam
guage: "Septimus and 1 were married
this morning at the Chelsea registrars:
We start for Paris by the 2:3o. VIII let
you know our plans. Love to mother
from us both. Emmy
What does this mean. DEAR
"1t means. my dear mother. that they're
married. said Fora: but why they
should have thought it necessary to run
away to do it in this hole-and-corner
fashion I can't imagine"
Its very TERRIBLE said Mrs. oldrieve.
Its worse than terrible. It's fdfotic.
said Fora
She was mystifled. and, being woman
who hated mystification, was angry. Her
full thing: before registrar. too.
LAS soon as I let her go on the stage
I knew something dreadful would happen
to her." she walled. ''Of course Mr.. Dix
Is foolish and eccentric. but I never
thought he could do anything SO irresu-
lar
II have no patience with him. cried
Fora. Il told him only a short while ago
that both OF US would be delighted if he
married Emmy"
married properly. Do make Them urged
Mrs. Oldrieve. THE vicar will be so
shocked and hurt-and what Cousin Jane
will say when she hears of it
She raised her mittened hands and let
them fall into her lap. The awfulness OF
Cousin James Indignation transcribed the
poor lady's powers of description. Fora
dismissed the vicar and Cousin Jane as
persons of no account. The silly pair
were legally married. and she would see
that there was proper notice put IN the
Times. AS for bringing them back-she
looked at the clock.
They are on their way now to Folke-
stone.''
at wouldn't be any good telegraphins
them to come back and be properly mar
ried In church,?
Not the slightest" said Fora; but III
do it II you like
So the telegram was dispatched to
'Septimus Dix. Boulogne boat. Folke-
stone," and Mrs. Oldrieve took a brighter
view Of the situation.
1--WE have done what we can. at any
rate she said. by way Of self-consola-
ton.
Now it SO happened that Emmy. like
many another person at their wits end.
had given herself an amazing amount OF
unnecessary trouble. Her flight had not
been noticed till the maid had entered Ter
room at half-past 8. She had obvi-
ously packed up some things in hand-
bag. Obviously again she had caught the
SIS train from Ripstead. as she had done
once or twice before when rehearsals or
other theatrical business had required an
early arrival in London. Septimus' tele-
gram had not only allayed no apprehen-
sion, but it had aroused mild curiosity.
Septimus was master of his own actions.
His going up to London was no ones con-
Germ. If he were starting for the equator
q telegram would have been a courtesy.
But why announce his arrival in London?
Why couple it with Emmy's? And why
in the name Of guns and musical COM
edies should Fora worry? But when she
reflected that Septmus did nothing ac-
cording to the orthodox ways OF men, she
attributed the Superfiuous message to his
general infirmity OF character, smiled in
diligently and dismissed the matter from
her mind. Mrs. Oldrieve had nothing to
DISMISS as she had been led to believe
that Emmy had gone up to London by
the morning train. She only bewailed the
Eighty inconseqUence OF modern young
women. until she reflected that Emmy's
father had gone and come with discon-
certing unexpectedness from the day OF
their wedding to that Of his death on the
ilOfnS OF DuHdlO. wuSTcupOu size Idldi-
istically attributed her daughters ways
to heredity. So while the two incapables
were sedulously covering up their tracks.
the most placid Indifference as to their
whereabouts reigned i'm Nunsnere.
The telegram therefore, announcing
their marriage found Fora entirely unpre-
pared for the news II contained. What a
pitiful tragedy lay behind the words she
was million miles from suspecting. She
walked with her head above such clouds.
Ia Xii Ia II
of the happenings around her feet-and.
if the truth is to be known. finding
mighty little instruction or entertainment
in the armament. The elOpement. for 1t
was nothing more. brought her eyes. how
ever earthWard "Why?' she asked, not
realizing it to be tine most futile OF ques-
tons when applied to human actions. To
every such Why there are a myriad
answers. When a mysterious murder is
committed every one seeks the motive.
vides the key OF the enigma, who can
tell? 1t may be revenge for the foulest
Of wrongs. 1t may be that the assassin
objected to the wart on the other mans
is Pelion OF rank OHense. and who be-
lieve themselves heaven-appointed to cut
it off. 1t may be for worldly gain. 1t
may be merely for amusement. There is
Eothing 80 outrageous. SO grotesque.
which, il the human brain has conceived
it, the human hand has not done. Many
a man has taken a cab, on a sudden
shower merely to avoid the trouble OF UNI
rolling his umbrella. and the sanest of
women has been known to cheat bus
conductor OF a penny, SO as to wallow in
the qualification of a crossing-swceper's
blessing. When the philosopher asks the
everlasting why, lie knows, IL he be
sound philosopher--and sound philOso-
pher is he who is not led into the griev-
Gus error of taking his philosophy seri-
olIsIy-that the question is but the start
ing point OF the entertaining game Of
speculation.
To be continued tomorrow