Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-07
CHAPTER XVII.-Continued.

She threaded d needle, with the pretty
soficitude, the graceful, birdlike intentness
with which a woman performs this slight
est Office, and he was aware of his joy
in the nimbeness of her fingers and their
steadiness as they answered the quick
searching of her eyes with the point of
thread.
Would YOU rather not refer to it at
all?" he asked.
'.Oh. my not going? Why should any
thing be said about matter that has al
ready been fully explained? You are a
man; you have been on journey; you
have been down in the city all morning;
have you nothing to say to an unfortu-
nate slave. who has been shut up here
with her needle three long days?
THE slavery of the needle is too salts
flying a spectacle in itself to admit of any
coarser topic. I should iudge''-and he
bent nearer should judge, if my dull
masculine eye is competent to pass on
such a thing, that your industry has been
of rather recent date. You haven't been
at work on that thing all morning
"Oh, no, But ! have had ever SO many
other things to do this morning: this is a
large establishment, and the housekeep-
ing-the making sure that there is sugar
for the coffee and coffee for the sugar
takes lot of time
One has always the neigh bors in case
of shortage. II your abandonment of the
Boston excursion is painful topic. we
Will drop it. Besides. L know the real
reason you didn't 60.
rs it possible? Then you ought to give
undertaking exhibitions. I've begged
Fanny TO teach me how to do table tip
ping; I've heard that she's a wonder at
II; and they say il runs i'll families
Have you seen Fanny"
why. no. | dare say she imagines |
went away. The newspapers had it that
] had gone. and, OF course, they are al
WAYS right.
CHI ~ 20
knows everything
Il hadn't thought of telling her; it
seemed TO me that this was a fine chance
TO get rest-to play at leading very.
very lonely life, not letting any one know
am here by myself.
But that has lost its point now that |
am here. The king has gone a-hunting
the priuce-if ! may so honor myself
has come TO defend the citadel. How do
You like that way of putting it,
Il don't think I care for it. The citadel
doesn't need defending. When the king
comes riding home he will find the draw
bridge up and the water in the boat as
quiet and peaceful as when he Numbered
forth TO war
But the lady in the tower-what of
her?''
Shell be knitting-just as the king left
her
Admirable"
She rose suddenly. wearied of this ban
ter. flung her sewing aside and ran from
the room.
When she came down To luncheon her
mood was high. She led the talk into
many channels, but dwelt chiefly upon
matters remote and unrelated. His being
there, he was well aware, was something
that the servants would not overlook any
more than Mrs. Craighll's detention
when all had known of the projected jour
ney-would pass unremarked by the
shrewd eyes of the back stairs. A sense
of this scrutiny, and of their being there
a al
the luncheon table. II was an addendum
I" the supper they had eaten together on
the night Col. Craghill sought seclusion
foy the writing of his speech; il had the
same quality of ciandestine pleasure
bat with the element of fear eliminated.
Wayne did not question that she had
counted on his coming. any more than lie
doubted the impulse that had led him
home at this unusual hour. His senses
tingled with the delight of facing her thIs
at the table. She poured the tea with
which. she said, she always cheered her
self at noon. He met her eyes at in
tervals, eager for the smile that rose. be-
yond question from a happy heart.
In the library. where he followed her
she continued to talk saily while he
smoked.
Well" she said, after half an hour
don let me keep you 1t must be time
for you 10 go back. though suppose You
stay at the club all afternoon when you
lunch there
II don't hear the call of business shout
iH- very loud"
'Oh. of course you must go back: IL
would never do for YOU to stay here
That would make Unnecessary for me te
30 aWay-to Fanny s--or anywhere.
Il don't sec why we shouldn't sit here
and talk all afternoon IL We want to. We
are at home here; can do as we like u
On. no. we can't. That is exactly
what We can't do"
But il you were to do as you like what