Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
The Bo1ted Door
Continued from page 9

trenchant weapon! l don't think can ever
look him in the face again. If have any re-
grets on your account. they are locked in my
heart of hearts, and are of no interest to any
one in the world but me.
1t would be foolish for either of US to try
to disguise the exact nature OF our sentimental
relations. If circumstance has thrown us to-
gether and made you more or less dependent
upon me, 1t does not blind me to the fact that
you more in love with Natalie than ever.
That is true, my friend l suppose that after
those few mad moments in the pavilion you
might be tempted to salve my feelings by deny sr
kissed before and have lived to tell the story.
l fancy shall.
Though there won't be much need of my
telling it now. since in some way the pretty
gossip is in circulation: 1t must have been De
Land; for of course Natalie would remain 81
lent. l suppose it was too good to keep. Even
poor Jack is perturbed He has been quite ex-
citing. When left the Grange came to our
place here. Jack followed. He's as sulen as
a dog with a bone. He has been asking me
vague questions which answer as vaguely. l
fancy he's somewhat chastened. l don't know
why. and l don't care why. don't seem to
care about anything. I must be tired; so
think had better sleep.
Goodnight, Vulcan-that slipped from my
pen. Perhaps it's as Vulcan like you best
though Vulcan did win Venus after all. didn't
he? Be good. my friend. When next you go
questing kisses choose lonely mountaintop at
A.
GARRIOTT sat deep in his chair while he
- read and reread the pages. She had prom
ised to write him when he left the Grange
the day that followed Mrs. Schuyler's party.
The spirit of the letter was hers, and it re-
freshed him as though it had been visit
from herself: but the serious note that had
often echoed in their relations appeared
more insistently here. She felt her position
keenly. He read that in every line. She
had always been so ready with laughter at
the caprices of her frivolous sisters that the
revelation of her own fraity made more
delectable this morsel which had been
thrown broadcast among her dear five hum
dred friends.
In the week that had elapsed Brooke had
found himself wondering what his wife was
thinking; but he realized that his deepest
concern had been for the happiness of Abby
Kempton. He would have given an arm to
spare her further humiliation, and had
thought of and rejected hundred ways to
accomplish that end. Natalie's feelings
mattered less. There had been times when
only her womanhood and his tolerance had
protected her from sharp passages. The in
FAINT romance was dead for lack of nouriSh-
ment. Mrs. Kempton had never been will
ing to believe that He had sworn it.; but
she only laughed at him. What was the
instinct that had always put her on the de-
fensive with him, even until the very mo-
ment when the chase ended, she was in his
arms and the spell had been broken? On
that night he had found way past all her
batteries.
The one thing that stood out most clearly
in his mind was his duty to Abby The
mad moment" as she had called it, had
passed, and he saw her again as he had al
ways seen her at the Grange and in town.
whimsical and satirical by turns, knocking
at the faults of others, and blessedly toler-
ant of his own. Her letter showed that she
was still untamed, and, while her defense
still awaited against himself, it seemed as
though all the rest of the world had been
let into the secret of her folly. Curse them
Was there no way to stop their prattling
tongues? He rose impatiently and walked
to the window. He had made pretty mess
of things from the beginning, and he seemed
to have an infinite capacity for bringing
Others in to bear the burden of his mistakes.
He had learned lesson-at the cost of all
hope of happiness. There were only two
things left: to repair damages as best he
might, and to work as he had never worked
before.