Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11


loved her. and the knowledge at once an ecstasy
and torture And how wise he was. how consderate.
how worthy of the treasure that her Overlooking heart
would heap him! But it could not be- She dared not
face her father her relatives her host of friends and
confess with proud humility that she had found her mate
in some unknown Englishman, the hired driver of
motor At any rate in that moment of exquisite
agony Cynthia did not know what she might dare when
put to the test Her lips parted her eyes gstened and
she turned aside to gaze blndy at the distant Welsh
hills
IF we don't hurry" she said with the sowness of
desperation, i've shall never complete our program by
nightfall. And we must not forget that Mrs. Leland
awaits at Chester.
Tonight shall realize the feelings of Charles when
he witnessed the defeat of his troops at the battle of
Hardly aware of her own words Cynthia murmured.
Though defeated, the poor King did not lose hope
No; the Stuarts only virtue was their stubbornness.
By the way, l am Stuart
Evidently that is why you are flying from Chester,
she contrived to say with little laugh
Il pin my faith the Restoration, he retorted ut
is fair parallel 1t took Charles twenty years to reach
Rowton Moor; but the modern clock moves quicker,
for am there in five days"
I LAM no good at dates" she began; but Mrs Devar
discovered them from afar, and huttered telegram.
They fastened to her. Cynthia flushed at the thought
that she might be recalled to London which she would
regret since visit to the dentist to-day is better
than the toothache all next week.-and Medenham
steeled himself against imminent unmasking
But Mrs Devar's main business in life was self. Il
have Just heard from James, she cooed He promised
to up to Shrewsbury to-day; but finds he cannot
spare the time Count Edouard told him that Mr. Van
in town. and he regrets he was unable to call
Before who left2" demanded Cynthia.
"Your father dear"
Left for where?
Mrs. Devar screwed her at the pink slip. That
is all it says just left. ;"
"That doesn't sound right anyhow" laughed Meden-
"Oh but this is too ridiculous!" and Cynthias foot
stamped. II have before known my father to be-
have in this Jack in the Box fashion"
"Mrs. Leland will clear up the whole mystery, vol
unteered Medenham.
But what mystery is there3" purred Mrs. Devar,
blinking first at one, then at the other She bent
the telegram again. James this message from the
West Strand at nne-thirty A. NJ Perhaps he had just
heard of Mr.. Vanrenen's departure" she said.
Judging from Cynthia's occasional references to her
it was much more likely that the American railway mag
nate had merely refused to meet Captain Devar; but
therein he was mistaken
A T the very hour that the three settling them
a selves in the Mercury before taking the road to
Leominster, Vanrenen, driven by perturbed but
silent Simmonds, stopped the the outskirts of
Whitchurch and asked an intelligent looking boy if
he had noticed the passing of an automobile numbered
XL4OOO
II spose YOU mean motor car, sir?" said the boy.
Vanrenen tall man, thin, close Tipped, with high
cheekbones and long nose, a man utterly unlike his
daughter for the wide open all seeing eyes. smiled
at the naive correcton-with that smile some enchant
ers wand mirrored Cynthia in her fathers face. Even
Simmonds who had semblance of smile in the
features OF the chilly skeptcal man by whom he was
dragged out of bed unearthy hour in the morning
at Bristol, witnessed the alchemy, and marveled.
"Yes sir, rather continued the boy; the gentle
went along the Hereford Road he did, yesterday
mornin'. He KEN back, too wiv shutter, an he's
a stayin at the Symons Vat Hotel"
Peter Vanrenen frowned, and Cynthia vanished, to
be replaced by the Wall Street Spectator who had
Cynthia telephoned? Of his alert mind hit
missed mail the genesis of the to Hereford early
on Sunday; but he asked himself why he had not been
Of e
Cynthia have mentioned the fact had she spoken
him; but in the furry and surprise of hearing that he