Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11

|. 1910
The Bo1ted Door
Continued from page II
Continued from page II

sidered2 She had longing to look up at
him, an irresistible curiosity which amounted
almost to craving to learn what she could
read in his face; but she only buried her
head deeper in her arms and set her lips
more tightly together. She heard him go
on speaking slowly, kindly, almost patron
izingly.
"As to your sudden change of plans,
Natalie dear, must refer you to Mrs Gerry
Schuyler She's good friend of yours, isn't
she? She was fully aware of Mrs. Kemp
tons plans and my own. Perhaps it was for
tunate that we made such an early start
that morning, or that l went over for Abby
in the Vas-y."
The vas-y!" she cried, starting up.
"Of course, Child. The Vas-y. It. shorter
across the harbor by half an hour.
But she turned away and would not look
at him. "And the breakfast"
He laughed. "She was my guest; your
guest, if you like. We had breakfasted to-
gether before we rode. You didn't mind
then
| mo; that was before
$50 was the day before yesterday before
that, YOU must remember he said softly.
II have been very lonely in New York,
Dear. There were times when Abby Kemp
ton was the only thing between me and des-
peration She is the best friend l have, the
best friend you have. She sent me here to
find you-to-night
"Abby! How could she know"
"She guessed it. 1t was what she might
have done, she said Don't you really un-
derstand?"
CHE was still resolutely turned away from
~ him. He stopped suddenly and straight
ened as he realized that perhaps there were
other things in her mind that weighed against
him. For the moment the more important
business of clearing up their own differences
had made him forget the other doubts that
had all day been raging in his mind. He now
remembered the straits to which she was
reduced and the little he would have to offer
her. Her persistent impassibility made him
suddenly cold with fear which gave his voice
a chill note of subsection.
"Of course l don't wish to recall anything
unpleasant or to place you in false position
with yourself or with me. There will be a
little money left, enough to provide for you
comfortably in a quiet way. Perhaps it
would suit your plans better to have that
sum set aside for your own use, so that you
could 60 alone somewhere and have your
own independence. In that case, of course,
l shall not bother you further. l had"
"Brooke!" She had risen, her cheeks
| aIldIQe, anu HOW put HeI fingers over Ills ups
to keep the words from coming forth. He
caught her in his arms and held her close to
him, holding her head up so she could read
what she wished in his eyes.
"You won't mind being poor?" he whis-
pered.
"No, no, no! What does it matter?''
"Thank God for that" he gasped.
"Did you think so little of me?"
Il feared-it has been dreadful day.
feared everything. have known you only
since Sunday, Natalie"
Don't think of it again. Nothing mat
tiers but this. 1t is 500 very sweet! was
so afraid it was never to be again! Oh,
Brooke, have suffered so! You do not
know what have suffered. l have been
tortured-tortured! did not know what
did. Poor ABBY 1 can never look her in
the face again!' She held him away from her
and scrutinized him again. "And you say
Carol Schuyler knew? Are you sure?"
EYES," he laughed. "She was up with
sick child and saw Abby 60 down to meet
me-
"That blessed child! I'm sorry it was
sick; but there never was such an i'll wind to
blow such good"
How could you have believed after
l 11.L -