Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-24

something back from me with regard t.
your health. Frankly, I do not believe
this explanation of yours. You are moi
at all the sort of man to run away from
trouble
The marquis stood still for several mo-
ments His thin. drawn face was in a
sense expressionless, yet his wife was
perfectly well aware that there was some
change there. Something had happened
which reminded her of terrible week OF
restlessness soon after their marriage.
There is some trouble" he said, from
which flight alone is possible"
The warehouses raised herself a lttl.
on the sofa. Il do not like to hear you
say that. Francis" she remarked. ~
hope that you have not been foolish
| enough to allow yourself to be frightened
They tell me that half the public men
in London. at some time or another,
have to face trouble of this sort
"Blackmailers" he repeated, softly.
mo. it is not exactly that
There is something's" she persisted
There is something he admitted I'M
consciously lowering his voice. There
is something. | must admit that
why not tell me about it?'' she asked,
Il think that on the whole you and ]
have been much more than fairly good
husband and wife to each other. I do
not wish to say anything which might
sound bourgeois. but if there is any real
trouble or danger to be faced I do not
need to hear the other side. I believe
in you and l would help you If it were
possible
The marquis threw away his cigarette
He stopped down and raised his wife's
fingers to his lips. Then, after a
ment's hesitation, he stopped lower still
and kissed her lips.
Dear Margaret" he said, Il thank
you very much. If it were possible for
me to give it to any one in the world
you should have my whole confidence
Unfortunately. it is not possible. If you
were my guardian angel, the materialized
conscience of my life, L should still be
dumb
There were times" she remarked.
thoughtfully. when you were a young
| man. before there was any thought of
your coming into the title, when you
were unheard Of. There were years of
your life during which you seem to have
had no friends, when no one seemed 10
know anything about you. where you
were or what you were doing. You came
back when your cousin died, stranger
to nearly everybody. have been Curl
Gus sometimes, Francis. about those
years.
His lips parted slowly into smile
to the woman who was watching his face.
Certainly it was some other man who.
with fixed eyes. looked back into the
shadows of anothers past.
you must remember" he said, 'that
in those days 1 was nobody. l was a
well born, penniless young man, with no
career practically no expectations. I
was treated very badly by people from
whom l had some right to expect coun-
tenance. / was little wild, perhaps. but
l was no worse than dozens Of others. I
mention this because 1 want you to I'M
derstand that in those days / felt no
shadow of obligation toward either my
country or my family. That is all I can
tell you. Margaret
Then the marchioness made what was
for her most astounding suggestion, a
suggestion which even a few days after
ward she reflected upon with amazement.
Il wonder" SAC said. whether you would
care for me to go with YOU abroad? l
could manage it. Of coars>. The servants
could follow us in few days with the
luggage.
He looked at her. He was astonished
and showed it. my dear Margaret" he
said lit is most unnecessary. For what
you have said I am very grateful, but
it is better for me to so alone just now.
There was low tapping at the door.
His secretary entered, with a brief
apology.
Il am most sorry. sir" he said, ito In
terrupt you. There is man here of
whom | cannot get rid. His name is
Gilbert Hannaway.'
The marquis shook his head. Il never
heard of him." he said. Are you sure
that he Is not from a newspaper?
Il am quite sure" the secretary an
swered. He is very urgent in his desire
to see you, and he will give me no further
explanation of his coming than this. He
says that he is the man who rang you up
last night from the Altoona Hotel"
The marquis set down his empty coffee
cup. 1t was impossible for either Of the
other two persons in the room to avoid
noticing that his hand was trembling.
Again there was something in his eyes
which, to those two who knew him SO
well, seemed to suggest another man liv-
ing in another world.
Il will sees this gentleman" the mar
quis said. You may show him in here"
he added. with a little glance toward his
wife.
She rose at once and shook out her
gown. Il will go to my room," she said,
land read for a little time. Perhaps il
you are not detained too long you will
come in and see me-
The secretary held open the door with
q low bow. Her husband, as she passed,
once more raised her fingers to his lips.
MY DEAR, he said, Il shall certainly
come
CTo be continued tomorrow.)
For Better Fortifcati0ns.