Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-16
CHAPTER XXXIV.-Continued.

"Why. my dear Francis she said, you
are not we'll tonight. Your face looks
drawn and your eyes are feverish. Did
things go wrong in the house?'
Things went well enough he an
swered. IT am little bothered. but 1t is
q matter which has nothing to do with
politics"
II am sorry" she answered. Can you
tell me about it?''
He shook his head. 1T is not worth
WHILE" he said. 1T is one of those little
storms that sometimes blow across ones
life. They look formidable enough when
the clouds are gathering, but they pass
oh. yes. they pass"
her fingers upon his arm. Yet tonight, :
she said, IT do not seem to understand
you I seem to feel long way OF"
Perhaps" he said 1t is because l
too. have been in a distant country One,
thoughts play the truant in strange
manner sometimes. Tonight. when l was
sitting in my place, waiting to speak. in
stead of collecting my ideas on the sub
ject of Morocco, I found myself thinking
OF the days when you and l were boy
and girl together"
'It is a long time ago." she murmured.
ut is not so very long ago." he an
swered; mot SO long, indeed. but that
sometimes the very days themselves seem
to stand out, easily recognizable, even
through the tangle Of years. remember
the day when your father told me that
the fourth son of an tmpecunious peer,
penniless, and with none too good repu-
tation, was no match for his daughter
I remember our last walk together across
the park and up the Beacon; clear
October evening it was. with a snap in
the air and sky like crystal. q sky full
of strange lights. We walked down the
broad green path hand In hand. and the
lights began to break out like little points
OF twinkling stars in the valley below.
Your house. too, was all ablaze. Do you
remember? It was the night they were
expecting the man to whom you were
to be married"
II remember" she answered. q little
sadly. ;,
Il remember the day I left England. .
he went on II was a little desperate
just then, Margaret. could not see into
the future. l did not know that II had
only been content to wait my time would
come"
She touched his hand for moment.
1T has come" she murmured.
Eyes, it has come" he answered, but
without smile. without any change IN
the settled gravity of his features. 1t
has come but a little late. Margaret. l
did not know then, or I should have left
England in q different spirit. should
have left undone" he added. with sud
den bitter note in his low tones, II should
bad life. Margaret. in those days"
"Don't.' she begged. Il do not want
to hear about them. You were badly
treated You were disappointed l think
you were a little in love with me. What
you did is wiped out. Think of it no
more, please"
There are STAINS he answered,
(which nothing can wipe out. No." he
added, hastily, don't think that I am
suffering from the pangs Of trouble
sometimes, Margaret, even the events
themselves rise up and stretch out their
hands toward my throat"
She set down her glass and looked at
him fixedly. Something has happened"
she whispered.
Dear Margaret" he answered. some
thing may happen"
Neither OF them spoke for several mo-
ments. People were passing their table.
An offlcious maitre d'hotel was at his ell
bow with suggestions, They were both
people with all the .self-control of their
order. . seif-control which had become q