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

habit of their lives. She looked around
and criticised, kindly but humorously
some of their. neighbors She spoke OF
the music. the decorations. the perfume
of the flowers. They were to all appear
ances a couple like all those others, well
| bred, appreciative, interested and vet q
| trif1e bored. When they We're alone how.
ever. she leaned little forward.
What is it, Francis?" she asked.
In Paris" he answered. slowly, 81
| had friends who were criminals. / was q
criminal myself
She laughed. I'VE all are" she an
swered. There is not day that every
one Of us, in our thoughts, IL not in our
actions. does not offend against that
| marvellous code of laws by which we are
| surrounded
He nodded. "Some of u.s." he said, "es-
cape. I have escaped until now 1 want
to prepare you just a little. Margaret
There is a chance that one Of those ugly
chapters may be reopened. There is a
| man in this country who is determined
| to bring home to me a deed, or a series
tainly jointly responsible with others,
| and which were certainly offenses against
the laws
You are sure" she asked. that it is
not some one who is trying to black
mail you?"
| is above that. He is not to be bought
! They say he is the cleverest detective in
France. If SO. he can scarcely fail to
| find me out"
raised her glass and drank to him with a
i, little nod. MY dear Francis" she said,
there are hundreds OF people who 60
| through life with some such shadow dog
ging their footsteps It always seems
Refuse to believe In 1t, refuse to believe
that fate could be SO cruel. At any
rate. there is mo need to poison the days
or the hours that lie between. Forget 1t
for q little while. at least. II it comes
| well, we will meet it hand in hand. Our
life is sometimes almost too absorbing.
Let us try to forget that you are a great
politician. peer of England. and that /
am your wife and a person of conse-
can be primitive. We are man and
woman together: We can at least be as
brave as those others underneath"
He looked at her for several moments,
which brought the color to her cheeks,
something which he never attempted to
translate into words. He felt his heart
beating with new vigor. The shadows
denly melted away. The courage of his
race-he had always had more than his
share-reasserted itself. They talked for
half an hour or more. but gayly, and as
two people to whom the world is still an
enchanted garden. And when they sat in
their carriage. on their way back to
Cavendish square. hts arm went around
her waist and her lips sought his.
II wonder" she whispered. why you
did not take me straight home tonight?
We could have talked there"
He smiled at the recollection. MY
dear Margaret he said. Il was a slave
to my fears. / was afraid of finding
some one waiting there for me-.
Foolish she murmured.
He opened the door OF the house in
Cavendish square with his own 'latchkey.
The lights were burning dimly in the hall.
for it was almost 1 o'clock. but the hall
porter. who was still up. came hurrying
to meet them.
ANY letters or kilograms. Jameson"
the marquis asked, as he suffered him.
self to be Invested of his Overcoat
There are none which Mr.. Penton has
not attended to, my lord" was the re-
spectful answer. only about two hours
ago. a gentleman called to see You. He
said that his business was very i'm
portant, and he has been allowed to wait
for your coming.
The marquis did not answer for a mo-