Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-18
BY MARGARET HEATHER

curtains The glare from the hall chandelier lighted up
the coat of emblazoned the splendid coupe.
The Count CALAMITY assisted Lady Gainslegh to enter
and then followed the gong sounded twice, and the
stately equipage glded noiselessly down the
Gwenith returned to her nest among the cushions
the couch. Dear mel" she said aloud, spanking d
puffy blue pillow preparatory to placing it under her
head. Dear mel Aunty has almost told me the secret
of her life
THE bells in Westminster Abbey chined the hour of
one past midnight, as Lady Gainslegh dismissed
her maid and sat in the freight enveloped in neggee
of silk and lace her splendid hair falling in heavy
braids below her waist, and the white hands lying idly
in her lap.
"How strange" she mused "that should have been
thinking of him all day-and then have that child
mention him tonight Sly little elf! She seemed to
read my very thoughts Heaven guide her footsteps in
The door opened and Gwenith entered, clad just as
she had appeared early in the evening.
why Gwenie dear! Why are you not in bed? Are you
l? cried Lady Gainseigh starting to her feet in alarm
No, you dear sweet aunty, am not i'll; felt
better in all my e, replied the girl playfully forcing
her aunt back into the low chair from which she had
least bit ILL., but just could not 60 to bed until had
asked you little mite of question. l want to know
and want you to tell me- It wasn't that horrid old
you t?" and she looked up coaxngy into the elder
womans eyes.
Lady Gainsleigh caught her breath and then laughed
Mercy, child! No. He was beyond endurance | dis
liked him and his attentions very much. That the
reason your uncle twitted me about him..
But the OtneT, the real one: persisted the GIRL - Is
the story very romantic Aunty dear? Is it long e?
Not very long, Gwenith. Love stories, real ones,
she replied looking past the girl into the blue
blazes of the fire. "And the romance if there any,
is dead. Heartaches and romance never flourish to-
gether. 1t begins much like other such affairs.
A I the age of nineteen very much in love with
young gentleman in Boston, who handsome.
cultured, and heir to a vast fortune always am
bilious, and the prospect of much wealth pleased
not little AS soon as our engagement was assured
and before it had been publicly announced the father
of my prospective husband presented me with peculiar
bracelet of jade. The trnket, he informed me-
heirloom secured by his father while sojournng India
1t endowed with certain Eastern magic, in that it
was capable of changing color
"'By virtue of my fathers WILL he said, should its
color change within twelve hours after the bracelet has
been placed upon your arm your future husband will be
disinherited The fortune is his only condition that
the armlet retain its original color
Il put the thing ont peculiar snakelike green
and laughed at such folly My lover had laughed too
and said that the charms of fifty bracelets and all the
gold of Golconda could not oubalance the weight of
love. Ali How confident he was!''
But of course it did not changer" exclaimed Gwen
18th incredulously.
Lady Ganseigh had risen and walked slowly over to
the fireplace, where she stood looking down, with hands
casped behind her. YES" she said almost in whis-
per- glancng half furtvely lit did! Before the lapse
of six hours that bracelet beautiful rose pink!
The girls startled exclamation followed by long
silence. But surely that did not alter your love? she
said quickly rising and going to her aunts side You
would have married him, wouldn't you, even if he
poor?"
Lady Gainseigh averted her face from clear search
ing eyes. MOI! she replied in voice scarcely audible.
"That my besettng sim could never endure
poverty. Then Lord Gainsleigh and laid both
fortune and title at my feet
"But the other, Aunty dear!" pleaded the girl.
"What became of him.?
1--WE parted, Gwenth. and we have met since.
suppose he has lived his life and have tried to live
nine but would give all possess to be back at his
side, with that magic band of pink my only jewel
But how late grows! Run to bed Child and forget
what you have just asked and what have been foolish
enough to tell. Why, Gwenie! You are crying Your
fooo