Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-12
CHAPTER EContinued.

had given Wayne up; that he believed
the passion for drink that took hold o
his son at times was In the nature of {
disease, to be suffered patiently ant
borne with Christian fortitude.
! Wayne was veXed at his sisters man
ner: lie disliked contention and there
was nothing to be gained by being dis
agreeable over their fathers marriage
He left the room to find fresh cigarettes
and when he came back the air hat
| cleared Col. Craighill, anxious on hi
part to be cOnciliatory, was laughing a
renewal of Fanny's crOss-questioning.
Where did Miss Allen attend school?'
she was asking.
Il believe she had private teachers,
replied Col. Craighill though not. posi-
lively.
And she isn't a teacher herself OF &
pbilanthrOpist? Has she money!"
"She and her mother are, ! believe, il
comfortable circumstances. I hope tina
| you and Wayne will appreciate the diff
| culties before this lady in becoming my
where she will be criticised unkindly
from the very fact of my position here
and the disparity in Our years and for
tunes. / appeal to you, Fanny. as to ont
woman on behalf OF another You car
| make her way easy if you will
He had. with the best intentions in the
world, struck the wrong note. In ST
many words. he was asking mercy where
there had been no accusation. Mrs. Blai
had not the slightest intention of com
fathers new wife. So far as the public
was concerned she would carry off thu
situation with outward acceptance an(
approval; but just now she declined t.
consider the question i'm the key hel
| father had sounded. To him she was
frivolous person with unaccountable err
ratio ways. and with nothing of his owl
measure OF sobriety. She made no repl,
whatever to his appeal, but chose an
other bOnbon and ate it with exasperat
| ing slowness. Wayne saw-as her fathe
did not-that she was angry; but Mrs
Blair fell back upon the half-mockinl
mood with which she had begun, de
| manding:
| us she modish? Does she wear he
clothes with an air?'
Il hope" said Col. Craighill betrayed
into the least show of resentment by hel
refusal to meet his question: hope
/ Fanny, that she dresses like lady
| $50 do /. papa, if it comes to that
You haven't told US yet how you came
to meet Miss Allen
1T was last spring when 1 went Il
Bermuda. She and her mother We're or
the steamer. I saw good deal of then
York. which is now really their home"
Have they ever been here?-I have
known Aliens.
I'm quite sure YOU have never me
4
died they have Travelled much Of thu
| time
$50 your frequent trips to New Yorl
haven't been wholly philanthropy ant
| business! You speak her name as though
you had got well used to it. It's funny
but I've never known Adeaides. Hav,
you ever known an Adelaide. Wayne?''
"A lot of them; SO have you If yol
will think of it," answered her brother
He saw that his father was growing
/ CIT md he hot MN CO
ing too far. There was a point at which
she could vex those who loved her most
but being wiser than she seemed sh
usually knew it herself. She pushet
away the bonbon dish and slapped he
hands together lightly:
| Wayne she cried, what are w
thinking Of? We must see her picture
Now. papa! you know you have 1t IL
your pocket
Certainly. we must see Miss Allen
picture" echoed Wayne. relieved at hi
sisters change of tone.
| ''Later-later!' but Col Craighilrs an
noyance passed and he smiled again.
1T isn't dignified in you to invite teas
| ing. papa. You know you have her pho
tograph. Out with it. please!''
She bent toward him as though threat
| ening his pockets He laughed, but col
ored deeply: then he drew from hi
waistcoat a thin silver case trifle large
than a silver dollar, and suffered Fam!
to take 1t.
Now" said Col Craighill. settling him
self in his chair. you see I am no
afraid. Fanny. of even your severe judg
| ment.
She weighed the unopened trinket il
her palm as though haunting her curiOs
ity. Wayne lighted a fresh cigarette an(
| turned toward his sister. He was sur
prsed at his own indifference; but HI
who naturally wished his children to b.
interested and pleased. Fanny opened
the locket and studied 1t carefully for al
| instant.
Charming! Perfectly charming" Shit
| exclaimed; and then, holding 1t close ant
turning her head and pursuing her lip:
as she studied the face. but I thought
you didn't like such fussy hairdressing-
| you always told me SO. ! don't like thu
| ltra-marcelling; but it's we'll done-anl
| If it's all hers and she can manage i
| without a rat she's wonder. You've
| always decried the artificial. but I SEE
you're finding that nature has her veal
points Those eyes are just trtfie in
| scrutable, a little heavy-lidded ant
dreamy-but we'll have to see the origi
nal. Her nose seems regular enough
and her mouth-wel. l wouldn't trust
any photograph to tell the truth abou
a mouth She's young-my own los
youth smites me! Here. Wayne. behold
| her counterfeit presentment.''
Wayne inhaled a last deep draught OF
his cigarette and dropped 1t into the 81
tray. He took the case into his fingers
and bent over 1t. slight smile on Ms
lips.
BE careful! Be CAREFUL calculated
his sister, This is a crucial moment
Wayne's empty hand that lay on the
table slowly opened and shut: the smile
left his lips, but he continued to study
the picture.
"Well. Wayne! Are you having sc
much trouble to make up your mind?
demanded Mrs. Blair. her keen sensibiI-
tiles aroused by the fiXedness of Wayne's
stare at the likeness before him and the
resulting interval of suspense. There was
something here that she did not grasp
and she was a woman who resented be-
ing left in the dark. This interview witt
her father had been trying enough, but
her brothers manner struck her omi-
nously Col Craighill smiled urbanely
undisturbed by his sons prolonged
scrutiny of the face in the locket; he
attached no great importance to Wayne's
opinions on any subject. To Mrs. Blair
however. the silence became intOlerable
and she demanded:
Are you hypnotiZed-or what has
struck you. Wagner"
Nothing at ALL he laughed, closing
| the locket and handing 1T back. II have
no criticism-most certainly none. Father
/ offer my congratulations.
And this happened midway of Septem.
Der, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and seven.