Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
CHAPTER III.
The Bloodstained Portrait

IN the vestibule hung around waiting till
i Anne and Mrs. Dennis Sutherland would
reappear from the cloakroom.
1t was close the time when | was due at
Whitehall Gardens; but must have parting
word with Anne, even at the risk of being late
for the appointment with my chief.
Jim and Mary passed through and paused to
say goodnight.
its all right, Maurice?" Mary whispered.
And you're coming to us tomorrow"
Yes; to say goodby, if l have to start on
Monday"
lust about time YOU were on the warpath
again, my boy said i'm bluffly. "Idleness is
demoralzing, specially in London"
Now this was scarcely fair, considering that
it was little more than month since returned
from South Africa, where had been to observe
and report on the conditions of labor in the
mines; nor had / been by any means idle dur
ing those weeks of comparative leisure. But
knew, of course, that this was an oblique refer
ence to my affair with Anne; though why Jim
should disapprove of it so strongly passed my
comprehension If Anne chose to keep me on
tenterhooks-well that was my affair, not his!
Still, / wasn't going to quarrel with Jim over
his opinion, as l should have quarreled with
any other man.
Anne joined me directly, and we had two
precious minutes together under the portico.
Mrs. Sutherlands carriage had not yet come
into the courtyard, and she herself was chatting
with folks she knew. There were plenty of peo-
pie about, coming and going; but Anne and
paced along out of the crowd and paused in the
shadow OF one of the pillars.
She looked ethereal, ghostlike, in her long
white cloak, with filmy hood thing drawn
loosely over her shining hair. | thought her
paer than usual, though that might have been
the effect of the electric lights overhead, and
her face was wistful, but very fair and sweet
and innocent. One could scarcely believe it to
be the same face that few minutes before had
been animated by audacious mischief and CO.
La~.,
changed with every fleeing moment.
I've behaved abominably to you all the
evening" she whispered TREMENDOUSLY. And
yet you We forgiven mel''
There's nothing to forgive. The Queen can
do no wrong" l answered. How Jim Cayley
would have jeered at me if he could have heard!
Anne | love you l think you must know
that by this time, dear"
Yes, l know, and-and l am glad-Mau-
rice, though l don't deserve that you should
love me. I've teased you so shamefully!
don't know what possessed mel"
Il / could only have kissed those faltering
lips! But dared not We were within range
Of too many curious eyes. Still, l held her hand
ment we saw each into the others soul, and
| saw love there, the true love passionate and
pure, which, once born, lasts forever, through
life and death and all eternity.
She the first to speak, breaking silence
| that could have lasted only fraction of time ::
1
| an nfinitude of Joy or sorrow.
And you are going away SO soon! But we
| shall meet Tomorrow"
Yes We'll have one day. at least. There is
| SO much to say" Then in flash l remem-
bered the old man and Cassavetti, the mystery
that enshrouded them and her. :" l may not be
| able to come early, darling" l continued hur-
riedly. II have to see that old in the
| morning. He says he knows you that you are
| in danger; | could not make out what he
| meant. And he spoke of Cassavetti he came
to see him, really. That was why dared not tell
you the whole story just now"
"Cassavetti!" she echoed, and saw her eyes
dilate and darken. who is he-what is he?
l never saw him before: but he came up and
talked to Mr.. Cayley and asked to be introduced
to me, and-and l vexed with you,
Maurice, that | began to firt with him, and
then-oh, don't know-he is SO strange-he
perplexes, frightens, mel"
"And yet you gave him flower" said re-
proachfully.
Il can't think why. l felt queer, if l
couldn't help myself. / just had to give him
one,-that one-and when l looked at him
Maurice, what does red geranium mean?
Has it"
MRS. DENNIS SUTHERLANDS car
~ riage!" bawled a liveried official by the
center steps.
Mrs. Sutherland swept toward u.s. Come