Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27


It's pity people should have thought any
thing else
''You gave them cause"
"Yes-I'm sorry"
There was dignity in her quiet tone; but
it was lost on Natalie, who saw in Mrs.
Kempton's contrition only the ruse of a
clever woman who plays to win at any cost.
"You are sorry?" she laughed again.
You'll forgive me if l seem little sur
prised at that"
Mrs Kempton raised her eyes to those of
her hostess; for her voice was very cold,
very quiet, and her face was set in lines that
made her look years older than she was
"You are sorry?" she went on, carelessly
bitter. "And yet you meet my husband and
make free of my house in my absence! Is
that your idea of penitence?"
SOMETHING in the tones of Mrs. Gar
~ RIOTS voice startled her visitor, who
started up, her eyes wide, and extended both
hands before her as though warding off a
blow "Natalie!' she said hoarsely. "What
do you mean?"
Natalie had risen too and stood facing
her, while she went on. 1T is true. You
must have been out of your wits to think
shouldn't have learned of it. They say GUS
tom makes for fancied security. Were you
obliged to come here? Surely you might
have made some arrangement
"Stop! l will not listen!"
''You must. You thought that by riding
with my husband, breakfasting with him,
by eating my food, using my servants, you
could disarm suspicion. You came to this
house. No one saw you enter it. But you
were here. There seems to be no secret
about that" She paused for breath and then
added, perhaps you'd like to explain
Abby stared at her hostess, pale and dis
turbed. And as she looked an expression
very like horror came into her eyes. Then
her eyes wavered and she sank into her
chair again and put her hands to her head,
trying to think. No one had seen her enter
the house! That was true. If Natalie chose
to believe what the servants said, there was
no way of disproving it. No one had seen
them leave Long Point in the Vas-y, be-
cause the Schuylers' servants were not
abroad at dawn-nor had the servants at
the Grange witnessed their disembarka-
ton. There had been no one about but the
groom, and he-yes, Brooke had taken her
in and given her some sherry and biscuit
She remembered that she had felt cold after
coming over in the motorboat. The groom
had seen them come out on the terrace. II n
own maid-no, Josephine was i'll with
iltdudCIlt, dtlu DCCll dlSiIlSoSo III LIN
evening She realized with dismay that the
chain of circumstances was complete, If Ma
talie chose to believe them.
"Its pity came home so soon, Abby
DEAR" Mrs. Garriott went on Jelly. II
shouldn't have disarranged your plans for
the world especially after they had been
so adroitly made"
Mrs. Kempton lifted her head at last and
got to her feet again. "Do you believe
really believe" she stammered.
Natalie was adjusting her hair with
studied calmness in the mantel mirror. She
shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
don't see that have any choice. Do you
deny it?"
Mrs. Kempton rose from her chair with
dignity that was more than a match for
Natalie's Indifference, then gathered up her
gloves and the riding crop Natalie had laid
conspicuously on the table. mo" she said
quietly, Il deny nothing. was here.
Think what you choose of it. rode with
Brooke and breakfasted here. I'm glad
did. l should do it again if he asked me.
You can't understand a man who is clean
like Brooke. You don't deserve him.
Good ~"
All, before Natalie could speak again,
with flushed face she had passed through
+1,o ord to bo