Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

her, and for the space of breath her eyes
net his.
Il am afraid you will not understand"
she continued 'but must try to make it
clear. must lay bare things that are secret
and sacred"
STOP! AS said at the beginning, my
business here is with my cousin"
please listen," she returned. II have
told you l should not have married John had
| known the truth beforehand; but that has
nothing to do with the case, nothing what
ever. A lover is not husband. 1t was not
until was married that began to realize
what a good man John was. Oh, don't
laugh, don't sheer: for l know l cannot
make you realize his goodness. But man
is not bad because he has committed one
great sin, any more than a man is good be-
cause he has done nothing terribly wrong.
And it seemed-it seemed to me-" her voice
fell to a whisper, that began really to care
for him only after our marriage. When he
told me the truth, thought my heart would
break: but it would have broken as much
for his sake as my own. Oh, Robert, know
you can't understands; for no man can TN
derstand thing like this"
Then please let it 60 at that" he inter-
rupted not unkindly. II repeat that have
come to deal with my cousin and with him
. only. If you wish, can 60 now and return
later. want nothing from John Carson but
good things You may say that after twenty
years might leave we'll or ill-alone. But,
although he went on Internationally, Il
have never thought of any woman but you, l
may yet decide to marry. And, should l do
so, have no intention of giving my wife and
children either a soiled or a false name 1t
is best to put it plainly, Mrs. Carson. Now
I will 60, and return at"
"Stay!" Her head dropped little lower
you could not put it more plainly than I
see it. You are here to compel my husband
fession. Have you thought what that will
mean to John?"
did John think what it meant to me two
and twenty years ago, when he stood there
guilty and let me be branded as the thief?
Has John thought what all those years have
meant to me? Has John thought"
She put out an unsteady hand. "Only
God and myself know what John has suf-
fered, and what he must suffer TO the very
end! Why" she asked suddenly, g. why have
you come on this night of all nights-the
you want2 Is it revenge?"
1T happens to be Christmas Eve; can't
help that. Nevertheless, it is surely time
for the making of reparation.'
mot for the extending of mercy, Robert,
mercy and forgiveness? Who can be truly
merry at Christmas save the young2 Should
not the wish of us older folk be kindly
Christmas For Christ's sake, be merciful!"
"You ask too much!" His voice was
hoarse as he rose to his feet.
In Christ's name one cannot ask too
much.''
He made an impatient movement; but
did not speak.
Robert she sought to control her voice,
Il honestly believe that John would have
atoned many years ago had it not been for
the children and myself; and l know-I
know that if he sees you here tonight he will
do all you desire without your asking it.
Many time he has said that if ever you re-
turned he would humble himself to the dust
And he will do it! 1 could not prevent him.
So l tell you that if Dunstrone and all the
places where he is known and loved rose up
to jeer and pelt him, should still be proud
to be his wife. But the public disgrace
would surely kill him, and-there are the
children!"
He was afraid she was giving way to tears;
but she rose and faced him bravely. He had
never seen blue eyes like hers, and they had
kept strangely Young