Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-28

little girl to whom you, were once rather
kind"
He held the hand for a moment and
smiled into her face. Very Well" ne
said. For the present let 1t be so. If i
relapse again into the curious person
will give you warning.
'You shall not relapse" she said. smil-
ing at him: II shall not let you go. l
that 1 have. fewer friends even today
than had N the days when you first
1T Tonight, tn b." he said. you have
added tt. their number by one"
1t was rather like a dream to him
afterward, to find himself established as
her escort, walking by her side from the
steamer. seeing her small luggage through
the customs. bringing her coffee to the
carriage which carefully bestowed tip
had secured for the three of them. Her
maid, who spoke not a word of English,
was useless, and evidently viewed Han
| naway's coming as heaven-sent She sat
with closed eyes in corner after the
Christine talked together in English.
you must wonder many things about
me- she said. softly. I'VE begin. of
| course, on the night when you heard me
sing in that little alley. Our memories
go no farther back.
Mine" he assured her, lis already a
blank
Il was not playing any part then" she
went on. II can assure you that | was
| singing for my living, and grateful for
the pennies that Chicot picked up. You
| must have seen how hungry I was when
| you took me to the restaurant
Things" he remarked, ARE changed
/ now"
| "They are changed she answered. q
was in search of some one all the time. 1t
was for that we were in England, Am
| brose and Chicot and 1. / had almost
given up hope when l found-not the
person l expected to find" she continued.
| in a rather lower tone, but some one
| else. 1t came to the same thing. 1t was
some one from whom had right to de-
mand release from my hateful life"
You mean the Marquis of Ellingham.
! of course" Hannaway said. softly.
/ She nodded. YES" she answered. you
saw me with him last night
II will tell you something else" he
continued. Il saw you at Victoria. l
saw you recognize him. j saw you drawn
into the carriage and spirited away
She looked at him with parted lips. a
| little pale at the recollection of that Won
derful moment. You were there?" she
| whispered. ITO me it was great shock.
1 saw him come and all the platform
seemed spinning round. My heart al
most stopped beating. 1 saw no one but
him. You do not understand that 1t was
wonderful
mo. L do not understand altogether y
he said: Never mind. l ask no ques-
tered things for you
cit is he" she answered. II have an
income. / have letter to his solicitors.
They are to find me house. / am going
the time l have tramped those muddy
streets in torn clothes and thick. patched
boots"
ut is a great change" he murmured.
1T Is a great change she assented.
There is only one thing which I fear.
7 hol hov M friends I afraid of
being lonely"
He nodded. He felt that silence was
best. He could ask no questions concern
ing Lord Ellingham which might not Of
| fend her.
IT am sorry to hear that" he said
Life without friends Is very much like
dinner without salt. But it will not be
| for long, he added. looking at her.
II am not sure she answered.
"You are sure of one at any rate he
declared.
She looked at him steadily. There We're
many things in her face which he could
not understand. There was sort of fear
and there was a sort of wistfulness.
There was also an almost passionate in
tensity What was it she was begging
him, he wondered. What was it she
feared from his friendship, or hoped
for?
II hope that you mean it." she said.
ooh, do hope that you mean it! Only
I have known SO few men, and they have
not been the sort that make good
friends
friendship becomes impossible l will tell
you So"
She seemed puzzled She even repeated
his words to herself. Then a possible
meaning of them seemed to occur to her.
She looked away with little uneasy ges-
ture, slightly, charmingly confused. Was
she really still so much of a child, he
wondered. or was she a supreme actress
1--WE will not think Of any evil days.
she said. Remember that to be my
friend will be no sinecure. There will De
so many things that 1 Shall want to
know, so much advice, so much help,
that I shall need.
Il am an idle man." he answered. Il
shall be always at your service
"Then begin, please" she said, looking
out of the window to where the great
semicircle of lights showed that they
were approaching London. begin. please,
by telling me a hotel to which l can go
with Marie here-something very good,
but very quiet, where people VIII not look
at me because l am alone
He wrote the name and address and
gave it to her. You had better mention
my sisters name, lady Harrington" he
| said. "She always stays there You see
1 have written her name upon this little
slip of paper
The train glided up to the platform.
She seemed unaccountably nervous.
you will not leave me-" she begged,
until our baggage has passed through
the customs? / am not used to travelling
alone think that am little nervous
Il had no idea of leaving you. he as
sured her. 1--WE will put your small things
in a cab and then go back to find your
trunks. 1t will be matter Of only
few minutes
Her eyes swept the platform immedi-
ately they descended. She walked close
to Hannaway's side as they moved about:
When at last they drove off she waved
her hand out of the window of the cab
and smiled at him delightfully."-.
EAU revoir." she murmured. 'Tomor-
row, remember
Hannaway followed her few min
utes later in a hanson, on his way to his
rooms. The people in the streets seemed
all unreal. Never romantic person, he
was suddenly conscious of vein of
something which assuredly had little to
do with the practical side of life.
1T Is that cursed Heine,' he muttered
to himself But she is wonderfully
(To be continued tomorrow