Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-10
conversation that ! had with the banker
Milbrath became excited.

4
| Miibrath became excited.
by George he cried. "Well look
that up as soon as We reach Boston. l
1 don't remember any vouchers but doubt
\ less they are with q pile OF truck that has
been in a deposit vault for the past six
months. The Endorsement on the check
! ought to prove whether the old fellow
who pressed you into commission Is the
one who got the money from uncle. Ger
tainly there were never two of that
name.
At that moment We were interrupted
by Gaspard, who declared that our lunch
would be spoiled il we delayed eating IL
for another minute glance at my
watch showed me that it was already
half an hour past the usual lunch time;
so we went inside.
The hour passed without the appear
ance OF Kilbourne. and I confess that
, felt considerably nettled by his conduct.
lie had no right to ignore the request of
Milbrath, who as owner of Overlook,
was. I'm point of fact, his host. So 1 sent
Gaspard to Red Gables to inquire whether
the party had returned from their sail.
and to ask Mr.. Kilbourne whether he had
forgotten that he was to lunch with me.
During Gaspard's absence Milbrath
grew silent. and sat in an absorbed atti
paper which he did not read in his hands.
Gay have arrive. IN sieu., Fay all eat
on zee grass-so, Gaspard announced
with flourish. Zee m'sieu Melbourne
will come-how he zay?-pre-sent-ly.'
] knew from that form Of answer that
kilbourne had not forgotten his engage
ment with me- but had indolently ignored
my request to return to Overlook to lunch
because of the fascination OF the moment
at the other end OF the line. That was
felt my indignation getting beyond
bounds. l perceived that Milbrath saw
the matter in It's true light, but he took
IL sensibly.
A half haur rarbacc ocuoa n, c;i>,c.
during which we both made pretense
at reading. Then Milbrath rose from the
ground where. for q time. he had been
lying face downward and shook himself
like great Newfoundland dog
II have an Indians habit Of listening
from the ground. he said. land an In
dams ear for footsteps. I think il 10 Kill
bourne approaching II you will excuse
me / will 60 to meet him." He walked
leisurey down the roadway. and near the
entrance Kilbourne and he met.
! had returned to the portico. and look
ing down I saw them at that moment. l
turned away. sorry to my hearts core for
Kilbourne. l felt that In Dolly Mcclure
he had found the one woman who could
hold his affection through s lifetime. and
that the loss Of her would mean at first
q crushing sense of the worlds incom-
pieteness. and later in his books. an
idealization of femininity by the side Of
which all others would be found lacking.
j turned into the house. loath to meet
l<ilbourne just then, but he came directly
to me In the library and closed the door
behind him. His face was iiyid. and
there was an expression of pain such as
never dreamed to see in his deep-set.
dark eyes. He crossed the room and
flung himself into the reading chair. Rest
ing his head against the high back, he
closed his eyes.
I made pretense OF writing as l sat
before the desk. but my pen dragged
and at length l let II drop and turned
I'll.
his eyelids I could see that he was think
ing rapidly. not resting, and presently
his eyes opened full upon me. He glanced
at the little Swiss clock that licked upon
the wall; then he rose and came to me.
There Is a train at 4. ] must take it.
VIII you arranee?'
/ nodded ..Kiibourne." began. but he
interrupted me with a motion.
"Dop'ti" he cried brolsenly. II know
but cannot hear il. Lad. what did tell
you about--Miibrath?" He shivered as IL
with cold. will you again doubt my
intution?'
did not answer.
But ! knew it from her first. Good
God, Elmer. to think that In my ign0-
rance l put her to that-my Dolly whom 1
would shield and spare"
He covered his face with his hands and
rocked back and forth. The man had
the girl he had panied. and. for time
at least, the eGotiat MAS translated into
a man of grief.
Presently he touched me on the Shout
der. The act was q caress.
"Laddie.' he said, II must be alone and
think
I rose at once and pushed my chair to-
ward him.
II will see Gaspard about the carriage
and come for you when IL Is ready. There
Is yet an hour before you need to leave
here l answered and left the room.
On the portico steps ] found Milbrath.
whiting a stick. He looked perturbed
and pale.
I'm going to Boston this afternoon.
you know. though il must be on the later
train" hs said, and looked inauiringly at
me.
II will join YOU in the morning. ..y
plans are changed for today" and I re-
ferred to kiIbourns's proposed departure.
"Gaspard will drive you to the station"
Il must return first to the Wipton
House, and I will drive over from there.
No. thanks. I will not drive In. II is
only short walk to the hotel by my
trail
He extended his hand as he spoke, and
moment later he had disappeared
among the trees on the lawn.
I went TO the stable and waited unit.
the horses were hitched.
When I drove uD to the house Kill