Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-13

| !oi' ldclhS the 1act, disaster in the end
! Is almost certain. The government ma
chinery is very perfect: he who breaks
| the law can scarcely hope to escape ar
rest sooner or later And if that happens,
our world must never guess. Whoever
| accepts the work must leave here for an
| indefinite journey abroad. ostensibly. and
| in reality lose his identity absolutely
| somewhere. The one who goes must en-
| dure in silence whatever happens: the one
who stays
| Go on
| The one who stays" John finished
gently. must not interfere or try to
save
Robert shuddered slightly and sat still
1T is for the women he said, his boy
| lots. or will you let me go?''
/ Bert1e, Bertie. John exclaimed. and,
rising abruptly, walked to the rail
When he came back to the seat beside
his brother. it was with his face turned
from the silver light pouring through the
arches of the veranda.
we are spared the pain of choosing
| our roles. Bertie.'' he declared, with
grave tinality. The decision is not ours
TheodCra cares for one of us. Aunt Rose
admitted as much to me, although she
that one is the one who stays. You see,
| am INST taking it for granted that we
both love her We have never talked
about it, but we knew, l think.
Yes
john waited but no more was volun-
teered.
You agree with me-" he at last ques-
toned.
''Oh. I suppose So Robert flung. saw
agely. John. | am not blind; if YOU pro-
pose this. it is because you are satisfied
Theo will choose me. If you sacrifice
everything to save Sun-kist for the wom-
en-, it is because you mean the sacrifice
to be yourself Tell the truth il | were
TO IN he
plan
It said either of us could do the work "
Yes, burt you mean to do it Yourself.
II mean TO leave the decision TO Theo-
'Honestly?
Honestly. And our time is short Rob-
ert: ask her tonight when she comes
home
81 will not he refused. fatty Take
Your right as eldest and tell her your
story before [ tell mine. I will not take
that advantage of you. oh. if she were
only less delicate. less fastidiously reared.
less unable to endure even veXation, If
We could fight it out, you and IT,
Hush. hush; this is the fight We are
paying the penalty of being fit for no
better battle: he who can use neither
sword nor gun must be. sent to dig in the
muddy trenches.
I'VE could take care of ourselves
Without doubt. or starve decently. But
we have to take care of others.
John. let me 60.
Play fair. BERTHE
john
And Theo?"
The younger dropped his head against
the others knee.
Il think your part will be harder than
mine, John rejoined. after long silence.
1T is less difficult to suffer than to
watch another endure. | can very we'll
believe We are taking the wrong way,
but I do rot see a better. And for the
smudge-I have one consolation.
That is. john?
THE crime chosen is one the state finds
1t advisable to condemn for reasons of
policy. 1t is not so actual a wrong to
our fellow-men as fortune made in
Wall street or in specializing on their ne
cessities. L am going to break mans
regulations. not Gods law.
II hope you are. right said Robert
with equal reverence. But you are TAX
ing an unblaZed trail. and the safe road
lies far aside.
Down the smooth slope of the country
side crept the vibrating tin'ob of an auto
mobile, accompanied by laughter and the
faint sound of gay voices. Some one in
the party was singing-a man, whose
clear tenor reached the two on the We
randa. filtered to purest pathos through
the veil Of distance:
'Sconto col sangue mic
I.amOr que posi- IN te,
Non ii scordar--non II scoriar iii me
THAT is Billy Give, Robert identified
YEARLY. ''He is an arrant humbug. is
Billy; ! do not believe he ever had seri-
Gus moment in his life. Theo is coming;
will you speak to her. 1t may be you.
after ALL you know
II think not, BERTHE.
But you will try?'
Through the night air pierced the cres-
cendO vail of horn, startling the insect
choirs into silence and waking a sleepy
bird in the wistaria vines Both men
rose
"If / must" John yielded. Yet i have
an idea it will not matter who speaks
to the task tonight. Yes, will try
And try fairly. L.. as the white lights
of the car swung into the avenue, Il am
going in.
turning to the house door and John de-
scending the wide steps to greet the ar
rival.
1.-THE most delicious time pealed the
noise Of the halted automobile. Good
night. Mrs. Preston. Until tomorrow, Sue
and Billy. Oh, John. your
Come over tomorrow. Allard,' rang
the merry chorus.
Don't forget the hunt.
Bring Robert, old man..
..Adios. Theo.
The car started noisily and whirled
down the driveway.
Il am so tired sighed the girl on the
I
and throwing back the hood or her cloak.
Mamma has gone to bed, John? Oh,
and l do want tea! Why should / not
haze tea at midnight, if l like? l love
to be revolutionary.
''Why not. indeed? Sit down there in
your chosen divan, my lady"
you will bring me tea?
Wait only.
She sank laughing into a chair and be-
gan to draw off her long gloves. watching
! hi h Vplny -aI tn fbea 10 fru ~
in a nook of the veranda Allard pos
such tasks: perhaps 1t was as Well that
Robert was not busted with the fragie
china and glass that evening
"It was nice dance" Theodore unused,
aloud. But then. almost everything is
nice. Only missed you and Robert. A
dance without Robert is like a salad with
out cayenne.
"And salad with cayenne?"
is the chief Joy of lfe's dinner"
He brought the cup and she extended
slim, jeweled hand to receive 1t. Theo-
dora had a somewhat oriental taste; odors
| of sandalwood and rose breathed from
| her laces, her white wrist sparked with
slender bracelets. and the high comb in
her blonde hair held the CLINT of gems.
why do you not laugh at my cpl
gram" she demanded. Thank you; I
would say you were adorable II you did
not already know it. Please give me a
| biscuit and give yourself some tea. Why
are you so serious tonight?'
! II had something to tell you, l think"
| She waved a commanding spoon.
Then sit down and Begin