Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-27

light from the clasp of her hanging hand.
" In the name of Heaven. Kit" he began in
a tone of utter bewilderment. but she checked
any further word by reaching out the hand
that held those flashing things and speaking in
a voice that cut into the very heart of him.
Take them, if you want Them" she said.
If you believe cared only for what you could
give me. take them. Ted. and learn the differ
ence. They only paste limitations. l sold
the real ones. as sold every other thing in this
house. to meet the demands of your creditors
when the crash came. and to keep your name
and your honor clean.
To keep WHAT" he cried. staring at her
with wrinkled brows and parted lips. What
are you talking about? What do you mean?
When the crash came! What crash? When
were my name and my honor ever in danger2
When3"
when the bubble burst she made reply.
When the Milling & Mining Company failed
and everything had on earth had to be
sacrificed to meet the demands of your cred
itors!"
"Faiedl The Milling & Mining Company
failed? Why, l made million out of it.
million! And to say that it failed Are you
crazyl"
MOT now: but I was to it then. You
never made anything out of it, Ted, not so much
one penny The day after your accident the
crash came: the scheme fell through the grand
coup changed into grand disaster. The Mill
ing & Mining Company went out like pricked
bubble. and of all that had come to me through
servant in the house. There never has been
since that dreadful day, because l couldn't af-
ford to keep one couldn't enter into any extrav
agance If | was to keep you in ignorance of what
had happened and to save the things that sur
rounded you with an appearance of luxury.
semblance of unlimited wealth.
xiii"
{" 1t is true, Ted, every word of it is true
everything to me. That's why never could
offer to return the money when you twitted me
with keeping it. There wasn't any to return.
it all went to your creditors the day you made
it over to me. We have nothing left in all the
world but just this house, this house which
brings US in nothing and is all we have left to
sell if we are to start anew. We have never had
one penny OF income from your supposed estate
from the day the bubble burst"
He stared at her in amaZement, in trembling,
in fright and wonder that were beyond all
words. But Kit" he said, after moment,
his eyes wide, ftful color coming and going
over his face, IF we have had no money. if
there has never been anything of my providing
every luxury: it has been purple and fine linen
for me all the time-for me! How have we
lived. then? What has kept us? What and
who-has paid?"
Il have been singing in the music halls"
she made answer. dropping her head, as though
she had done some guilty thing That's why
l had to have the new dresses. That's why
had to go out every night. l hated to do it:
but 1T was the only thing, the only thing! My
voice wasn't good enough for anything higher,
and something had to be done-and-and l
loved you so well / should have died rather
than have YOU find outl''
A GREAT shame bit into Lessington's soul.
but it not shame born of what she
had done. it was shame born of what he had
thought. what he had said. what he had be-
lieved. For moment it bent and broke him:
for a moment he had not the courage to look at
her: but when he did look. and saw in her eyes
that which only men who are blessed of God
ever do see in the eyes of women he put out his
arms to her as to a Rock of Refuge
And she-being only woman-forgot, and
forgave, and slipped into them with sigh Of
happiness and content I'VE begin anew,
Teddy Bear" she said with happy little
laugh. Nothing matters SO that have you.
We can begin anew, dear. and now that
Richard is himself again. and you have your
brain. and your youth, your strength and your
health. everything is possible, even the
quest of the world"
i've won the word'" he said, as he bent his
head and kissed her and drew her up close to
him and frightened his arms about her. You
know what Owen Meredith saws
Money is easy enough to win:
But man isn't loved every day!
I'll get back of the things-all the things
that worth having in it: but I've won the
world already, sweetheart: for you are my
worldl / understand it now, and-I love you
Oh, how love you'll"