Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-18
Septinaus
By VII LIAM J.LOCKE
Copyright, 1905. BY the PHILIPPE Publish-
j'v Company
Copyright, 1907. By john Lane Ccnuany)


such rot wasting your life over thing
you haven't a chance Of getting
"Why?" said Septimus. Isn't that the
history Of the best lives?'
This philosophic plane was too high for
Emmy. who had her pleasant being in a
less rarified atmosphere. ITO want. to
get, to enjoy was the guiding motto of
her existence. What was the use OF
wanting unless you got, and what was
the use Of getting unless you enjoyed
She came to the conclusion that Septi-
mus was only sentimentally In love with
Fora, and she regarded his tepid passion
as a matter Of no Importance. At the
same time her easy discovery delighted
her. 1t invested Septimus with fresh
air of comicality.
You're Just the sort Of man to write
poetry. about her. Don't your"
"Oh, nor said Septimus.
Then what do you dor
81 play the bassoon." said he.
Emmy clapped her hands with JOY.
thereby soaring hen that was straying
on the common.
Another accomplishment? Why didn't
you tell us? I'm sure Fora doesn't know
Of 1t. Where did you learn?"
"wiggleswick taught me-" said he. He
was once In a band"
you must bring it round" cried
Emmy.
But when Septimus. prevailed on by her
entreaties, did appear with the 1nstru-
ment in Mrs. Oldrieve's drawing room.
he made such unearthly and terrific noises
that Mrs. Oldrieve grew pale, and Fora
politely but firmly took it from his hands
and deposited it In the umbrella stand
In the hall.
IT hope you don't mind" she said.
"Oh, dear, no. said Septimus, mildly.
II could never make out why any 10y
liked it,
Seeing that Septimus had a sentimental
side to his character. Emmy gradually
took him into her confidence. until Septi-
mus knew things that Fora did not d cam
of. Fora, who had been married. and
had seen the world from Nunsmere pond
to the crater of Mount Vesuvtus, treated
her sister with matronly Indulgence. as
vealed. She did not reckon with the
rough-and-tumble experiences OF ...e
which a girl must gain from two.year
battle on the stage. In fact, she did not
reckon with any OF the circumstances OF
Emmy's position. She. herself. was too
ignorant. too much centered as yet in her
own young impulses and aspirations. and
far too serene in her unquestioning faith
in the impeccability OF the Oidrteve fam
lily. To her Emmy was still the Hurry
haired little sister with caressing ways,
whom she could send upstairs for her
work basket. or could reprimand for q
Irritation. Emmy knew that Fora loved
her dearly; but she was the least bit In
the world afraid OF her, and felt that IN
affairs Of the heart she would be unsym-
pathetic. So Emmy withheld her conf
dence from Fora and gave 1t to Septimus.
Besides, 1t always pleases woman more
to tell her secrets to a man than to an
other woman. There is more excitement
~ 1t. even though the man be as I'M
moved as g. Stock-f1Sh. t
Thus it fell out that Septimus heard OF
Mordaunt Prince, whose constant APP
pearance In Emmy's London circle OF
friends Fora had viewed with plentiful
lack Of interest. He was a paragon OF
men. He acted like a Salvini and sang
vke an angel. He had been far too clever
TO take his degree at Oxford. He had
lust bought thousand guinea motor car.
and-Septimus was not to whisper a word
IF it to Zora-she had recently been on z
three-day excursion with him. Mordaunt
Prince said this and Mordaunt Prince said
that Mordaunt paid three guineas a pair
for his brown boots. He had lately d.
vorced his wife, an unspeakable creature.
only too anxious for freedom. Mordaunt
came to see her every day In London,
and every day during their absence they
corresponded. Her existence was wrap
ped up in Mordaunt Prince. She Travelled
about with a suit case Tor so 1t appeared
to Septimus) full Of his photographs lie
had been the leading man at the theater
where she had her last engagement. and
had fallen madly, devotedly. passionately
in love with her. AS soon as the divorce
was made absolute they would be mar
ried. She had Quarreled with her best
friend. who had tried to make mischief
between them with view to securing
Mordaunt for herself. Had Septimus ever
heard of such q cat? Septimus hadn't.
He was greatly interested in as much
Of the story as he could foliow-Emmy
was somewhat discursive-and as his in
iInnr0vOcAt1Ye
argument, he constituted himself a good
listener. Besides, romance had never
come his way. 1t was new to him, even
Emmy's commonplace little romance, like
a field of roses to q town-bred child. and
it seemed sweet and gracious, a thing to
dream about. His own distant worship
Of Fora did not strike him as romantic.
1t was part Of himself. like the hailow-
ed memory Of his mother and the concep-
ton Of his devastating guns. Had he
been more worldly wise he would have
seen possible danger in Emmy's romance.
and insisted OH Fora being taken into
their confidence. But Septimus believed
that the radiant beings Of the earth, such
whom quaint destiny kept him aloof.
could only lead radiant lives, and the
thought of harm did not cross his candid
mind. Even while keeping Emmy's Sc
cret from Fora, he regarded 1t as ro-
mantle and even dainty deceit
Fora, seeing him happy with his guns
and Wiggleswick and Emmy, applauded
herself nightly as a contriver Of good.
Her mother also put ideas into her head.
From the drawing-room window they
once saw Emmy and Septimus part at
the little front gate. They had evidently
returned from walk. She plucked
great white chrysaAthemum bloom from
bunch she was carrying, Kicked II
iaughingly in his face and stuck 1t IN his
buttonhole.
''What a good thing 1t would be for
Emmy" said Mrs. Oldrieve. with a sigh.
ITO marry Septimus? Oh. mother!'
She laughed merrily; then all at once
she became serious.
''Why not?' she CRIED and kissed her
mother
Mrs. Oldrieve settled her cap. She was
small and Fora was large, and Zora's
embraces Were often disarrangtng.
HE is a gentleman and can afford to
keep q wife"
land steady" said Fora, with a smile.
II should think quite steady" said Mrs.
Oldrieve without one."
And he would amuse Emmy all day
long,"
II don't think it is part of a husbands
duty. dear, to amuse his wife, said Mrs.
Oldrieve.
The sudden entrance Of Emmy. full of
fresh air. laughter and chrysanthemums.
put an end to the conversation: but
thenceforward Fora thought seriously of
romantic possibilities. Like her mother,
she did not entirely approve Of Emmy's
London circle. 1t was characterized by
too much freedom, too great q lack OF
reticence. People said whatever came