Evening star., 1911-06-01
CHAPTER Z.
At the Gates Of a Great People.

Although Travers lost no time in set
ting to work on the task of calling a new
and suitable clubhouse into existence. he
realized Immediately that. do what he
would, he could not hope for completion
before the lapse of q considerable time,
and this period Of waiting did not suit
his plans. Already on the day after the
rajah's reception he had arranged for a
return Of hospitality which was to take
place in his own grounds and to be on an
unusually magnificent scale. The Euro
pean population Of Marut shrugged its
shoulders as IL saw the preparations, and
observed that IL Travers had been az gen.
erous in the first place there would never
have been any need to have sought for
support from q foreign quarter-at which
criticism Travers merely smiled The
clubhouse was. after all. only a means
to very much more important end OF
his own.
Ratah Nehal Singh, of course. accepted
the invitation sent him, and scarcely
week passed before the eventfui evening
arrived toward which more than one
looked forward with eager anticipation
not least Mrs. Cary, who saw in every
large entertainment fresh opportunity
for Beatrice to carry out her own particu-
lar campaign. 1t was, therefore. as Mrs.
Cary angrily declared, fresh dispensa-
the very same day Beatrice fell iii. What
malady had her in it's clutches was more
than her distracted and aggrieved mother
could say She sat before her writing
table. playing idly with q curiously cut
stone. and appeared the picture Of health.
Yet she was ill-she repeated 1t obstinate
ly and without variation a dozen times
In response to Mrs. Cary's persistent pro-
tests.
"You don't look IT," Mrs. Cary exclaim-
ed. in evaporation. as. arrayed in her
newest wonder from Paris, she came to
say goodbye II can't think what's the
matter with you and you won't explain.
you a headache? For goodness sake, say
something, child.'
Beatrice looked at her mother calmly.
and q curious mixture Of bitterness and
amusement crept into her expression as
her eyes wandered over the bulk In
mauve satin to the red face with the in
dignant little eyes.
What do you want me to say?" she
asked Il can't explain pains haven't
If you haven't got any pains then you
aren't H.
Beatrice laughed.
That shows how ignorant you are OF
the human constitution, my dear mother"
she said. THE worst illnesses are pain
less-at least. In your sense Of the word"
Il am not so ignorant as not to know
one thing-and that is you are simply
shamming." burst out the elder woman,
with vicious tug at her straining gloves
"Shamming just to aggravate me, too!
You do 1t to spite me. You are bad
daughter
Beatrice turned round 80 sharply that
Mrs Cary broke on In the middle Of her
abuse with gasp.
Il do nothing to aggravate or spite
you. Beatrice said. with q calm which
her eyes belied. 'I have never gone
against you in the whole course Of my
life What
been here but play an obedient fiddle to
Mr.. Travers' will. in order that your DO
sition might not be endangered"
Our position" interpOsed Mrs. Cary.
hurriedly.
mo. your position. There may have
been time when I cared. too. but l
don't now. / have ceased caring for any
thing. To suit Mr.. Travers, I have
fooled. and continue to fool. Q man who
mas never harmed me In his life. ! move
heaven and earth to come between two
people for whom alone in this whole
place have glimmer OF respect"
Respectr jeered Mrs Cary.
Yes, respect-uot much. confess hut
still enough to have made me leave them
alone IL l had had the chance Lois has
been kind TO me. ! happen to know that.
little as she likes me, she Is about the
tongue from siander and-the truth. AS
for John Stafford. II he IL 4 narrow.
minded bigof. ne ID. at least. . man. and
that Is something to appreciate"
That is just what think" Mrs. Cary
said. conciliatinsly. And. therefore, he
is the very husband for you, dear child. !"
You think so not because he IL o man,
but because he has . position In which
II would suit You excellently to have q
son-in-law. Wen. have promised to do
my best. though am convinced It IL too
late"
There is no of1cial engagement be-
tween them." Mrs. Cary said. hopefully.
''and you know your power. Beatty. He
already likes you more than enough, and
what with Mr.. Travers on the other side.
AL the same" she continued. becoutnu