Evening star., 1911-06-01

suddenly petulant, Its too bad Of you to
throw away Q chance like this"
Beatrice covered her face with her
hand with Q gesture Of complete weari-
ness.
II haze promised to do my best" she
reiterated. LET me do 1t my own way.
I cannot 90 tonight feel cannot. II
I went Il would only be Q failure. Let
me for once be Judge Of what IL best"
Her mother sighed resignedly.
you. You can be as obstinate az a mule
when you choose. I only hope you won't
live to regret It. Good night"
This time she did not give her daughter
the usual perfunctory and barely toler-
ated kiss At the bottom Of her torpid.
selfish soul she was bitterly hurt and
disappointed. as those people always are
who have hurt and disappointed others
their whole lives. and only glimmer OF
hope that Beatrice's determination might
have softened made her hesitate at the
door and glance back. Beatrice sat just
as she had sat the whole evening, in an
attitude Of moody thought, her fingers
still playing with the blood-red ruby. and
Mrs Cary went out. slamming the door
violently after her.
In consequence Of her long and futile
appeal. Mrs. Cary had made herself very
late, and when she entered the large
marquee which Travers had had erected
in his garden she found that all the
hal Singh himself. He stood facing the
entrance, and she felt. with consolng
sense Of spiteful triumph. how his glance
hurried past her, seeking the figure
which, no doubt, above all else had
tempted him thither.
The senior lady, Mrs. Carmichael, was
at his side, and as Mrs. Cary. In duty
bound, went up to pay her respects, she
added satisfaction to satisfaction by re-
lating loudly that her daughter had
- :.f> ~l~ h01
thought 1t worth while to increase by
form OF entertainment which. between
you and me, dear Mrs. Carmichael, bad
taste as 1t no doubt Is, has no attractions
for Beatrice. Now, anything outdoor and
nothing will keep her from it! She turned
to Stanford, who was standing with Lois
close at hand. THAT reminds me to tell
you, captain, how tremendously my
daughter enjoyed her ride with you yes
terday. II you promise not to get con-
ceited. will tell you what she said"
Il promise" he said. with a mock grav-
ity which concealed very real amuse-
ment.
'She said that in her opinion there
wasn't a better horseman In Marut, and
that 1t was more pleasure to ride with
keeping your promise?" She tapped him
playfully on the arm. Stafford bowed,
looking what he felt. hot and uncomfort-
able. There are some people who have
them and OF themselves. Mrs. Cary was
just such q person.
1T was very kind Of Miss Cary to say
so." Stafford said. stiffly. II am afraid
her praise is not justified"
All this time Nehal Singh had been
standing at Mrs. Cary's elbow, and she
had persistently ignored him. Deeper
than her reverence for any form OF title
was her wounded conviction that he had
once laughed at her and made her ridscu-
I<.,~ kf,f fx1s, Hod hot tn
suit that it came from q man whom. as
an Englishwoman. she had the privilege
Of "tolerating." A true parvenu. she had
quickly learned to suspect and despise
the credentials Of other intruders.
He turned away from her. and for the
first time there was something hesitating
and troubled in his manner. Hitherto
there had been songs and music Tor his
entertainment; 1t was now the turn OF
the Europeans to follow their usual form
Of pleasure, vet they looked at one an
other questionfngiy. 1t was the custom
Of the chief guest Of the evening to open
the dancing but this could hardly be ex-
pected of a native prince who was as yet
ignorant OF such things, and who must
still be bound and fettered by caste and
religion.
The pause Of uncertainty lasted only
moment, but for those, at least, whose
eyes were open. It was q moment SYM
bolical Of a great loneliness. In the
midst Of q gay and crowded world Of peo-
pie. linked together by a common tie OF
blood. Nehal Singh stood tsolated. He
did not know 1t, but 1t was that loneli-
ness which cast q transitory chill upon
his enthusiasm and made him draw him
self stiffly upright and face tho hundred
questioning eyes with a new hauteur. An
instant and it was gone-that illuminat-
ing flash vanished, like a line drawn
across q quicksand. beneath tho surface.
never to be seen again. perhaps never
even to be remembered.
(To be continued tomorrow.)