Evening star., 1911-01-15

The Hero
Continued from page s

others and even for oneself"
NO. he answered stolidly.
"You speak, she said impatiently, with
the exasperating impassiveness of Fate-if
Fate might be supposed to have voice. You
don't say anything to help me-
"How can l, when don't know in what
way you want help?'
"How can l tell you," she flashed back at
him, "when l don't know MYSELF"
He slightly raised his eyebrows in a sort
of quizzical mockery of her vehemence, but
said nothing.
"How can | have any patience with you
when you simply jeer at me9'
Il don't" he began earnestly and an
xiously.
aAnyhow, you are as provokingly non
committal as an oracle, and-and about as
dull"
roth were so intently absorbed that
- neither heard slight tapping noise and
the soft dragging of draperies over the ter
race surface. A high, shrill voice brought
them to instant attention.
"Why are you glaring at each other9"
broke in the sharp, domineering tone. "What
kind of new game is this you are playing?s
at is not game, Grandmama," said
Eveline, swiftly turning, "and yet, she
added as she moved away, Il am not sure
that it is not, either"
She walked rapidly off, and at once en-
tered the house through one of the open low
windows. The person she addressed watched
her departure then glanced at Seaton with
significant smile. She was rather remark
able apparition,-a wonderful old lady as
she stood in the brilliant outdoors, the
whole artifciality of her attire and makeup
rendered more pronounced and lncongruous
ox1,a ,cfro
Her laces, as relatively precious as her jewels,
appeared irreconcilably against the strong
bright sky, and the powder on her face, in
the uncompromisng light, gave her almost
the grotesque whiteness of PolichineNe. If
the fairy godmother who was not invited to
the christening had finally arrived in gown
by Callot, her appearance must probably
have been much the same. In her hand she
carried black, gold headed stick on which
the disrespectful suggested her riding to
some modish Waldsburgnacht. Indeed,
many who had felt her power wished that
the methods of an earlier time in dealing
with witches still existed, and that she might
have fallen under condemnation. They
failed, however, to consider that, if there was
any burning or more modern form of tortur-
ing taking place, the object of their i'll wishes
would assuredly not have been the victim
but would have been among the Judges or
else have occupied desirable front fauteuil
for the performance.
"Hoity toity!" she began. "Well, we'll!
Girls will be girls!"
She grinned with cheerful expansion on
Seaton, who fancied that he detected mani
fest righteousness in her manner. He re-
membered we'll her constant frowning disap-
proval of his presence near Eveline and in
her jocularity he found further reason to
forecast his defeat.
"Not that of course there is not very
good reason for her being upset just at pres
ent,' she went on. An involuntary blink in
the morning glare had much the effect of
knowing wink "A girl who has just gone
through anything SO romantic as having her
life saved by man who is courting her is
naturally a little exalted. 1t hastens all SO
much, and some girls don't like to be hurried
in these matters. Not that all has not been
practically settled between her and Gerald
Esgrove for good while"
@Ah!" murmured Seaton DULY.
"Yes," continued the speaker cordially.
Il think that should tell you, though Eve
line probably has already given you some
intimation of it,
@No," replied Seaton, as she paused look
ing at him.
@Really, l think she ought the old lady
continued hr;ct1x,. @for vo,, have a1uayc had