Evening star., 1911-05-31

MIS-. Carmfchael ana TrdverS exchanged
bafFied glances. The colonel seemed ir
some unaccountable way to have lost hi.
| nerve and, as though he felt and feared
| the questioning gaze OF his wife. hi
| leaned forward so that his face was hid
| den.
he repeated. as IL seeking to gain time
| Like my wife. I had other ideas on the
subject, but that has nothing to do with
| 1t. At the same time / feel it-eh-my
duty to-eh-tell you before you go further
for your sake. and-eh-every ones sake
certain details concerning Lois which
have not thought necessary to give to ths
world in general. You understand-I con.
! slider 1t my duty-only fair to yourself and
Lois"
II quite understand" Travers said. He
seemed in no way surprised. and his ex-
preston was that of q man waiting fol
the explanation to problem which had
long puzzled him.
Really. George! expostulated Mrs
Carmichael. not without indignation. lone
would think you were about to disinter
the most horrible family skeleton. You
are not to be alarmed, Mr.. Travers. II
IL all q little mysterious, perhaps. but
nothing to make such q fuss about
The colonel looked up under the sting
of her reproach and tried to smile.
II dare say my wife is right" he said.
II am. rather foolish about the matter
possibly because It is all linked together
u .
Travers. my dearest friend. Steven
Caruthers. had no children. The baby
girl whom by his will he intrusted to my
care was not his child. nor have ever
been able to discover whose child she
really was. His will spoke Of her as his
adopted daughter. who was to bear his
name and In fault Of any other heir to
inherit both his own and his wife's large
fortune. More / cannot tell you, for
myself do not know more"
II TT IL zA AAv~1lA ~ Aufn ~
the word know. as though somewhere
at the back OF his mind there lurked q
suspicion which he dared neither deny
nor express openly. and. In spite OF his
attempt at cheerfulness. his features were
stiil disturbed and gloomy.
"You know one thing more, which you
haven't mentioned" Mrs. Carmichael said,
land that IL that Lois is OF good family
on both sides. Steven Caruthers told YOU
so.'
Yes, that's true-I forgot" the colonel
assented. He assured ME that on both
sides she was OF good. even high birth,
and that he had adopted her partly be-
cause he had no children of his own and
which he owed her father. 1t does not
seem to me that 1t makes much differ
ence"
ut makes all the difference in the
world. 0eorre," retorted Mrs. Carmichael.
who for some reason or another was con-
siderably put out "You don't want Mr..
Travers to think that Lois was picked up
In the street. do you?"
"Of course not" her husband agreed.
"but then He broke OF, and all
three relApsed into an awkward silence.
Trayers was the first to speak. He had
been looking out over the garden and had
seen Lois white dress flash through the
bushes.
FOR my part he began. quietly. II
can have an influence on the matter. ]
love Lois. That is the chief thing-or
rather the chief thing Is whether or not
she can learn to love me. Whether she
Is the child Of sweep or q prince, II
makes no difference to my feelings to-
ward her."
Mrs. Carmichael held out her hand.
well, whatever happens you are q
man before you are q prig," she said.
for In these degenerate days. Why.
there - the child herself! Come here. my
dear"
Lois came running up the veranda steps
with Stafford close behind her. Her eyes
were full of laughter and sunshine. and
| In her hand she held mass Of roses
which Stafford had gathered during their
Good. evening. Mr. Travers." she ex.
rose 20 greet her. Il did not expect te
| md You here. How grave you all look
And what lovely nowers!'
Trsvers considered hts bouquet with 4
Il brought them from my garden. Mis-,
| lCaFuthers," he said. They were mean
tor tonights feativity. But Il seems the,
have come too lafs-you are already vel
/ S3ksc-.~. ,,e~e~ $500 xr<.s lat> .rlv -,