Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09


him, gentleman 1t was a dream come
true-it was a fairy tale! Can you see how
l hid my secret, my shame? think that
my soul is as white as-well never mind. |
couldn't tell Gordon-how could | risk it !?
| was SO happy! | was sure of his honest
love; but | was afraid of something stronger
than himself some instinct, some subcon-
scious revulsion of feeling. l didn't know
how it would end. didn't care, only that
| resolved never to marry him-unless- |
wonder if | could have told him? Well, it S
too late now All have now is his honor to
protect and cherish. The happiness of know
ing him was all ever had. We walked all
that three years on the edge of precipice
that he never saw. saw it always.
"He had plenty of money, at first. 1t was
all | could do to prevent his spending 1t all
on me. No one ever knew, no one ever
talked, about US; no one, at least, except
an intimate friend of his. Harry Hay.
@Mr. Brewster had string of race horses;
no other business family is old and
and lost steadily If l had known of it in
time, might have saved him; but it was
not to be.
7 Asst evening at about half-past seven
- o'clock, when l was dressing for the
evening, the doorbell rang, and Eliza, my
maid, came in to tell me that Gordon Brew
ster had come. 1t was so early that l had
not expected him for sometime yet. told
Eliza to show him into my little parlor while
completed my toilet. As she helped me
with my dressing heard him tramping up
and down the room and wondered at it.
Before had finished, he knocked on my
door and called out for me to hurry. His
voice was so harsh and excited that 1t
alarmed me. threw my things on hurriedly
and ran in. He was terribly excited. He
told me to get rid of Eliza he wanted to talk
to me alone. So l sent her away, and he
walked nervously up and down till she had left
"Then he came up to me and took both
my hands in his. Get your things packed
up right away, he said; enough to travel
with, at least. l am going to marry you
right away. We're going to take the train
to New Orleans tonight, and then by fruit
steamer for Central America. I'm dished!
mo, didn't cry. 1t was too critical a
situation. thought then that the time had
come when l chould have to tell him my
secret. Oh, he had asked me to marry him
scores of times-I had always been able to
put him off with an indefinite answer. |
couldn't bear to lose him; but was deter
mined not to be his wife until had con-
fessed what | was But now | saw he was as
determined as l. l said, What has hap
pened, Gordon
@Then he told me, told me what dread
to tell you; only, of course, you see, then
didn't understand how awful it was. He
was ruined. His favorite filly mad cost him
every cent he had in the world, and he owed
money everywhere. He had even don t
think need tell you all of it; perhaps that
can be covered up too. At any rate, he was
desperate. Nothing would do but for us to
be married that night and get away before
he was arrested.
@Think of it! The temptation to be alone
with him-his wife-sure of one friend for
ever! But the cost! l couldn't do it! How
could think of losing his honor, his good
name
Il don't know what l said; but | re-
fused. l told him that he couldn't marry
me, that he must stay and face his trouble, =
stay and make fight for it,-then, when
he was square with the world if he chose,
would be his wife Wasn't l right? l
loved him too much!
II never had time to finish You see he
had brought two pieces of luggage with him.
One was a suitcase, the other a small travel
ing bag. Before had ended my talk he was
fumbling in the bag-I didn't realize what he
was doing till he had pulled out a revolver.
His look was horrible. He could hardly
speak through his passion; but he cried out,