Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-14
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CHAPTER XXXIII,-Continued.

CHAPTER XXXIII.-Continued.
Kate put her hand on his shoulder from
where she stood behind his chair. Her
eyes were filled with happy tears. but
they did not wet her cheeks. You said
| that you were not poet" she whispered,
| but do not believe you. oh, am so
glad that you have told me about my
mother! Tell me some more, won't you.
please?"
Don't ask me to tell you any more.
girl" said Bennington. reaching up and
taking her hand. You have the picture
Of her. just as it stayed with me, and
now you can make up your own fairy
tales about her"
II want so much, to hear more Of her,
| and You seem to remember her so WELL
That is one great trouble with me.
said the old man, a little bitterly. Il can
never forget. And Dicks like me. child
that's why 1 want you to marry him."
Dick is not nearly so nice as you are.
protested Kate. He has cruel, bad
heart: while you are so kind and gentle
Bennington smiled grimly. Il suppose
YOU must have overheard some one talk
ing of me. That is my general reputa-
ton. is 1t not?''
WELL" said Kate. striving to do no one
Injustice ''they have not seen you as l
have"
Probably not. probably not" assented
Bennington. You are very much like
your mother. What is your name?"
Kate
We'll Kate. 1 want you to marry Dick.
You and 1 will be allies and we'll soon
bring him under discipline
why do you want me to marry Dick?
You can't imagine how much l care
for the boy confided the old man. HE
seems like myself over again-he is lots
like what I was at his age-and l know
he will never love but once. And, oh.
81 III 20 or,a
only once and to be disappointed that
once.
Kate sat on the arm of the chair and
her arm stole about his neck Did you
only love once and were you disappointed
them she asked.
That's the whole story of my life,
answered Bennington. shortly.
Was 1t your fault or was it the
girls?" she asked.
1T started in bit of youthful nom
sense-we were both proud-and. went
away. When / came back 1 had made my
start in life-but it was too late. 1t was
too late then.
Had she forgotten you?''
Il didn't try to find out. She was en-
gagged to be married ard I did not even
see her. 1 never did see her again
And was she a pretty gil; like my
| sprang to her feet and looked into his
eyes. .'Oh-was she my mother" she
exclaimed.
Tine Ola man only poWed MS head IN
reply.
And then that is why you and my
father have been such bitter enemies?"
she asked. and then. with q puzzled look.
added: But why should he be bitter
against you?
| II don't know for sure-and it is just
as well that l don't"
But you have some idea Tell me what
| you think
1T hardly seems right to stir up the
| past. but sometimes its lessons may help
us with our own. mutual friend told
me years afterward that after it was too
late-and oh. in such little while it be-
comes too late. Well, after it was too
| late she discovered that after all she had
| really loved me. She was a good wife,
| and il she had lived she would have been
| a good mother: but-and that is why
| want you to marry Dick. You do love
him. don't you?"
| Kate threw her arms about the old
mans neck and buried her face against
| his shoulder. "Oh. l dol do she muir
INJURED: but / never can tell him so now
Bennington put his arms about her ten
| derby. ard as she settled on his lap he
| rocked to and fro.
You don't have to tell him. YOU foolish
| child he said, patting her head ''all you
| have to do is to give him one chance to
| look into your eyes. ! know Dick.
| While the old man continued to rock
| to and fro he demonstrated his resem-
| blance to Dick by forgetting entirely that
| his worldly affairs were in the breakers
of rock bound coast but in the mean
time William Burton had hurriedIy GU
tered the outer office.
us Mr.. Bennington in?' he asked
Yes. sir" replied Ivan. THAT is, no.
not the one you wish to see. Just take
a seat
You don't lie gracefully rejoined Bur
ton. with suspicion. You had better cut
it out entirely urtil you have more ex-
perience. Who is with him.
why, Miss Burton-that is / don't"
But Mr.. Burton was already steaming
toward the door to the inner Office He
threw il open, saw the occupants of the
room spring to their feet. without re-
Numbering to unclasp their hands and
he came TO an abrupt stop on the thresh-
| old. His eyes cleaned angrily as he fas-
tened them on his daughter. What are
you doing in this office and why are you
| holding that mans hand?' he demanded
taking step forward.
For moment Kate was too. surprised
| to answer. She continued to hold the old
| mans hand and to lean against him for
| support, mental as well as physical.
| A look Of horror came into her father
eyes. You don't mean that there is
anything between you?' he gasped.
Look here. Burton" said the elder
Bennington, don't he an idiot. This girl
Is all right, and | am old enough to be
her fathe~-ard ] wish to heaven I was"
1T means. father said Kate. recover
ing. that am going to marry Dig; Ban
nington. and that j have just been get
ting acquainted with my future uncle
ard ! am going to love him dearly
4 sudden something caught In William
Burton's throat. And what about your |
old father he asked. gently. For an
swer Kate threw her arms about his neck |
and he resumed with unaccustomed hui |
inility: Il know l am silent and reserved |
and l don't wear my heart on my sleeve, |
but. Kate-I have always tried to be a |
good father to you
You have been. you have BEEN" Sob |
bed Kate.
daughter he said, forgetting as is not |
uncommon with strong characters, that |
they were not alone, land l have tried. |
have tried-hnt nothing can ever make up
10 you for what you have lost
Richard Harrington had turned away
and was gazing out the window humming
softly to himself and wishing that fire |
escape were within reach.
Father. you have done all you can and |
| love you with all my heart, said Kate