Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26
THURLEY RUXTON

ley and the Baron. She feared and dreaded
and the unacceptable suspicious that knowl-
edge of the princess" disappearance would
Immediately engender. Nevertheless, to
maintain smiling composure and to parry
insidious queries was taxing the utmost of
her ingenuity and all but driving her dis
tracted.
Major Phipps, who had been away re-
cuperating from his literary labors for sever
al weeks, was one of the callers. He came
with Kelsey Woods, and was annoyingly in
sistent in his probing as to Ihurley, her
whereabouts and prospects. Willie Stetson,
with twenty different punches of flowers for
Thurley to accept or reject, but to exercise
her wholly untrammeled choice upon, was
early on the scene Algy Dearborn brought
brand new limerick. Captain Fowler and
Beau Brymmer of the diplomatic service
arrived almost together.
Lady Honore Calthorp and Count Fiaschi
came together, as they had on number of
occasions. Gaillard came later, with floral
contributions, and by great good fortune did
not collide with the Count.
Fiaschi was sufficiently persistent in his
reiterated desire to be made acquainted at
once with Thurley's whereabouts. He cor
nered Alice by herself, at moment when
the others were engaged in mild debate on
woman suffrage, and repeated his wishes
anew.
at is not that shall be considered as one
of the limpid Others" he explained. "My
nature is one of fire and action-ah! so i'm
patient to move, to surround! Miss Thurley
herself understands. She would wish it for
me to be informed where she is, what she
does away from her home, where shall send
my eager thoughts to remind her of the
pleasant times whenever we have met"
II quite understand" said Alice, dis
traught by her haunting fears. IF l were
to tell you, Count Fiaschi, that she was far
away and in peril, what would your fire and
action do3"
He grinned. II should be aware, dear
lady, that you are humorous people, you
Americans shall wait. She must present
ly return. My longing shall bring her back!"
@Perhaps," said Alice; @but would pray
| God to send her humorous American man
| with good strong arm and fearless heart"
PUT, if the Count was insistent, Gaillard
- was fairly intolerable. The man was at
the brink of ruin. Fiaschi had crowded him
fairly to the edge-and he felt already that
| the slightest push must hurl him downward
to the pit.
Someway, in his desperate plight, he felt
| the necessity for Thurley Ruxton, some
| one of the other days, to whom to open the
gates of his soul and relieve the pressure
within. She had not replied to his letter,
that note amounting to curt demand that
she let him announce their engagement.
| He was not prepared to accept her mo" for
his answer. Today, however, it was any,
thing to find her, and perhaps compel her
consent to be his wife, He felt it would con-
quer Fiaschi. To discover that she was alb
sent from the scene, and to receive no adj
equate explanation of what her absence
meant, increased his annoyance.
"See here!" he said to Alice in his domi-
neering way. ave both understand that my
position with Thurley is unlike that of any
one else. have right to know where she's
gone"
Alice was nettled II wish it were such a
right as might keep you better informed,
and then perhaps you might assist instead of
goading me-"
aWhat do you mean?" he demanded.
@Youre not declaring your ignorance as to
where she ISL"
"And if were, what them"
He narrowed his gaze upon her, countless
suspicious flashing briefly in his brain.
@You' re sure she hasn't gone to New Haven't"
he said. at isn't some attempt to erase
all final traces of the past?"
Alice could almost have slapped him.
0IJar ,,oc+ with ,,2n che f1,,ariad che