Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-18
when It was opened-and when II would
no npepad

be opened.
Presently the curtains behind him were
pushed quietly on one side. He did not
turn around. He supposed It was his ma
tive servant with the cup Of coffee which
formed his early morning refreshment:
but the soft step across the uncarpeted
floor, the rustic of woman's dress
startled him from his illusion. He turned
and sprang to his feet
''Beatrice.' he exclaimed
She came toward him with outstretched
hand.
May I speak with you for few min
utes. John?" she asked.
His first impulse to protest against her
reckless disregard Of propriety died away
on his lips. Something on her white
earnest face touched him-all the more
perhaps, because 1t linked itself with his
own mood. He brought a chair-his own
for the room boosted of but one.
Are you angry?" she asked again
looking up at him.
AT your coming? No. At another time
/ might have warned you that it was not
wise, but / feel sure you would not have
run so much risk without a serious and
adequate reason"
She nodded.
Yes, l have a very serious reason,
she said Have YOU time to spare?'
"All the morning.
Were you on duty last night?"
For the best part
us that why you look so tired and ill?''
He smiled family.
Il might reply with a tn quoque Blu,
that doesn't matter. You have some
trouble to tell me. What has happened?
You have heard nothing?"
Nothing whatever" He drew a stool
toward him and seated himself at her
side. You know, l am not person to
whom gossip drifts quickly
It's not gossip-it's truth. The Marut
Diamond Company is closed-for good
and ALL
You meant has gone smash"
"Completely-and we with it."
He sat silent for a moment. his head
resting thoughtfully on his hand
Il suppose it had to come he said, at
last. Somehow, it always seemed to me
that the concern was doomed The
foundations weren't honest The rajah
was more or less beguiled into it" He
broke off. turning crimson with veXation
Il beg your pardon. Beatrice. l forgot
that that was one Of your-escapades
She looked at him steadily, and he was
struck and again strangely moved by her
pale beauty He had never seen her Sc
gentle, so free from her cold and hooking
gayety.
You must not apologize. And do not
smooth over a mean, low trick with the
name Of an escapade. 1t was not an es-
capade, for an escapade is the overflow
of high and reckless spirits. and what
did was done in cold blood and with a
i
that purpose
He could not repress movement of
surprise.
Surely you have something more seri-
Gus on your mind than that? II, as you
say, your-your financial position has
been rendered precarious by this failure
of the Marut company, would it not be
advisable to hurry on our marriage at
once? OF course, in the meanwhile, If |
can do anything to help your mother
She touched him gently on the arm.
Il told YOU / had come on q serious
tell you what 1t is?"
''Of course, Beatrice, Of course. Only
thought that was the serious matter"
1T is, perhaps, for my mother. but not
for me. Things have changed their value
in my life. Just now l feel there is only
one thing that has any value at all. and
that Is freedom
From what? 1 do not understand Do
you mean from debit"
She smiled sadly.
Eyes. from debt. John. / want to ask
you an honest question honestly. Why
did you ask me to become your wife2"
He moved uneasily.
"Why do you ask? Surely we under
stand each other
I'VE did, perhaps. but ] have told you
that things have changed. Won't you
answer me?'
i asked you-because l wished you to
be my wife," he returned. stubbornly
John. isn't that rather lame equivo-
cation?"
He stared at her with heavy, troubled
eyes.
Yes. 1T was But the truth might hurt
you, Beatrice
NO. it wouldn't. Nothing can hurt so
much in the end as lies and humbug."
We'll. then, / asked you to become my
wife because l believed that my conduct
a
situation in the eyes of the world
Nothing else?"
I wished to prove to Lois that | could
never be her husband
You were afraid that she would see
through your pretense to your unchanged
affection for herr"
He started.
Beatrice, how do you known"
Look In your own glass. John. Yours
isn't the face of man who has shaken
off an old attachment
He rose and stood with his back halt
turned to her playing idly with the pa
pers on the table.
You are partly right" he said, after a
moments silence, but not quite. / have
more on my shoulders than that: l have
a heavy responsibilities debt TO pay
You, too?" she asked, with a return
OF the half melancholy, half bitter smile
"Have you also a debt?'
Not of my making" was the answer
The voice rang suddenly stern and harsh
and Beatrice saw him look up suddenly
as though instinctively seeking something
on the wall. Beatrice, you must know
that my actions are dictated by motives
which / cannot for many reasons give to
the world. For one thing, l have given
my promise; for another, my own judg-
ment tells me that 1t is better for every
one that | should be silent But / am
free to say this much to you'll am not a
dishonorable man who has played lightly
with the affections Of an innocent girl. I
have acted toward Lois as l believe will
be for her ultimate happiness have
shielded her from a misfortune, pun
ishment l might say, which would have
fallen unjustly on her shoulders. / have
taken burden upon my shoulders be-
cause love her-and have the right to
love her-but chiefly because 1t Is my duty
to do so. Where there is sin, Beatrice,
there must also be atonement, otherwise
Its consequences can never be wiped out.
l have chosen to atone"
Go be continued tomorrow