Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-19
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

gaunt face, and for the first time she ap-
preciated to the fun what was great and
generous In the nature she had con-
demned all too often as narrow and un-
bending. Whatever else he was. this man
was no Pharisee. If he was narrow, he
allowed himself no license: If unbending,
he was at least least of all relenting to-
ward his own conduct. She pited him
and she respected him. even though she
could not understand his motives nor
guess the weight of the responsibility
which he had taken upon himself.
II cannot reproach you with deception,
she said, at last You never pretended
that you loved me, and on my side L
think the matter was pretty clear. | in
tended to marry you for your position
Afterward money added a further in
centive. / saw the loss of our own for
tune coming. Travers warned me on the
same day that we became engaged
A dark food of indignant blood rushed
to Staffords forehead.
The man is an INSCRIPTIONS adven-
turer-no doubt he has safeguarded his
own interest carefully enough, he eN-
claimed. bitterly.
You are quite right. His wife has all
the money, and he has taken care that II
should be well tied up and out of reach.
That is what my father did.
He turned to her again.
Your father"
"Yes. my father" she repeated. meeting
his eyes gravely and unfiinchingiy. lie
tried to do what Travers did. But he
wasn't quite so clever. He ran too close
to the wind, as he said himself. and they
put him in prison. He died there
He stood looking at her with new
interest. He. too, was beginning to un-
derstand The bitter line about the mouth
was not the expression of hard. unfeel-
ing heart after all. then. and the sharp,
hooking laugh which had Jared so often
on his ears was not the echo OF snail
low, worthless character? They were no
more than the deep wounds left after
rough battle with a world that knows no
pity for those branded with inherited
shame and dishonor. He had misludged
her. There were unlimited posslblhtles
of nobility and goodness in the beautiful
face lifted to his. But he said nothing
of the thoughts that flashed through his
mind In moments of crisis we always
speak of what is least important.
And you managed to keep II secret
in Marut?" he asked.
Eyes, it was a marvel. wasn't it?'-her
eyes Frightening with a spark OF the old
fun 1--WE lived in a constant state OF
alarms and excursions But Mr.. Travers
did what he could. He knew all about
it and he helped us"
ION conditions, no doubt?'
"Of course, on conditions. But he said
quite truthfuly. that he had no idea OF
blacknailing me. 1t was just a fair bar
gain between us" She paused little
before she went on: Now you under
stand what brought us to Marut and what
made you such a desirable catch. We
wanted to get clear away from the past
and build up new life. But we couldn't.
One can't build up anything on lie.
That is true" he returned. sternly
land yet this is hardly time for you TO
talk of your failure. From the moment
that you are my wife,
But John. that's what / never shall
be-" She laughed. YEARLY. DO you
think a clever woman would own up to
an unpleasant past to the man she
wanted to marry? And if YOU want to
hear more detestable things about me,
ask the colonel ask Mrs. Berry, ask the
rajah They know all about me. Tor l
told them yesterday. You don't need to
look So white and haggard. / am not go
ing to marry you. That is what ] came
to say. And l wanted to explain every
thing, and to ask you. If YOU can, TO
forgive me all the trouble ] have brought
upon you She rose and held out her
hand to him. will you shake hands,
John?"
He stood motionless by the table
watching her with a last stirring OF the
old distrust.
bluntly. and, in truth. he did not This
pale-faced woman with the earnest eyes
deep underlined with the marks of sleep
less nights, was riddle which ms sum.
conventional imagination could not solve
is ii necessary that you should UNI
derstand?" she answered. Il have not
asked you to explain why. still loving
her. you threw Lois over. | believe that
you had some grave reason. 1t could not
be graver than mine for doing what am
doing"
.'Then you mean that-it is entirely over
between u.s.?
yes. it is over between us. Your
sense Of justice will not have to undergo
the ordeal of forcing your sense OF honor
to link itself with dishonor. To your
credit, / believe you would have married
me- John and / am grateful. But there $
an end of it. | have come TO say good
bye. | suppose it is absurd. but | wish
we could remain friends.
This time he took her hand In his. Now
that the artificial union between them
was done away with. their real friend
shin for each other came back and took
it's rightful place in their hVes.
..Why shouldn't we. Beatrice?" he said.
Heaven knows, we both have need OF
friends
at is a strange thing" she continued.
thoughtfuly. that, though YOU are 50
completely my opposite, ] have always
liked you. Even when YOU most Jared
upon me with your prunes-and-piisms
morality, I was never able quite TO close
my heart l wonder why?'
He could not repress faint amuse-
ment at the flash of her old self.
1T has been the same with me- he
said Even when you trod on all my
principles at once, / haven't been able to
smother a sort of shamefaced respect for
YOU. You always seemed more worthy
of respect than-well some of the
others
II suppose 1t is our sincerity" she said.
You are sincere in your goodness, and L.
paradoxical as 1t sounds. in my badness.
81 think not" he answered, looking her
praveIv in the face Il think it Is be-
cause the hidden best in both of us recog-
nized each other and held out the hand
Of friendship almost without our know
ing
She smiled. but he saw light sparkle
in her eyes.
fast progress in the souls world. no
has taught you?
He turned away from her back to the
table and stood there gazing out over the
garden.
mo one 1t is mood | have on today
which makes me see clearer than | have
done before. Go now-if any one saw
you here you know what Marut would
say"
"Yes. / know Marut very we'll by now.
Not that it much matters. Goodbye.
Please found my way alone; | can find
the way out.
She had reached the door before he
stopped her.
Beatrice,
She turned.
What is it?
Il have favor to ask of you-or rather,
| have a trust to put in your hands. 1t
is in a sort of way the seal upon our
whom / could trust so much.
She came back to his side. A new color