Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21

der ce i'm her own chosen destiny, and in
this delicate love affair between Cecilia
Hollister and my best friend 1 proffered
counsel and sympathy with an assurance
that astonished me.
II have told you enough, Miss Hollister.
to make 1t clear that / am in a position
to help you. Believe me, I have no other
business before me but to complete the
service / have undertaken
But there is always she began,
then ceased abruptly and lifted her head
proudly-''there is always Mr.. Virgins
attitude toward my sister. Not for any
thing in the world would I cause her the
slightest unhappiness. You must see that
now that you know her."
l laughed aloud. CeciliaS concern for
Hezekiah's happiness was SO absurd that
l could not restrain my mirth for mo-
ment. Displeasure showed promptly in
Cecilia's face.
II am sorry if you doubt my sincerity,
MIR. Ames. l will put the matter directly
to make sure l have not been misunder-
stood heretofore, and say that if Heze-
kiah is Interested in Hartley Virgins and
cares for him i'm the least-y6u know she
is young and susceptible shall take care
That he never sees me again.
Pardon me. but maybe you don't quite
understand Hezekiah.
rs 1T possible, then, that you dO?'' she
inquired. coldly. Il imagine your OPP
portunities for seeing her have not been
numerous.
well. it isn't so much a matter OF see
ing her. when you've read of her all your
life and dreamed about her. She's in
every fairy story that ever was written:
she dances through the mythologies o. ali
races. Hers is the kingdom Of the pure
in heart. Her mind is like beautiful
thoughts the dipping of swallow wings
on lightly swaying grasses
Ceciia's Manners changed and she
smiled.
You seem to have an attack of some
thing: it looks serious You haven't
known her long enough to find out SO
much.'
Longer than you would believe She
and ! sat on the shore together when
Ulysses sailed by: we were among those
present at the sack of Troy; we heard
Rolands ivory trumpet at Roncesvalles. -
such words from you amaze me.
didn't imagine there was so much ro-
nance in chimneys.
"They are full of it, Commend me to
an open fire. with fiue that knows it's
business. and dream or two. I've re-
nounced my profession ! shall here
| after offer myself as adviser to persons
IN need OF Illusions; we'd all be poets il
we dared.'
l helped her into the saddle and she
looked down at me with amusement in
her eyes My praise of Hezekiah had
, pleased her. and felt. as when we jour
neyed together into town, her kindly, HUI
man qualities. The perplexities and en-
lbarrassments resulting from her COM
pact with her aunt had doubtless checked
the natural flow of her spirits. She
talked on buoyantly, though 1 was eager
to be off, TO avert the catastrophe that
only her flight had prevented and which
| Virgins might at any moment precipi-
tate. She gathered up her reins.
you are not coming home FOR lunch
con? Then / shall see you at 4. 1 hope
the hiding place of the ghost will prove
| interesting. Aunt Octavia has built her
| hopes high, and / may add that she has
\ expressed the greatest admiration of You
| to me. On her ride this morning she de-
clared that great things are in store for
you. 1 hope so, too, Mr.. Ames.'
| She gave NE her hand and rode away,
and before I had reached the highway
she was across the bridge and galloping
rapidly homeward.
| The inn was q mile distant, and I set