Evening star., 1911-06-07
CHAPTER XIV.-Continued.

CHAPTER XIV.-Continued.
"You won't tell Mrs. Berry. mother.
You will never breathe q word to q single
soul Of what I have told you. It was
very absurd Of me to say anything-I
don't know what made me. I might have
known that you would not understand
but sometimes I forget that mother is
not a synonym for everything"
Mrs. Cary smarted under what she felt
to be an unjust and uncalled-for attack.
"I don't see what I have done now, -
she protested. Indignantly. What is
there to understand that haven't under
Stood pray?"
Her daughter got up. as though she
could no longer bear to remain still. and
began to walk restlessly about the room.
Never mind" she said. That doesnt t
matter. What does matter is that l will
not have the rajah made a butt for the
stations witticisms. You can say what
you like about mel don't care in the
least-but you will leave him alone.
about?" Mrs. Cary inquired. with irritat-
ing solicitude. How was I to know you
were seriously contemplating the rajah' 8
conversion? I'm sure it's very nice Of
you. Child, don't pull all those roses to
Beatrice dropped the flowers impa-
tiently
Its more likely that he will convert
me-" che muttered, but the remark fell
| on unheeding ears.
II wish you would let me tell Mrs.
Berry about it, Mrs Cary went on. 1T
might make quite nice impression and
stop her saying disagreeable things OF
course. If your intimacy with his high
ness was due to your desire to bring him
| to a nice Christian state, 1t would be
quite excusable. l might even ask Mr..
| Berry for some OF those tracts he Is al
ways distributing among the natives"
| 1t was Beatrice's turn to laugh. Her
laugh had a disagreeable ring.
For the rajah? wonder how he
wo1ld reconcile them with all l have
| been telling him about love, and pity and
diplomatist as you are. don't you see
| that it wouldn't have the least effect ?
Do you think the most kindly thinking
person in this station would believe for
one? OF course, should be seen through
at once. They would say-and perfectly
correctly, too-that l was just fooling the
raiah for my own purposes.
What are your purposes?" Mrs. Cary
demanded.
Beatrice raised her eyebrows.
You knew them a month ago."
"Oh, yes: then it was for Mr.. Travers'
sake. But now"
Now things are the same as they were
then. II can't leave off what I have
begun"
She had gone over to the piano and.
| opening 1t. sat down and began to play
a few disjointed bars. Mrs. Cary, who
sometimes called a mothers pride, and
which is sometimes no more than the sat
| isfaction of a merchant with salable
goods. saw something which made her sit
bolt upright in her comfortable chair. A
tear rolled down the smooth cheek turned
toward her-a single tear. which splashed
on the white hand resting on the keys.
That was all, but 1t was enough. With
a jingle of gold bracelets and q rustic of
silk Mrs Cary struggled to her feet and
came and stood by her daughter. her
heavy hand clasping her by the shoulder.
Beatty" she said, stupidity. Are you
l-crying?'
Beatrice turned on the music stool and
looked her mother calmly In the face.
There was not a trace Of emotion in the
clear, steady eyes
"Lcrying?" she said What should
have made you think that? Have you
ever seen me cry?"
mo, never. l couldn't understand. You
are all right?"
Perfectly all right. thank you. Hadn't
you better see about the tea?'
Mrs. Cary heaved q sigh OF relief and
satisfaction.
"Of course. How thoughtful you can
be. my dear! The gentlemen may be
back any moment"
She sailed heavily across the room. on
her way passing the glass doors which
opened on to the veranda.
WHY she exclaimed, stopping short.
III that isn't Capt. Stafford mounting his
horse! Look, Beatty! And he hasn't even
come to say goodbye"
Beatrice turned indifferently.
| Il expect he has some important busi-
ness" she began. and then. as her
eyes fell on the man outside swinging
himself up into the saddle. she stopped
and rose abruptly to her feet. II have
never seen any one look like that be-
fore" she said, under her breath. He
looks-awful"
Mrs. Cary nodded.
las though he had seen a ghost" she
supplemented. unsteadily. What can
The horses head was Jerked around to
the compound gates. Amid q clatter of
hoofs and in cloud of dust Stafford
galloped out of sight. not once turning to
stood and stared at each other. even
Beatrice for the moment shaken out of
her usual self-control by what she had
seen. They had no time to make any
further observations. for almost immedi-
ately Travers came up the steps. his sun
helmet in his hand. Whatever had hap
pened. he. at least. seemed unmoved. The
exceptional pallor of his face had given
place to the old healthy glow:
Il have come to drink Stafford's share
Of the tea as well as my own." he said.
cheerily. "You see. Mrs Cary. in spite of
your strict injunctions. I have sent the
poor fellow flying off on a fresh business
| matter. He asked me to excuse him, as
he was in a great hurry
/ 80 it seems!" Mrs Cary observed,
rather tartly. He might. at least. have
stayed to say goodbye"
| "Oh. well, you know what an impulsive
creature he Is" Travers apologized. Be
sides, / believe he means to drop in later
on. Please don't punish me, Mrs. Cary,
for his delinquencies.'
The suggestion that Stafford might re-
sumo his Interrupted visit later Modified
Mrs. Cary at once.
mo, you shan't suffer-" she assured
him, with fat motherliness. II will go
and tell the servants about tea at once"
The minute she was out Of the room
Travers came over to Beatrice's side. A
slight change had taken place in his ex-
preston. 1t reminded her involuntarily
of that night In the dogcart. when for an
instant his passions had forced him to
drop the mask.
You and have every reason to con-
gratulate each other" he said, in q low
voice. I'VE can now go ahead and win.
The road is clear for us BOTH"
What do you mean-what have you
done?"
Nothing" he answered. as Mrs. Cary
re-entered. 'You will know in q day or
two. And then-well. the game will be in
our hands. Miss Cary"
Mrs. Cary. who had caught the last re-
mark. looked quickly and suspiciously
from one to the other.
What's that you are talking about p
she demanded. What game Is In your
hands, Beaty?'