Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-23

her life and though his image was over
Swallowed by greater and more noble
figure he retained his place.
The glance they had exchanged had
being, and If it had revealed nothing to
her II had also revealed everything. For
she knew now that the strange bond
which had linked them together from the
beginning united them still. Some reck-
less and INSCRIPTIONS hand had sundered
them outwardly, and her instinct. guided
by a hundred significant incidents. told
her whose hand II had been. She fled to
her little. gloomy sitting room, with its
worn-out, tasteless furniture and drab
walls, and fought her sorrow and despair
single handed and in her own way. She
had mans dislike for tears-though. be-
ing woman they came all too easily to
her-and she fought against them now
with all the strength ct her command.
with all the pluck which in happier days
had made her SO splendid a partner in a
losing game" She had made a dis
astrous mistake in her life. but it was
not too late.
The cathedral should go on in its I'M
seen growth, and every conquered tear,
every brave smile was a fresh stone
bringing ii nearer TO perfection. God be
thanked for the fetishes with which the
less fortunate Of us are still allowed TO
adorn the barren walls of our life. The
cathedral, the imaginary "sheltering place
for others" was Lois fetish. and the
thought of il and of the strong faced man
with whom she worked in spiritual part
nerShip was a deep, inspiring consolation
Ii stood at her right hand and helped
partly to overthrow the weight of dread
and evil presentiment which had borne
down upon her all too sensitive and super
stitioEs temperament as she had left her
husband and Stafford alone.
Thus 1t was that, when the curtains OF
her room were suddenly parted and Bea-
| trice stood on the threshold she could
face the newcomer with calm If grave
demeanor. She remembered her hus-
bands last iniunctions, but it was too
late; and moreover, there was an express
sion on Beatrice's face which told her
that the visit was no ordinary one. A
woman's instinct is her spiritual hand
feeling through the darkness to another
soul. Beatrice and Lois watched each
other without smile or greeting They
forgot the outward formait!es of life in
the suddenly aroused interest which they
found in each other, in the consciousness
that in this, their first meeting alone,
they were to become closely united.
They were, indeed, striking contrasts
At no time had they seemed more SO
than now, as they stood there silently
facing each other-Beatrice. tall, fair.
with the wonderful Madonna beauty
Lois. small and dark, the quick and fiery
temperament flashing TO meet the other $
dignity and apparent calm. And yet at
no time had the barrier between them
been so insignificant. SO slight Beatrice
advanced slowly from the door, where she
had first hesitated
MAY / speak with you, Mrs Travers!
she asked.
Lois nodded. mechanically holding out
her hand. Her eyes were riveted on the
others grave face, drinking in with real
admiration a loneliness from which the
old marring lines of mockery and cyni-
ciSm had been swept away.
Won't you sit down." she said, gen
tly. You look tired and pale"
Beatrice seemed not TO hear. She took
the outstretched hand between both her
own Her head was little bent and as
she looked full into Lois face her ex-
preston softened and saadened.
You, too. are unhappy" she said.
Lois made no answer. She was over
whelmed by the directness Of the state
| ment but still more by the change in
Beatrices voice. IL sounded low and I'M
| steady, as though storm of feeling lay
| close beneath the surface. DO you Won
| der how | know" Beatrice went on.
| after an instants pause.
Il don't know, Lois answered. and
| for the moment we won't talk about such
| things / can't bear to see YOU look So
so ILL., You must sit there and let me get
| you something TO drink. Have you
| walked?
persuasion. She sank down In the prof
| fered chair, but she retained Lois hand.
NO, l drove But / am tired. 1t was
| not easy work getting through the crowd.
They did not seem to want to let me
| pass. Once or twice ! thought they were
| going to attack me-.
| Lois laughed.
They are only pilgrims. They come
! every year and are quite harmless. Hark
at them now There must be a band of
! them going last. Would you like 10