Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-22
CHAPTER VII.
Yellow Roses.

| If any one expected to see Miss Lloyd
| faint or collapse at this crisis he must
nave been disappointed, and as had con-
| fidently expected such scene, l was
completely surprised at her quick recov-
cry of self-possession
For an instant she had seemed stunned
by my question, and her eyes had wan
dered vaguely round the room, as if in
vain search for help.
Her glance returned to me. and in that
instant / gave her an answering look,
which, quite involuntarily on my part,
meant grave and serious offer of my
best and bravest efforts in her behalf.
D1singenuous she might be- untruthful
she might be, yes, even a criminal she
might be, but in any l her
sworn ally forever Not that l meant to
defeat the ends of justice, but L was
ready to fight for her or with her, until
justice should defeat us OF course she
didn't know all this, though l couldn't
help hoping she read a little of it as my
eyes looked into hers. If so, she recog-
nized 1t only by swift withdrawal of
her own glance. Again she looked round
at her various friends
Then her eyes rested on Gregory Hall,
and, though he gave her no responsive
glance. for some reason her poise return
ed like flash 1t was as if she had
Determination fairly shone in her dark
eyes, and her mouth showed more
decided line than l had yet seen in its
red curves, as with cold, almost hard
voice, she replied:
Il have no idea. We have many flow
ers in the house always"
But l have learned from the servants
that there were no other yellow roses in
the house yesterday"
Miss Lloyd was not hesitant now. She
replied quickly, and it was with an al
most eager haste that she said:
''Then I can only imagine that my uncle
had some lady visitor in his Office late
last evening"
The girls mood had changed utterly;
her tone was almost hippant, and more
than one of the jurors looked at her in
wOnderment.
Mr.. Porter. especially, cast on her a
glance of fatherly solicitude, and j was
sure that he felt, as / did, that the strain
was becoming too much for her.
II don't think you quite mean that,
Florence" he said: ''you and l knew
your uncle too well to say such things. -
But the girl made no reply, and her
| beautiful mouth took on hard line.
1T is not an impossible conjecture"
| said Philip Crawford, thoughtfully. IF
what more probable than that it was
| left by it's feminine owner? The same
lady might have worn or carried yellow
roses"
| sire to help her that these other men
| had joined their efforts to mine to ease
the way as much as possible.
The coroner looked a little uncomfort-
sympathy turning toward the troubled
| girl
yellow roses do not necessarily imply
a lady VISITOR he said. rather more
kindly "a man in evening dress might
| have worn one"
| To his evident surprise, as well as to
my own, this remark, intended to be
soothing. had quite the opposite effect.
That is not at all probable, said Miss
Lloyd. quite angrily. MIR. Porter was
| ing yellow rose at the time let him
| say So.
Il was not" said Mr.. Porter. quietly,
| but looking amazed at the sudden out
| burst of the girl.
"Of course YOU weren't Miss Lloyd
| went on, still in the same excited way.
Men don't wear roses nowadays, except,
perhaps, at ball; and. anyway, the gold
bag surely implies that woman was
| there
| at seems to- said Mr.. Monroe; and
then, unable longer to keep up her brave
resistance. Florence Lloyd tainted.
| Mrs. Pierce wrung her hands, and
| moaned in a helpless fashion. Elsa
started forward to attend her young mis-
tress, but it was the two neighbors who
| were jurors, Mr. Hamilton and Mr.. Por-
| ter who carried the unconscious girl
| from the room.
Gregory Hall looked concerned, but
made no movement to aid, and / mar
| veled afresh at such strange actions in
man betrothed to d particularly beauti-
| full woman.
| Several women in the audience hurried
| from the room, and in a few moments
| the two jurors returned.
| Miss Lloyd will soon be all right, ]
think" said Mr.. Porter to the coroner.
| "My wife is with her and one or two
| other ladies. | think we may proceed
with our work here
Go be continued tomorrow