Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12
CHAPTER XI.-Continued.

"He likes it, SO he tells me, because
people don't come and bother him there .
II should think not indeed. I wouldn't
set foot in such a place"
HE goes there most evenings. and SO
does Philip-and it's SO bad for Uncle Rad
to be out late these foggy nights"
"You ought to make an effort and stop
it, Luke
IT have made many efforts. sir. But,
as matter Of fact, I had made up my
mind to make a final one tonight. Uncle
Rad ought to go abroad, and thought l
would try to impress this on Philip. He
can't be bad man."
.Oh, can't he?" was Col. Harris NUT
tered comment.
eat any rate, if have no influence. he
has, and he must exert it and get Uncle
Rad down to Algeciras or anywhere he
likes so long as it Is we'll south"
Luke paused awhile his face flushed
with this expression Of determination,
which must have caused his pride many
bitter pang. Then he resumed, more
quietly:
Its rather humiliating, isn't it, to go
to that man as suppliant?"
Don't go as a suppliant, my boy. You
must insist on your uncle being properly
looked after
Col. Harris thought all that sort OF
thing SO easy. One always does before
one has had a genuine tussle with the
unpleasant realities Of life; to the good
country squire with an assured position,
an assured income, assured influence, 1t
seemed very easy. indeed, to insist. He
himself never had to insist; things &C.
Cured round him and at his word, as 1t
were, of themselves.
But Louisa, knowing how matters stood,
made no suggestion. She knew that Luke
would do his best, but that that best was
of little avail now; as Philip de Mount
ford arranged so it would ali come about.
Friends and wellwishers could but pray
that the intruder was not a bad man,
and that he had his uncle's health at
heart.
She gave the signal to go. saying
simply:
I'VE mustn't be late for dinner. father.
must we?'
And she rose to go. held back by the
hand. by Luke's fervent insistence.
He could not accuStom himself to part
from her. as he often had to do. 1t
seemed absurd, but undeniable. He was
supremacy happy in her company and
snatched as much Of it as ever he could;
but the wrench was always awful, and
Louisa-subtly comprehensive-was con-
scious Of the terrible pain which she gave
him at every parting. She felt the re-
percussion of 1t in all her nerves, al.
though her sound common sense con-
demned the sensation as unreal.
| Tonight the feeling was even stronger
than 1T had ever been before. At her first
suggestion that 1t was time to go ar
elusive current passed from him to her
He had been holding her hand, and his
! had been cool and only slightly on the
culver from time to time when her own
| fingers pressed more markedly agains,
| his. But now, all at once 1t seemed as
| il sudden current of lava had pene.
trated his veins; his hand almost scorched
her own, and though visibly It did not
| move, yet she felt the pulses throbbine
| and trembling beneath the flesh. The
| look Of misery in his face made her owr
heart ache. though she tried to smile with
| easy gayety.
| Tomorrow we go to the Temple show
| together: don't forget, Luke
| Her words seemed to recall him from
another world, and he quickly enough
pulled himself together and helped her or
with her cloak. Col. Harris, with the
gentle tactfulness peculiar to kind hearts
had loudly announced that he would be
waiting In the hall.
| Anything the matter, Luke?" She
| asked, as soon as her father had gone
| from the room.
He contrived to smile and to look un.
| concerned.
| Not particularly he replied.
you seem different tonight, somehow
| How different?"
| Il can't explain. But you are not your
| SELF
Myself more than ever. My Alteration