Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-07
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

She uttered an exclamation OF incredu.
lty Luke, a beggar! Luke. the one
man in all the world different from every
other man! Luke ousted by that stranger
upstart!
God hath too much sense Of humor to
allow so ridiculous q fate to work hel
silly caprice.
And" she said, with scorn. because
OF all these absurd possibilities you tall
Of breaking of your engagement to me
Do you care so little rs all that, Luke!
He did not reply, but continued to walk
beside her, just q yard or so apart from
her, turning his steps in the direction OF
the gates toward the Albert bridge, their
nearest way home. She-meekly now,
for already she was sorry-turned to LOOK
at him. Something in his attitude, the
stoop Of the shoulders, usually so square
and erect, the hands curiOusly clasped
behind his back. told her that her shaft
very thoughtlessly aimed-had struck
even deeper than it should.
II am so sorry. DEAR" she said. gently
His look forgave her, even before the
words were fully out Of her mouth, but
with characteristic reticence he made nc
reply to her taunt. Strangely enough she
was satisfied that he should say nothing
The look. which did not reproach even
while 1t tried to conceal the infinite depth
Of the wound so lightly dealt. had told
her more than any words could do.
Whatever Lu.-e decided to do. it would
be from a sense Of moral obligation. that
desire for doing the right thing-in the
worldly sense Of the term-which is in
herent in Englishmen of q certain class.
No sentiment save that of conven-
tional one of honor would be allowed to
sway her destiny and his.
Observation-Disclosures same strained
sense Of honor and duty-decreed that
under certain mundane circumstances a
man and woman should not mate. Diff
ferences of ancestry, OF parentage, OF
birth and Of country, divergence Of taste,
of faith, Of belief-all these matter not
one jot. But let the man be beggared
and the woman rich. and convention steps
in and says. 1T shall not be!'
These two bowed to that decree-uncon-
the sacrifice out of the intense purity OF
their sentiment to each other. They
made an absolutely worldly sacrifice fol
a wholly unworldly motive. Luke would
as soon have thought of seeing Louisa In
a badly fitting serge frock and paying
twopence for a two-mile ride in an omni.
bus. as he would expect to see a diamond
tiara packed in a cardboard box-it would
be unfair to the jeweler who had made
the tiara thus to subject 1T to rough treat
ment; and it would be equally unfair or
the Creator Of Louisa to let her be buf
world.
Louisa only thought Of Luke, and tina
perhaps he would feel happier in his MIND
il she allowed him to make this tempo
rary sacrifice.
There is such wonderful balm in self
imposed sacrifice
What" she asked. simply. do yol
want me to say, Luke?"
only that-that you won't give me VI
altogether, unless
Here he checked himself abruptly. Wa
there ever an Englishman born who could
talk sentiment at moments such as this
Luke was no exception to that rule
There was SO much that he wanted t.
say to Louisa, and yet the very word
literally choked him before he could con
trfve to utter them.
Don't" she said. quietly, "let US evel
refer to such things. Luke. I do not be
lieve in this shadow, and I cannot ever
understand why you should worry abou
1t. But whatever happens, should neve
give you up. Never. We will put of
fixing the day Of our wedding: since W.
have made no announcement this won
matter at all-but I only agree to thi.
because think that it is what you would
like. I fancy that it would ease YOU
mind. AS for breaking our engagement
in the future-in case the worst happens
well. it shall not be with my consent
Luke, unless you really cease to care"
They had reached the gate close to the
bridge. Life pulsated all round them
the life of the big city, callous. noisy and
cruel. Omnibuses, cabs heavy vans. rat
tied necessarily past them. People jos.
tied one another, hurrying and scurrying
pigmies and ants, adding their tiny load
OF work, Of care, of sorrow to the titanic
edifice Of this living world.
Louisa's last words remained unan
swered. Luke had, by his silence, sale
everything there was to say. They stood
on the pavement for a moment and Luke
hailed passing taxieab.
At the corner opposite an omnibus pulled
up on its way westward. A man stepped
off the curb. ready to enter it, Louiss
caught his eye and he raised his hattie
man who had passed them in the parl
just now.