Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-06
BARONESS ORGY

this young man asserts Is all true, then
it will make world of difference to you"
81 know that. That's just the trouble
You were thinking of yourself?'
mo i was thinking of you
''Of me?'
Yes" he said now very abruptly.
quite roughly and crudely not choosing
his words, lest they helped to betray wliae
he felt and all that he felt. IF what
this man says Is true, then am penni-
less nonentity, whom you are not going
to marry
You are talking nonsense, Luke. and
you know it, was all she said. And sho
said 1t very quietly. very decisiveiy. 10
was talking nonsense, Of course. fer,
whatever happened or didn't happ''n.
there was one thing i'm the world that was
absolutely. undeniably impossible. and
that was that she should not marry
Luke
While she Louisa Harris. pain. unin-
teresting commonplace Louisa Harris.
was of this world. her marriage with
Luke must be. People In this present.
day, matter-of-fact world didn't have their
hearts wrenched out of them; they were
not made to suffer impossible and I'M
endurable tortures; then why should she,
Louisa Harris. be threatened with SUCH
a cataclysm?
II am not he was saying. rather tone
lessly talking nonsense. Lou. l have
thought all that over. It's over eight
days since that letter came; eight times
twenty-four hours since I Seemed in A
way to see all my future through a thick,
black coud, and I've had time TO think.
saw you. too. through that thick. black
cloud-1 saw you just as you are, ex-
quisite, beautiful. like jewel that should
forever remain in a perfect setting. l.
He broke off abruptly. and. mechan-
ically, his hand went up to his forehead
and eyes. Where was he? He gave Il
sudden, quaint laugh.
what driveling fool you must think
me. Lou
She looked straight at him pure OF soul.
simple of heart, with a passion of tender
ness and self-abnegation as yet dormant
beneath the outer crust of a conventional
education and of commonpl ace surround
fnss, but with the passion there. never
theless. And it was expressed in the
sudden. strange luminosity of her eyes
1 would not have YOU think that thsy
were tears-as they met and held his own.
They didn't say anything more just
then. People Of their type and class I'm
England do not say much, YOU know.
under such circumstances. They have
been drilled not to: drilled and drilleI
from childhood upward, from the time
when, after a fall and cut lip or broken
tooth. the tears have to be held back.
lest the words ''snivei'' or "cry-baby'' be
mentioned. But quietude does not necA
sarily mean freedom from pain. \ cut
lip hurts worse when II is not wetted
1t was only the shadow that was hover
ing over these two as yet; nothing really
tangible. And the shadow was not be
tween them. She would not let it come
between them. II it covered him 1T
should wrap her. too The commonplace
woman had no fear OF its descent, only
as far as it affected him.
Nothing" she said after awhile, could
make a difference to our marriage, Luke.
Except, Of course, IL you ceased 10 care.
COR you Lou" he suggested, meeklH
do YOU think she retorted, that I
should? Just because you had no
money!"
Not" he owned, because of that But
should be such a nonentity. l have no
real profession. and there are the others.
Jim in the Blues costs fearful lot a
year. and Frank in the diplomatic serv-
ice must have his promised allowance. L
have read for the bar, but beyond that
what am I?'
your uncIe's right hand she retorted.
firmly. Ibis agent his secretary. his fac
totum. all rolled into one. You manage
his estates. his charities. his CORE
spondence. You write his speeches and
control his household. Lord Radcliffe
every one says 1t in London-would not
be himself at all without Luke de Mount
ford behind him"
That's not what / mean, Lou" =
what do you mean?'
81 mean that
He paused a moment then added. with
I'VE all know that Uncle Rad is q
curious kind of man. If this story tourns
out to be true he would still say nothing.
but he would fret. and fret and worry
himself into his grave
THE story she argued. obstinatelf.
will not turn out to be true It's not
like you, Luke, to jump at conclusions,
or to be afraid of a nightmare
II am not afraid he rejoined simply.
But l must look at possibilities Yes.
dear" he continued, more forcibiy ''it is
possible that this story is true. No good
saying that it is impossible-improbabie
il you like, but not impossible Look AT
it how you like, you must admit that 1t
is not impossible. Uncle Arthur may have
married in Martinique: he was out there
in 1881: he may have had a son: his tell
ing no one about his marriage is not TO
be wondered at: he was always reticept
and queer about his own affairs. Tbs
Philip may possibly be Uncle RAIDS sole
and rightful heir. and may possibly besa
beggar." -
Go be continued tomorrow