Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-03

al am sorry it is too late to invite YOU on
board, Mesdames: but in few moments
you shall see Mr.. Henry Stuart if they can
| wake him.
MRS. COBB, with her hand pressed to
A'A her heaving bosom, sank down on one
| of the packing cases with which the wharf
was encountered. As for me- the blood roared
in my head. In a few moments should see
him again! How would he greet meo For
my base desertion of the other day had he
| forgiven me? Did he still
Across the scudding whirl of my thoughts
broke the voice of Mrs. Cobb, ooh, Lii,
Lii, what shall do? Do you think that |
ever, ever shall see him again.
[ turned toward her with start. HIM
But of course she meant Victor. And my
heart was smitten with sudden compassion
as | saw how old she looked under her tiara,
how tired and grief smitten and desperate.
ooh, Lii, there's no use talking, he did
| look noble when he stood up and defied me
yes, just as stubborn as me every whit, a
real chip of the old block. Everybody said
| so. Yes, Lii, it's the strangest thing, but
| everyone seemed to admire him. You see,
| it was plain to be seen that he threw you
| down, not you that went off and Tilted him.
Yes, my boy seemed to make quite a hit
that is, with everyone except the Duchess.
| And | think that perhaps even she would
forgive me if she thought that you were
going to make good marriage with some
one else, after all
My heart leaped to pain. "Hush. Who
knows? So you are going to forgive Victor,
after alp"
She made gesture of desperation. "Who
| would have thought he'd have made such
| hit? And, besides, he's my boy-rny only
bo-oy. That little rat of girl-its hard to
take her in. But, after all, if she really loves
my bo-oy-"
All! Mrs. Cobb's iron WILL meeting with
its match at last, had to buckle and bend
like that of any other loving woman. And
then, as she said Victor had made such
hit! So he wouldn't have to swing to that
strap that he hated so, after all? | was glad;
for when your heart is running over with
happiness it is nice to think that other peo-
pie are going to be happy, too.
"Then you'll speak to the Duchess, dear
Lilio If only she could be prevailed on to
come to Bar Harbor, after all.
"I'll speak to her mvself-or, no, if you II
give me card, I'll write her line that you
can send her. This very night, immediately
| thought of Portia and smiled. Small
danger that the trip to Mount Desert, with
such allur1ng prospects, would be refused.
you'll come too, dear Lii, OF course!
You II be a daughter to me just the same?"
"Lili."
1t was Henry voice. Tall and pale in the
electric light, he came tearing down the
gangplank. He did not kiss me-though |
should not have minded if he had. He just
seized my two hands and held them tight as
though he'd grind them to powder.
7 Ill, what has happened?"
: ooh, Henry, I'm free. I've come to find
you. Oh, Henry, don't go away"
| "What?" he said in dazed way like
child suddenly walked from sleep.
| tried to tell what had happened; but
got things SO mixed up-Mrs. Cobb kept
putting in explanations and defending Vic
| tor, whom no one, to be sure, was accusing.
| But Henry never listened to word she
said He never glanced near her. He kept
looking at me as though his eyes would
drink me up, and holding my fingers as
though his flesh would enter into mine.
"You radiant star, dropping down out of
the night! You mean you We come to belong
to me3 You're mine now-rnine, mine?'
ayes, Henry. yes, with my whole heart, if
YOU want mel"
He Strengthened himself with violent
effort as though to shake off the daze that
held him, while the desire of my heart rushed
into my lips in cry: