Evening star., 1912-01-12

II they had but seen and understood her
as she was. she would have gone to the
bitter end with them, Loyalty, with sealed
lips. But no; they had chosen not to see;
it ranked. and the injustice of 1t grew
from pain to fury. At that moment, had
she known anything, she certainly would
have denounced them. OF what use was
loyalty, since none of them sought 1t in
her?
The major was wiser than he knew
| when he spoke of the hundredth danger.
the danger unforeseen, the danger against
! which they could make no preparation.
And he would have been first to sense the
| irony of it could he have seen where this
danger lay.
Why should they wish the pleasant
young man out Of the way? Why should
Ryanne wish to inveigle him into the
hands Of this man Mahomed? Was 1t
deeper, more sinister? Think! why
couldn't she thinh of something? 1t was
only little pleasure trip to Cairo, they
had told her, and when She had asked to
go along they seemed willing enough. But
they had come to this hotel. when for
merly they had always put up at Shep-
heard's. And here again the question.
staying here? She liked him, what little
she had seen of him. He was out of an
altogether different world than that to
which she was accustomed. He was
neltner n1Sanely mao over cdFuS HoF d
social idler. He was young man with
a real interest in life, a worker. notwith-
standing that he was reputed to be inde-
pendentiy rich. And her mother had once
borrowed money of him, never intending
to pay it back. The shame of it! And
why should she approach him the very
first day and recall the incident, if not
with the Interior purpose of using him
further? AS a ball strikes wall only
to rebound to the thrower, so it was with
oil Thoro
answer.
Tired out, mentally and physically, she
laid her head upon the cool top Of the
stand. And in this position her mother,
her. Believing Fortune to be asleep, Mrs.
Chedsoye dropped a hand upon her
shoulder.
Fortune raised her head
why, child, what is the matter?" the
mother asked. The face she saw was not
tear-stained; it was as cold and passion
less as that by which sculptors represent
their interpretations of Justice.
Natter" Fortune spoke, in tone that
did not reassure the other In the first
place have only one real question to ask.
1t depends upon how you answer II. Am
l really your daughter
Really my daughter" Mrs. Chedsoye
stepped back, genuinely astonished. "Real-
ly my daughter? The child is mad!' as
If addressing an imaginary third person.
What makes you ask such a silly Ques-
tion?" She was in a hurry to change her
dress, but the new attitude OF this child
of hers warranted some patience.
THAT is no answer" said Fortune, with
the unmoved deliberation of a prosecuting
attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. If you had denied it I should
have held my peace; but since you admit
that am of your flesh and blood. am
going to force you to recognize that In
such a capacity I have some rights.
did not ask to come into this world; but
insomuch as / am here, / propose to be-
come an individual, not thing to be
given bread and butter upon sufferance.
I have been talking with Horace. / met
him in the baZaars this morning. He said
some things which you must answer"
Horace? And what has he said, pray
tell?" Her expression was fippant, but
certain inquietude penetrated her heart
and accelerated it's beating. What had
the levelorn fool said to the child?
He said that he was not q good man,
and that you tolerated him because he ran
errands for you. what kind Of errands?" 2"
| Mrs. ChedsoYe did not know whether
| to laugh or take the child by the shoul-
| ders and shake her soundly. He was
| laughing when he said that. Errands?
+ One would scarcely call 1t that"
why did you renew the acquaintance
with Mr.. Jones, when you knew that you
| never intended paying back that loan?"
Here was a question, Mrs. Chedsoye
realized, from the look of the child, that
would not bear evasion.
What makes you think never intend
| ed to repay him?"
+ Fortune laughed. 1t did not sound
grateful in the mothers ears.
Mother this is a crisis; 1t cannot be
| met by counter questions nor by f1ippancy.
You know that you did not intend to pay
J him. What I demand to know is, why
| you spoke to him again. SO affably. why
you seemed so eager to enter into his good
graces once more. Answer that"
(To be continued tomorrow.)