Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-15

You from the first, because you were a
| gentleman and he never was. This is
my one moment of madness in a perfect
| ly well ordered life"
One of her hands stole from her muff,
stole out half fesitatingly toward him.
| Julien took 1t in his and raised it to his
lips. Then he looked her in the eyes.
Dear Mabel" he said, "you are for
given. understand perfectly the reasons
! for your coming. Go back to your hus-
band, wear your coronet and receive his
| guests with free conscience. forgive
YOU
Her hand slipped back into her muff.
She began to tremble little.
AS Tor me- he went on, II played the
looi ana | pay willingly. I was engaged
TO marry a very charming girl, who be-
much as it was possible for me to care
Tor anything outside my career. / f1irted
With you because it was a piquant thing
to do: You were woman whom other
men found difficult, you were the wife Of
man whom l despised and who was
trying all the time to undermine my posi-
ton. l sacrificed my self-respect every
time l crossed your Threshold Today 1
pay | am willing. AS for you, Mabel
your visit here shall square things be-
tween us. l wish you the best of luck.
You must let me ring for my servant He
will find you a taxicab'
He moved toward the bell. Mrs. Car
raby. with her hands inside her muff
stood exactly as though she were part
of the furniture of the room. With his
finger upon the ivory disc, he hesitated.
She was not looking toward him and her
eyes were half closed.
Perhaps, he suggested, you would
rather find your way out alone? I will
not offer my escort, for obvious reasons
She turned slowly round
DO not ring" she ordered. sharply.
"COme here
He came at once toward her. She took
both his hands in hers, she leaned to-
ward him. She was tall woman and
they were very nearly the same height.
Julien" she whispered, lis this all
that you have to say to me?'
1T is more" Julien replied, frankly,
than I expected ever to have to say to
you again in this world. What do you
expect? You don't think that am the
kind of man to-but that is absurd! Come
Well part friends, If you like. Here's
my hand
I'VE must part, then?' she said.
He shrugged his shoulders.
Unless walking tour in Normandy
for month appeals to you. You see,
am going to take holiday. and have
a fancy that our ideas on the subject of
holidays might not exactly agree
"A holiday" she repeated. II am not
believe that l have never had holiday
in my life?"
He looked at her doubtingly.
After ALL" she continued, cant you
see IHdl L nave come mere TO ask you one
question? You are different from the peo-
pie have known intimately and the peo-
pie with whom I have been brought up,
different from my husband. You know
what my life has been. / have told you
just now that the great doubt has come
to me within the last few days. Won't
you tell me what I want to know? Is
there anything better, anything greater,
anything more -wonderful in life than
these things which I have known, these
Julien, is there anything else? Can you
tell me how and where to find it?''
Once more her fingers had crept out of
her muff. Her hands were upon his
to her. Julien kissed her lightly on the
forehead.
For you. my dear Mabel" he decided,
| I should say that there was nothing bet
The life into which you have been
brought and for which you have quail
fled so admirably. is the only life which
would suit you. II you fancy sometimes
in your dreams. or in your waking hours,
that you hear cries and calls from an
other country. don't listen to them. You
would never be happy outside the world
you know Of You see one who has made
such failure Of life himself is yet well
able to advise. Forgive me-"
The telephone on his writing table was
ringing. He turned aside to answer it.
1t was a question regarding the where
abouts of some papers at the Office and
1T took him few minutes to explain
When he set the receiver back and turn
ed around. he was alone. There was
nothing to remind him Of her visit but a
bunch of violets. which seemed to have
fallen from her muff, and the faint per-
fume from them. He took them up.
smelt them for moment and flung them
lightly into the hearth. Then he touched
his bell.
MY hat. stick and gloves. Richards"
he ordered. Bring my things to Char
ing Cross at half-past 8. Have them reg
istered only to Boulogne. You under
stand?'
Perfectly, sir" the man replied
Julien glanced once more around his
sitting room. The little bunch of violets
was smoldering upon the hearth In a |
sense they seemed to him symbolical
Hendricks is right he muttered. 'It
is the women who play the devil with our
lives!"