Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
BY EDITH MACVANE

rushed into nv mind the vision of what existing
rangements" meant. Victor Cobb, the husband OF
Lii the center of the world and of the house, the
abter of destiny and of every days dongs the father
of Lii S children, the companion of Lhs youth and OF
her old age That clustering voice those resed t and
flashed into my mind the thought of 1Luca d Lammer-
moor that once saw at the Opera Comque and LUCIA
who takes to heI te Vn ar
don't make me marry Victor! He loves somebody else
And Yes, love somebody else too. And you make
marry each other can assure you that we'll both be
perfectly nserable!"
sand your word,0 responded she, @your word that
you gave me and accepted when picked you up out
of the you'd got yourself into and took IN like
daughter? All! YOU were glad enough of then: you
cried at the very notion of going back to your aunt who
snubs you doubt! You couldn't find the lady you'd
"But Mrs Stuart is she' cried desperately. 3She
recognized my name almost Immediately. It's she that
knew my-ny family, when she was young girl in
France. The letters, the miniature they are hers 1t
was she don't you understand, that came to America
to find" -
@Onlv YOU didn't" interrupted Mrs. Cobb with vio-
lence "You found me instead, and glad enough you
were to profit by the chance and to work for good
thing! &c. weak fool that was, took your promise in
gospel earnesness, and opened my heart to you and
spent thousands of dollars you and trumpeted your
name all.over the country, and gave you my darling
boy the only child I've got, for your husband! And at
the last moment, Just because young man turns up
that you think sweller than my Victor, you reng You
go off and leave in the urch when the cards are out
for the church and the Duchess already the water
And here, before could even open my mouth to re-
ply she amazed me by sinking her knees beside my
SOFA The tears started IN her eyes and made chan
nels down her rouge, her voice fell from anger to
pleading, and l saw my adversary become my sup
plant.
sDear little Lil" she said passionately, 3my dear
little daughter hope you'll be, do earnestly be-
seech YOU and with my whole heart don't 60 PACK on IN
the idea of my boy with his life before him, running
everything by tying himself to that vulgar little adven-
turess think what it would to now, if you de-
tn fran m
this alliance and the Duchess and all, to push myself
into the best and I've got there I've got there
almost For the little supper at Sherry on the night
of the Duchesss arrival I've got acceptances that rep
resent the very of America, coming up from New
port and from this place on purpose-people that
wouldn't accept diamonds from me, l own it frankly
if weren't for you and your aunt And for the wedding
breakfast-well, the list of acceptances would bring
tears your eyes. tell you for me it means success
nv master stroke carried to mastery finish! And the
wedding presents the silver and ewelry that's been
arriving at the house since youv been gone,-t you
could see those and rows of plush cases. really
think they melt your heart! And then the cards on
them-it's like the whole of Tifanys, with the Social
Register attached Good Lord, Lii! don't tell me to
send them back again Don't tell me to issue cards
The marriage has been indefinitely postponed, while
the bride goes off and marries MIR. Harry Mecklenburg
Stuart And Victor and me, we could 60 Oft and hang
ourselves; for never never could we show Our heads IN
New York. this place either after being made pub
lie laughing stocks like that And my son, fallen back
into the clutches of that little end of chorus grill Oh
L think of it, think of it, To climb SO high only to
fall back lower than at the beginning, low,
low that never can ever hope climb up again!" She
actually sobbed my shoulder the hard the in
terested, the nfexibe.
ooh Lii, keep your word to mel Oh, Lii, do beg
and beseech you don't 60 back on me now'
Where her threats might have left loophole OF es-
cape, her tears left powerless After ALL had not
promised? And from my word, given, there could
be no escape. Madame said, "don't be afraid.
Since you claim my word, will keep it."
TN spite of my best resolution the words gulped in my
throat with sob. And, just to give myself courage