Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER XIX.
Fortune Decides.

George and Fortune were seated at
breakfast. 1t was early morning. At 10
they were to depart for Jaffa, to take
the tubby French packet there to Alex
andria. They could just about make 1t,
longer upon this ragged and inhospitabie
coast.
''Ryanne has probably oversight. After
breakfast I'll go up and rout him out.
The one thing that really tickles me-
George continued, as he pared the tough
rind from the skinny bacon, "6 we shan
have any luggage. Think OF the biessins
of travelling without a trunk or a vailse
or steamer roll!'' -
without even q comb or a hair prusn:
It's great fun" George broke his
And Fortune wondered how she should
tell him. She was without any toilet
articles. She hadn't even tooth brush !.
and it was quite out Of the question Tor
as she needed them. She would have 10
live in the clothes she wore. and trust
that the ships stewardess might help ner
out in the absolute necessities.
Here the head waiter brought George
a letter. The address was enough Tor
George. No one but Ryanne could have
written 1t. Without eXcuSing himself, ne
| ripped off the envelope and read the con-
tents. Fortune could not resist watch
ing him, for she grasped quickly that only
Ryanne could have written a letter here
in Damascus. At first the tan upon
Georges cheek darkened-the sudden sur
fusion of blood; then it became lighter,
and the mouth and eyes and nose became
stern.
rs it bad news?"
1T all depends upon how you look at
1t. For my part, good radiance to bad
rubbish. Here, read it yourself"
She read:
"My dear Percival: After all, 1 find
| that cannot reconcile myself to the dull
ness of your olive groves. l shall send
| the FIVE hundred to you when I reach
! New York. With me it is as it was with
| the devil. When he was sick. he vowed
| he would be a saint; but when he got
well, devil saint was he. There used
! to be rhyme about it, but / have for
gotten that. Anyhow. there you are.
gard to the money. 1t is contrary to the
| laws and bylaws of the United Romance
! and Adventure Company to refund. Still,
| intend to hold myself to it. With hale
! affection. RYANNE."
What do you think of that?" demand
| ed George, holly. 81 never did good
action in my life that wasn't served i'll.
I'm soft duffer. if there ever was one. "
Il shall never be ungrateful for your
kindness to me-.
"Oh hang it. You're different; you're
| not like any other woman in the world
be blurted; and Immediately was seized
with mild species of fright.
Fortune stirred her coffee and de1icately
scooped up the swirling circles of foam.
.'Old maids call that money" he said,
Understandings, eager to cover up his
| boldness. ''My mother used to tell me
that there were lots of wonders in a tea
cup
.sTelI me about your mother"
To him it was a theme never lacking
in new expressions When he spoke of
his mother, it altered the clear and boy
iSh note in his voice; 1t became Subdued,
reverent. He would never be aught than
guileless; it was not in his nature to di-
vine anything save his own impulses.
While he thought he was pleasing her
each tender recollection. each praise, was.
in fact, nail added to her crucifixion.
self-imposed. However, she never low
cred her eyes, but kept them brayely di-
rected into his. In the midst of one of
his panegyrics he caught sight of his
watch, which he had placed at. the side
Of his plate.
"By Jove! Quarter to 8. I've got an
errand or two to do, and there's no need
Oh your running your feet off on my ac-
count. I'll be back quarter after" He
dug into his pocket and counted out fifty
pounds in paper and gold. You keep
this till get back
She pushed it aside, half rising from her
chair.
Fortune, listen. Hereafter I am
George, your brother George; and / do
not want you ever to question any action
Of mine. I am leaving this money in
case some accident befell me. You never
can tell He took her hand and firmly
pressed it down upon the money. I'm
half an hour, sister, I'll be back. You
did not think that 1 was going to run
away?'
NO
do you understand me now?"
"Yes"
While he was gone she remained seated
at the table. She made little pyramids
of the gold, divided the even dates from
the odd, arranged Maltese crosses and
circles and stars. Pity, pity! Well
why should she rebel against it? Was it
not more than she had had hitherto?
What should she do? She closed her
eyes. She would trouble her tired brain