Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24
Since when have you been dying? +"

suppose it was your Cousin Valerie who tended me
during my blindness your fathers house. who shed
tears because she had to leave me. who"
Quite possibly, she Interrupted only It would nave
been at her fathers house and not mine. she does
tend blind people. my fathers patients
looked at her open-mouthed. In the name OF
heaven" exclaimed, who are you. II not the daugn
ter of Doctor Deane. of stavaton street,"
My father Mr. Henry Deane. the oculist. You
asked if were the daughter of Doctor Deane SO many
people give him the wrong title that didn't trouble
to correct you
a few had been
making pretty fool Of myself. l stammered out
pleas for a thousand pardons 1 confused myself and
her. in explanations. Then I remembered that the
fathers were twin brothers and bore strong resem-
blance other. What more natural than that
the daughters should also be alike:
What can't understand" said Miss Deane rs how
you mistook me for my cousin"
Your voices IDENTICAL.
but outer semblances-'
Il have never your cousin-she left me before
recovered my sight
How then could you say you had my face before
Il am afraid. Miss Dcane, wrong in that as
in everything else 1t was her face. I had mental
picture OF it."
She put a puzzled expression "And you used
mental picture for the purpose Of recognitionT
Yes" said l.
II give it up" said Miss Deane.
She did press further. Her Cousin Valerfe's
love affairs grounds delicate for her to tread
upon She turned the conversation by politely asking
me how consult her father. mentioned
my friend Mobray and the gun accident She remember
the and claimed slight acquaintance with
Mobray whom met at various houses in Grand
chester. My and reputable person being
established. began to chat most amicably. found
Miss Deane accomplished woman. We talked books
art travel. She had the swift wit which delights in
bridging the trivial and the great She had a playful
Never have found personality SO Immediately
svupathetc I told little Viennese story in
which happened have played minor part, and her
spontaneous as Valerie s-my valerie
She had valeres woodland laugh Were 1t not that
her personal note her touch on the strings OF iie
differed essentially from my beloveds. should nave
held grotesquey impossible for any human De.ns
in tho
railway carriage. Indeed there were moments when
she was the girl waiting for me at Grand
chester faded the limbo of unreal things KISS
those lips had nuttered on mine. IL were uha'S
doubt it.
During intervals of n-iusion examined her face
critically There question Of its unattracveness
to the casual observer. The too large and
feshy the teeth prominent the too small But
my pierced to its underlying spirituality and
was the face above all others that desired
Toward the end of remarkably short four hours
Journey Miss sracously expressed the hope that
might meet again
form"
be able distinguish one from the other when my
cousin and are tosether!
Are you then. identically ake?'
ihats a womans way Of answering question
by another question: she laughed.
well but you?" persisted
GLOW otherwise could you have mistaken me
hero, She had drawn off her gloves to give
tidying touch her hair noticed her hands, small.
long and deft. I wondered whether they resembled
Vaeries
.eWonld YOU do the great favor OF letting mo
touch, your hand while shut my eyes. I
blind?
II for a few seconds as they had many times
oye- Valeries weir she asked.
..Not the same said I.
She flushed, seemed angrily. and glanced down a.
ber hand on which she Immediately proceeded t..
a glove.
"Yo,1rs stronger. And fner,' added. when I
cav that attribute Of strength did please
..1ts the little personal thing am proud Of"
che remarked.
.You have made my four hours pass like
utes said "A service to fellow-creature which you
ts..When 1 child I could have said the same of
conforming elephants.
II am no longer child. Miss Deane" said 1 with
q bow. :. -.
her pale cheeks do not know. The ways OF women
have often surprised me- I have heard other
think most men are children she said shortly.
Their sweet rresponsbilty." said Miss Deane
then the train entered Grandchester Station.
/ deposited my bag at the station hotel and drove
straight to Stavaton street. forgot Miss Deane MY
thoughts and onglngs centered her beloved counter
part with her tender caressing subtle
nhection in the voice that made 1t more exquisite than
the voice 10 winch had been listening.
" The servant who the door recognized me
smiled welcome Miss Valerie in the drawing
the way" said
mpctuous ran uD the stairs. burst into the
room ana stopped short the threshold in presence
Of strange and exceedingly beautiful young
She stately slender She had masses OF bright
hrnWn IVA ola La1l Ham