Evening star., 1913-02-20
Copyright. 1912. by Little. Brown co.,

with more than one crease i'm his white
'waistcoat, nodded indifferently to Car
thew and intercepted Sa.lie as she intro
duced the young American TO him. So
Carthew turned to congratulate Mr. Her
ries on his recovery. Capt. Dove and Mr..
Jobling had carefully avoided his eyes.
That had been a somewhat awkward mo-
ment for all of them. and Carthew, al
though his own conscience was clear as
regarded the other men. was glad that
dinner was promptly announced
That was the first time he had seen the
banquet hall under such conditions, and
he blnked at the vista displayed as the
big double doors were drawn apart.
The dinner table in the distance was
abiaze under it's branching candele bra, in
ca CHI of which were burning numberless
wicks under siiken shades. The silver
girandoles above the buffers buffet be-
yond it were no less dazzling. while
everywhere else warm dusk deepen ed
into almost absolute darkness wherever
the glow from the still log fires could not
penetrate.
The table appointments seemed to be
the most splendid the castle could boast.
Carthew could catch the dull CLINT of
gold plate on the buffet Eight heavy,
high-backed chairs of black. carved oak
were set about the white oasis that the
table made on the dark floor. Behind
each stood q silent footman. tar:an-kilted,
tanned of face above a spacious white
fashioned doub!et handsomely.
Slyne was leading the Duchess of Dawn
to her seat. Lord 1ngOldsby had Sallie
upon his arm, and Mr.. Jobling hovered
close at her other shoulder She sat
down between them, with his suilen lord
ship on her right facing the effusive law
Yer. And Carthew. following, noticed
that she looked round once or twice in
his own direction. Capt Dove. a queer
looking figure. had seated himself at
cid 10 d,,rh ov,L
Herries took the chair between him and
Lord Ingoldsby, leaving Carthew next the
duchess.
The piper made his appearance. accord
ing to the tine-honored tradition, and
marched twice round the table, while
the Oasen rafters overhead rang to the
dirl OF the dance he drew from his
chanter. 1t was undoubtedly pictur-
eSqre. if somewhat deafening, preliminary
to dinner, thought Carthew looking on.
much interested at the ceremonial which
should have been his prerogative instead
OF Sallie's. And. as the man Withdrew
to the inner corridor. Carthew encounter
ed Capt. Doves furtive glance.
But it fell instantly. and the old man
went OH contemplatively crumbling the
roll before him. He seemed to be in a
somewhat sOmnolent mood. 1t occurred
to Carthew that he must have been drink
ing a good deal before dinner.
A brisk conversation had been begun at
Sallie's end of the table, where Mr.. job
ling and Lord 1ngoldsby were both talk
ing to her at once. Slyne was entertain
ing the duchess. CartheW exchanged a
casual remark or two across the table
with Herr;es. and then was drawn into
Il laughing discussion with the duchess
in which Slyne also took part. suave but
by no means friendly toward Calthew.
And so course OF the stately dinner suc-
ceeded course.
More than once Carthew wished that
it We're we'll over There seemed to be
something in the air that affected his
nerves unpleasantly. His eyes We're al
ways meeting Sallie's, and it seemed to
him that il was costing her also no little
effort to maintain any interest in the
trivialltieS of the table.
lie felt sure that both Capt. Dove and
Slyne had some secret on their minds
But whether that affected her and hin
he had no means of finding out. The
coming of FL Parish had further cOmpli-
Gated situation already complicated al
most beyond his mental powers. He fell
quite lmpotent TO cope with IL, under the
added handicap OF his promise to Sal!ie
| He felt as though his promise in some
| sense made him a party to the unspeak
| ably cruel deception which must have
| been practiced on her. and that she
might. perhaps, be justified in blaming
| him when she should find out-as. she
surely must-that her presence there was
| no more than part OF a fraudulent mas
querade. He was afraid to think how
| she might deal with him on that score
when he should offer her, as he intended
| to do whenever he should find himself
| free to speak. himself and his earldon
| for what that was worth.
1t suddenly occurred to him that he
| might find out something concerning Z.
Parish from Capt. Dove. All the others
| but Herries and he were busy. CartheW
| spoke to Herries across the table.
Il had queer adventure this after
! noon.' he said, ''at the hut On the cliffs
| near the head of the loch.
| The old factor nodded. That was Lore
| ST. Justs workshop. Mr.. Carthew,'' he
mentioned.
| We'll. l went up there to see how the
! timber had stood the storm, as you tolG