The Washington times., 1913-05-10
CHAPTER xI.-(continued.)

III n fain to go home-go nome-go
home!" she walled.
Staversham looked down at
her .rumpled, reddish head and
her lank body, superfeminine in its bor-
rowed gsrnishings. For the first time
he saw Thomsine Musgrove as a con-
cretion, not an abstract sum Of E10,O00
q year.
A fne. tall figure Of a man he was.
this suave Lord Stavershara. Comely
beyond the run Of men he had been In
his day, when he had been favored OF 80
great q lady that since that hour he had
been none too welcome at the court.
At dfty-odd he kept still. in spite Of
hard self-usage. the. remnant Of his
beauty. though the brightness OF his
hair was tarnished to gray and his eyes
Philosopher, perforce. he had become.
Life In q bad matter. Make the best
Of IT." his creed had been, since the
ironic years when his lawful lady pre-
(happily all but two were deadD while
his lady's woman, brown Nan Erisey,
brought him an outstanding son.
Whimsically he must wonder by times
whether he most loved Rob. because he
was his SON, or most hated him. be-
cause he might not call him his. Make
the best Of 1t! At least, he had a son in
Carlsford-the limp. pink thing. with
nothing OF his father in him but his
beauty.
II was all Of piece with the way In
which life sped with him-to his amuse-
ment! And now that Carisford's be-
trothed played the reol, to set all Oxford
talking: Well. make the best Of It! At
blemish by the escapade.
A great gentleman always, Staver-
sham patted Thomsine's heaying
There. there, my good child." he
said wearily. Another time tnou wilt
doubtless handle matters more dis
But 1 did noty' stormed Thomsine.
a. she litter her thin. tear-streaked
to pray him hold his hand from Wat.
6oeause Of Charlotte's sake"
Thank thee for naught" sniffed that
grateful lady.
and babe me h-hold my tongue. And
then he. out, and I presently after him
and would go to Walset, and FOUND
him to follow. because he knew not
the ways at all, and I did mislcad him
Wat"
That haraseed hero fetched n sroan.
"If there were less of women med
ding in my matters.
this hour" Eleanor rounded ont the
sentence fe:icitously.
And then" Thomsine painted on. 'I
thought he would stay me therefor, yet
he never, though angry enough to. and
then / lost my way. and there were
don and Ioathly folk, and founi him.
ana my boots came of, and my satin
siinpers are lost forever more, and we
had bread and cheese at Little Ends
leigh. and he hath gone ,ena 70 nsnt .rne Ior sne
sent me under safe conduct home, and
+ tell the truth-the truth-and you must
believe me-" she ended. with thin
cheeks throbbing scarlet and chin held
For the second time stayersham look
INV lass" said he. us easy to be-
lfeye thee innocent, but hard indeed to
believe this man Kerstenbroock entire
""Hsp ppiiy he did not dare'-Wat
.,rox,e 10 lift his dropping crest.
because OF thee?" smiled Eleanor.
Rni Thom.ine had ears only for
s,ow comprehension of what my lord
Thou canst not believe maid be
honest and a man be honorabie!' she
spoke incredulously- , >sv
heart ts sick. Oh. let me henceH
"As soon as thou art fit 70 travel
courteoeuly spoke my lard. f0r now
best rest thee in thy chamoer.
At the mere u
child lied impingiy in her borrowed
boots. They could hear her stumbling
fast upon the stairway, as she strue-
gied upward to the shelter OF nef
chamber.
I'VE might have looked for such
tricks. 'Tis the base blood In her.
spoke Charlotte, in the proud conscious
ness that she was herself descended on
the distsff side from king and kitcn-
en- wench.
Leave my kindred be-" growled Wat.
Poor soul! Amid his womanfoik ne was
as miserable as an OK that has overset
a beehive.
Lord staversham took out the silver
comfit box which he carried. after the
practice Of his youth. Deliberately ne
soiaced himself with a comfit. then
swept the waiting assemblage with his
eyes.
You have heard her story, he said.
Charlotte dared not speak while her
father spoke, but with her eyebrows she
said. az plainly az with words. what
she thought Of % silly . tale.