Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-16


adolescence, her madness-unleSS it could be called
madness to love she did Her eyes deep wells
OF mystery in which he from the distant brink
above his own image, clear amid the shadows. There
signs OF trouble them too, though she had
thought long and distressuy; but greater than the
marks OF pain the sweeter tokens OF love and
trust unalterable.
she sank upon rock, he beside her her head on his
breast. The dusk fell swiftly its shadows enfoldinp
them. He kissed her again and again, and her lips
trebled upon his she murmured the words 50 long
unspoken.
~Phlidor, love you'll love you! 1t was SO long
the waiting
"You needn't have waited, Dear, !" he said gently
ooh, don't reproach me. | can't bear it. 1t had 20
be. Olga-she srnirched us-your love and mine
made"
He stopped her lips with kisses smiling inwardv and
thinking of the wisdom of Mrs. Hammond. There IS
no Olga he murmured mo gossip but the whisper of
the stream that knows the truth.
"Yes-the truth. That is all that matters isn't it,
But that play-shall ever forget it,"
Ssh, Child! You must forget. lie never lives"
Il will forget | don't care-now. Let them say
what they choose. But | did suffer, Phildor."
And |. You cruel, Dear.
Il had to be cruel. | feared that you-that /"
She paused, and he questioned gravely.
Il feared that you too might have misjudged me
there in the woods Sees-that had cheapened N.Y.
self to you-that had been unwomanly."
"Hermia.'
Il don't know what possessed me after Olga appeared
She poisoned the very air with doubt desperate
didn't seem to care what happened. l don't know
what wanted think if you had taken then and
held me you do now, held close to you. and had
not let go, you did, you might have had to do
you willed. But you relinquished me"
Il had to- Dear"
eyes, understand now couldn't them wanted
to hurt you-as was hurt. Your sanity made me des-
perate. l couldn't understand why you should be SO
while not. You greater than land
though l loved you for it-oh, Phlidor, how loved
you'll meant that you should pay for my heartthrobs
that you should pay for Olga-for everything.
Il have paid.
Forgive | suffered doubly in knowing that you
suffered. l fled from you and hid my heart niser
would bury his But your letters forwarded
from Paris, followed me. Oh, Philidor, did read
the-not first seemed to Olga telling that story
the dinner table, and my pride revoted put them
away unopened and kept them concealed-from Others
from myself-and tried to forget them couldn't They
you. | would take them out and look at them.
slept with them under my pillow. At last | could
stand it no longer took them and disappeared for
whole day from the rest of my party. l read them
alone the summit of a mountain. She broke off
with sigh "Ah. me- If you had come to me there
you would not need to have pleaded, Philidor.7
"My Herma!'
"You with me that day. Didn't YOU know tor
Il with you every day. Child.
She smiled happily. when got down to Evian at
nightfal they were searching for They thought
that had fallen and been killed. They reproved me
| calm and smiling, my spirit still soaring you
the distances. had made up my mind to go to
you the next day.
"Oh, if you hadl'
in the morning she went came your letter
telling that you sailing for New York It
wasn't like the other letters. You reproachfu
and you going away from 1t chilled me a
litteafter the day before. Olgas face interposed-
again. And 50 let you go. You see I'm telling you
everything.
Go on, Dear"
Il got no more of your letters for tne-for long