Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

to her almost unnaturally serious, a writer
devoted to his art, with touch of the monk
in his disposition. This change in his voice,
look that she had surprised in his eyes,
amazed her. She felt suddenly weak.
He went on. "Sybil, l want you to be
my wife. I want you, if you can, to care
for me just little at first, so that l can
teach you some day to care great deal. l
want to tell you here and now, if only you
will listen, what you have come to mean to
me, how much love YOU
"You can't be serious!7 she gasped. 3You
don't really mean this!'
He laughed as he stopped little toward
her. All her strength was passing away. All
her power of resistance, if indeed she had
ever desired to resist him, seemed numb. A
rapturous lassitude was upon her. The very
instinct of resistance had persisted. She
yielded herself willingly to his arms, his lips
3Sybil, you must care for me little!' he
pleaded. "You don't know how much you
have come to mean to me. You have found
your way into every corner of my life, and
when l sit down to write my heroine comes
back to me and smiles out of your eyes.
Then put my pen down, and fill my room
with fancies that are SO much more wonder
full than anything one can write about.
want you so much, Dear! I want to see you
here alone with me, just as have seen you
in your pretty frocks, and with your quaint,
fascinating little ways, drawing the tears
don just as easily as you have stolen my
heart. Dear, before we read the play won't
iifes~ ' - " ' ~
Il am not good enough" she sobbed pres
emily, hiding her face against his shoulder.
@You are much too clever, and you ought to
marry someone quite different. But of
course l love you, and of course I'll marry
you, if you really mean it."
TT was nearly seven o'clock before they re-
turned Lucille was playing languid
croquet with Mary. Lakenham was loung-
ing in wicker chair, with his hands in his
pockets and a disfguring scowl upon his
none too handsome features.
@Shall tell them?" Jermyn whispered.
She caught at his arm. SNot just yet.
please" she begged. II am little afraid of
the Duchess, and 1 am afraid"
She stopped short He followed her gaze
she was looking at Lord Lakenham.
@There is nothing in the world, Dear" he
insisted, quietly but firmly, shat should
make you afraid. Remember that you have
me to protect you now"
She looked up at him swiftly. That one
look was quite enough for the people upon
the lawn! at shall be just as you decide, :"
she said; @only-not this instant, at any
rate
Lucille raised the lorgnette that hung
from her waistband, and looked at them.
any dear people, she exclaimed, 3you have
had time to act play instead of reading it: !"
Jermyn laughed good humoredly. His
cheeks were little flushed, his eyes very
bright. II make no excuses, he declared.
II was perfectly honest when l announced
my intention of monopolizing Miss Cluley.
Hows the croquet going?'
"Execrably,' Lucille replied. 3The child
is much too good for me. That lazy person
in the chair fatty refused to play, or I should
never have offered myself up as a sacrifice: :"
II am for the last hoop with the blue bal,
and blacks rover" Mary announced.
ats quite the loveliest lawn I ever played
on"
Sybil crossed over to her sister. Jerrnyn
and Lucille stood side by side.
@You really are an angel, he whispered
to her. Il am afraid you must have been