Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-02-14

marriage.
@Put me down upon the bed, please" she
begged. Il am going to rest there for a few
minutes before | undress."
He obeyed her; but her arms still held
him. although her eyes were closed. Sud
denly she opened them. Her fingers gripped
his, holding him with amazing force There
was light in her face unlike anything he had
ever seen in his life.
"Jermyn!" she pleaded. @Jermyn!7
Her long arms were wound round him
now with almost frantic force. zone word!'
she faltered. Zone touch!'
The wave of pity reached his heart. He
stopped and kissed her on the lips.
FOR two-year-older you are much too
exhausting for hot morning. Jermyn
declared, setting down his boy upon the
stone balcony. @There, run along to Nurse
The child showed signs of Directing; but
his nurse quickly caught him up and disap-
peared. Jermyn remained for a moment,
looking out over the gardens, radiant now
with all the perfumed perfection of spring
wonderful pink and white hyacinths, long
borders of yellow crocuses, with patches
of anemones and banks of daffodils. In a
corner where the sunshine fingered longest
the early roses were breaking into blossom,
and in the distance was delicate cloud of
pink and white blossoms from the walled
fruit garden. The master of Annerley drew
a little sigh of content before he passed
through the open windows into the small
morning room, where breakfast was arranged
at a round table drawn up close to the bal
cony:
"Her Ladyship is not down yet?' he asked
Roberts, who was standing at the side
board.
@Not yet, Sir the man replied. 4The
gong has gone twice
Jermyn shook out the letters from his post
bag and ran them through at first careless
enough. Then he stopped short. Even
after three years the sight of SYPHILIS hand
writing was not without its effect upon him.
He glanced at the foreign postmark, with
the name of the hotel on the outside of the
envelop. Then he opened it almost eagerly
and settled down to read it. 1t was dated
from a town in the far west of America:
tiers of congratulation to Mary and Gerald have
been more welcome than l can ever make you
understand. They have made all the difference
so far as | am concerned, and have taken quite
load off my mind. Knowing them both as
well as do, Jernyn. you can imagine what joy
it gives me to realize absolutely their love for
each other.
We seem, somehow. at the other end CT the
world; but l cannot tell you how happy we all
are. Gerald especially is delightful. He and
Mary insist upon taking my whole tour with
me. We have a private and go from place
to place. and really think we all behave like
party of children. Gerald and Mary go sight
seeing at every opportunity, and always come
back with a wonderful account of their wander
ings. l have unfortunately to spend great
deal of time in the theater, as the audiences out
here like plenty of variety, and have to
change our program continually l dare say
you sometimes the papers, and you know
that America has been much too kind to me.
have had heaps of offers to stay on here-well,
nearly for the rest of my natural life; or my
working life, at any rate. But we are all COM
ing back directly this tour is finished.
l going to write you longer letter in
few days l want to write you more fully about
Mary and Gerald. 1 do not think that you will
blame mel don't really see how anybody
could. They simply devoted to each other,
and it is the greatest happiness imaginable to
see them together. You know what Mary has
meant to me all my life, and you imagine
what it means now to think that my care of her
is so delightfully."- rewarded. l am sure that
Geralds people, however they may feel just at
first, cannot help loving her in time.
l am writing you in great haste for this mail,
Jermyn, because half an hour ago | received a
letter from your wife that puzzled me and has
made me just a little uneasy. To explain it l