Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22

penetrating, and yours, am told. must
suggest some means of confirming my
doubts or of definitely ending them"
Then Violet stirred and looked about
at him and finally found voice.
Tell me something about your
fathers ways. What are his habits?
Does he sleep well or is he wakeful at
night"
He has poor nights. His valet, who
has always been in our family. shares
his room and acts as his constant
nurse. He can watch over him better
than / can; he has no distractiug trou-
Bile on his mind"
and little Roger? Does your father
see much Of little Roger? Does he
seem happy in his presence"
Yes; yes. l have often wondered at
1t. but he does. They are great chums.
1t is A pleasure to see them together.
Only once have l seen my little chap
shrink. and that was when my father
gave him look Of unusual intensity
looking for his mother in him, per-
haps."
'Mr. Up1ohn. forgive me the question;
1t seems necessary. Does your father
or rather did your father before he fell
il1-eyer walk in the direction OF the
grotto or haunt in any way the rocks
which surround ito"
Il cannot say. The sea is there: he
loves the sea. But T have never seen
him standing on the promontory."
Which way do his windows look?"
Toward the sea and the promon-
tory
Can he see 1t from his bed~'
NO. Perhaps that IS the cause Of a
peculiar habit of his"
What habit"
every night before he retires Che
is not yet confined to his bed), he
window looking out. He says It's his
goodnight to the ocean. When he no
longer does this. we shall know that
his end is very near"
Rising she turned on the electric
light. and then. resenting herself. re-
marked with an aspect Of quiet cheer:
Il have two idens: but they necessi-
tate my presence at your place. You
Will not mind a visit? My brother will
accompany me-"
Roger Cpjohn did not need to speak.
hardly to make a gesture; his express
sion was 80 eloquent.
she thanked him as If he had answer
ed IN words. adding with an air of
gentle reserve: Providence assists US
In this matter. I am invited to Beverly
next week to attend a wedding. 1 was
intening to stay two days. but will
mako 1t three and spend tho extra one
with YOU"
What are your reuu,rements, Miss
Violet turned from the imposing por-
trait OF Mr.. Tp5ohn which she had been
gravely contemplating, and met the
troubled eyes OF her young host with an
enigmatical fash Of her own. She made
no answer In words. Instead, she lifted
her right hand and ran one slender
finger thoughtfully up the casing of
the door near which they stood tn 1t
struck nick In the old mahogany al
most on level with her head
rs your son Roger old enough to
reach so far?" she asked with another
short look at him as she let her finger
rest where 1t had struck the roughened
wood. Il thought he was a little fell
low"
He is. That cut was made by-by
my wife. sample OF her capricious
Willfulness, She wished to leave a
record of herself in the substance OF
our house as well as in our lives. Till
the walls cave in or burn is what she
said"
He made move as If to lead the
way into another portion of the room.
But Violet failed to notice this, and,
lingering in quiet contemplation of
this suggestive little nick-the only
blemish in room of ancient colonial
magnifcence she thoughtfully re-
marksdi
Then. she was small woman"
adding with seeming irrelsvance, like
myself"
Roger WINGED. Something in the sug-