Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-26
VIOLET'S OWN

balcony half-shaded, half-open to the
moon-a balcony made. it would seem.
for just such stolen interviews be-
tween waltzes.
Now. as it happened Rogers face
was in the shadow. but Niolets in the
full light Very sweet it looked. very
ethereal. but also a little wan He
noticed this and impetuously cried:
You are pale; and your hand see.
how II trembles.
Slowly Withdrawing IL from the rail
where it had rested. she sent one quick
glance his way and. in low voice.
said
-Four days" he murmured. ct hen.
after. or. rather, I hoped, that success
had made you forget the horror.
could not have slept myself. if l had
1T is part of the price l pay" she
broke in gently "AII good things have
to be paid for. But 1 see-i realize
that YOU do not consider that | am
doing good Though it helps other
people-has helped you-you wonder
why with all the advantages | pos
sess I should NEEDLE with matters so
repu1nant to womans natural IN
stincts.
Yes. he wondered. That was evident
from his silence Seeing her a. so
feminine in look and manner-in snort.
such a fower-it was but natural ina
he should marvel at the incohgrui'9
she had mentioned
mitted. after a moment OF troupleu
hesitation The most ccnsiderate PEI
son cannot but regard 1t as dispiAS
of egotism or of most niercehaIS
what 7 was enabled to do for you IN
Massachusetts (the only one nave
ever received which I have been tempt
ed to refuse) shows to what extent you
rated my help and my-my eNpes.s
tions. Had / been a poor girl. strus
Cling for subsistence. this generosi'y
would have warmed my heart as
token Of your desire to cut that stIus
gle short But taken with your kno"i-
edge Of my home and Its luxuries. ~
has often made me WONDER "ha' sou
thought"
shall I tell you,"
He had stepped forward at this ques-
tion and his countenance. hitherto con-
ceaIed became visible in the moonlight.
she no longer recognized it. Trans
formed by feeling, it shone down upon
her, instinct with all that is finest and
hest In masculine nature was sne
nevertheless dreamed OF for many more
nirhts than four? She did not know,
and instinctively drew herself back TIL
II was she who now stood in the semi
obscurity made by the dropping vines
From this retreat she faltered forth a
very tremuious No, which in another
moment was disavowed by Yes so faint
il was little more than a murmur. foiiow-
ed by a still fainter. Tell me-
But he did not seem in any haste TO
obey. sweetly as her low-toned in1unc-
ton must have sounded in his ears
On the contrary. he hesitated to speak.
growing paler every minute as ne
sought to catch . glimpse of her down
cast face so tantalixingly hidden from
him. Did she recognize the nature OF
the feelings which held him back. or
was she simply gathering up sufncient
courage to plead her own cause. What
ever her reason. 1t was she. not he, VINO
presently spoke saying as II no time
had elapsed:
"But first, I feel obliged to admit
that 1t was money 1 wanted. that had
to have. Not for myself. l lack moth
ing and could have more il l wished
Father has never limited his gener-
osity in any matter Affecting myself
but" She drew a deep breath ana,
coming out Of the shadow. lifted face
preston as to make him start. Il have
q cause at heart-one which should
appeal to my father and does not: and
for that purpose i have sacrificed my
self in many ways, though-though L
have not disliked my work up to this
last attempt. Not really. l want to
be honest and SO must admit that
much have even gloried Quietly
and all by myself. Of course) over the
solution Of a mystery which no one
else seemed able to penetrate. l am
made that way. I have known it ever
since-but that Is q story all by itself.
Some day / may tell it to you, but not
now"
mo. not now" The emphasis sent
the color into her cheek, but did not
relieve his pallor- Miss Strange. 1
have always felt even in my worst
DAYS. that the man who for selfish ends
brought a woman under the shadow
of his own unhappy reputation was a
man to be despised. And think SO
still. and yet-and yet-nothing in the
world but your own word or look can