Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1920-01-01
THE LADY EVELYN

A Story of Today
BY MAX PEMBERTON

Gavin wanders toward the Gypsy
down in the hollow by
the river. He hears a wistful voice
singing to the music of a violin. He
meets gypsy who takes him to his
tent where he meets Djala, girl of
amazing beauty. Gavin and the gip-
sy have a talk about Georges Odin
and his son, after which Gavin de-
cideS TO interview the Earl.
He slept upon this, but 1t was a
broken sleep whose interludes found
him sitting up in bed listening for any
sounds in the house, and repeating in
spite OF himself the gypsy threatsC He
could not forget that some one had
watched him in his sleep when first
he came to Melbourne Hall; and this
unforgotten >hgure his Imagination
showed to him again, telling him that
It crossed the room with cat-like steps
or breathed upon his face whenever
his eyes were closed. His natural
courage made nothing of the dark
ness; but the suggestion of unknown
and undisclosed danger became intol-
cradle as the night advanced; and at
the very first call Of dawn, he drew
the curtains back and waited with a
child's longing for the day. When this
at length broke above the nights
mists floating up from the river, Cav
In rose and put on his dressing-gown,
being quite sure that sleep had, for
the time being, deserted him. True.
his odd hallucination that some one
was In the room with him no longer
troubled him; but certain facts dis
Quieted him none the less. and Of
there, the belief that his wallet and
his papers had been ransacked during
the night was not the least alarming.
He felt sure that he could not be mis-
taken. A man of method, he remem.
bered clearly how he had placed his
papers and in what order he had left
them. coWhoever had played the spy's
part had done SO clumsily, forgetting
to reclasp the wallet and leaving the
in some disorder. This
troubled Gavin less than the knowl-
edge that some one had, after all,
watched him while he slept and that
his dream had not deceived him.
''They take me for spy from Buk-
harest." he said and he
could laugh at the delusion.
1t would have been about five o'clock
of the morning by this time; glori.
Gus hour. full of the sweet breath Of
day and OF that sense OF life and be-
ing which is the daydawn's gift.
Gavin knew little of the habits of
grooms, save that they were the peo-
pie who were supposed to rise with
the sun; but when an hour had passed
he went out impatiently to the stables,
and there the excellent William found
him rare ould dvil of boss" and
one that ',came just short OF winnin'
the National, to he sure he did, This
raw-boned cantankerous brute carried
him at sound gallop twice round the
home park; and, greatly refreshed, he
returned to the Hail and asked the
apologetic Griggs If the Earl we're yet
down. The answer that his lordship
was awaiting him in the Long Gal
lery." hardly surprised him. He felt
sure that the recognition last night
had been mutual.
"Zallony's son has told him." he
said: very well ! will go and ask
him to give me Evelyn"
The Earl sat at little table placed
lery. He had aged greatly these last
few weeks, and there were lines upon
his face that had not been there when
Gavin first came tn Moretown. A close
observer would have said that the
habit Of sleep had long deserted him.
This his eyes BETRAYED, being CLASSY
in their abstracted gaze and rarely
resting upon any object as though to
observe II for more than an instant.
When Gavin eutered. II tremlil0ns
hand indicated chair drawn mp near
the liable. The Earl was the first to
speak and he did 80 with averted gaze
and in loud voice which failed to
conceal the hesitation OF his words.
81 hear of yonr unfortunate acci-
dent for the first time. Mr.. Ord" he
said slowly. Let me implore you to
run no more risks OF the kind. The
Belfry Tower is too old to write new
histories"
Gavin replied with an immediate
of that which he owed to
Evelyns bravery.
But for your daughter. my lord"
he said. 81 should not be here this
morning to speak to yon OF very grave
things. Please do not think me insen-
sible of your kindness II ] mention
that at once. / have asked Lady Eve
lyn to he my wife and she has given
her consent. Naturally l tell you of
this upon the first possible occasion.
You know something of my story, or
you would not have paid me the COM
pliment of asking me here. have
an assured income of some two thou
sand year. and. with your friendship
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