Evening star., 1921-06-09
tcuvyrtxht. w Little. Brown 4 OIL

thing I have had it in my mind to
say-for some time. I want to saw it
now. 1t is about your daughter, COL
onel."
The colonel looked at him curiously.
MY daughter" he repeated, under
This breath.
| Wrayson leaned a little forward.
| Something new had come into his
| face. This was the first time he had
suffered such words to pass his lips-
almost the first time he had suffered
| such thoughts to form themselves in
| mis- mind.
Il never looked upon myself" he
said quietly. "as a particularly i'm
pulsive person. Yet it was an impulse
which prompted me to conceal the
truth as to her presence in the fiat
building that night. 1t was a seriou>
| thing to do. and somehow 1 fancy
that the end is not yet"
Why did you do it," the colonel
asked You did not know who she
was. 1t could not have been that"
Why did 1 do it," Wrayson repeat
ed. Il can't tell you. l only know that
l should do it again and again if the
need came. If 1 told you exactly how
felt. it would sound like rot But
I'm going to ask you that question"
"Well?'
The coloners grey eyebrows were
drawn together. His eyes were keen
and bright. So he might have looked
in time of stress; but he was not in
the least like the genial idol of the
Sheridan billiard-room.
IF l came to you tomorrow" Wray-
son said. "and told you that I had
| met at last the woman whom 1 wished
to make my wife. and that woman
was your daughter, what would you
say"
Il should be glad" the colonel an
swered, simply.
you and she are, for some unhappy
reason. not on speaking terms.
Good God" the colonel interrupted,
whom do you mean? Whom are you
About your daughter-whom I
shielded-the companion of the Bar
oness de Sturm. Your daughter
Louise
The colonel raised his trembling
fingers to his forehead. His voice
quivered ominously.
"Of course. OF course. God help me,
I thought you meant Edith! I never
thought of Louise. And Edith has
spoken of you lately"
II found your younger daughter
charming" Wrayson said, seriously,
| "but it was of your daughter Louise
was speaking. I thought that You
would understand that"
"My daughter-whom you found-in
Morris Barnes f1at-that night?"
Exactly" Wrayson answered, land
my question is this. I cannot ask you
why you and she parted. but at least
you can tell me if you know of any
reason why 1 should not ask her to be
my wife"
The colonel was silent.
NO" he said at last. there Is no
reason. But she would not consent
am sure of that
I'VE will let it got at that" Wray-
son answered. Come"
He had chosen his moment for r1s-
ing so as to pass down the room al
most at the same time as Mr.. Ben
than and his strange companion.
Prolific of smiles and somewhat
elephantine graces, the lady's dark
ened eyes met Wrayson's boldly. and
finding there some encouragement.
she even favored him with a back
ward glance. In the vestibule he
slipped a half-crown into the attend
ants hand.
See if you can hear the address
that lady gives her cabman," he whis-
pered.
The boy nodded. and hurried out
after them. WFayson kept the colonel
back under the pretense Of lighting a
| fresh cigar. When at last they stroll
ed forward they met the boy return
ing. He touched his hat to Wrayson
"Alhambra, sir" he said, quietly.
| Gone off alone. sir, in a hanson Cen
tleman. walked"
The colonel kept silence until they
were in the street.
Coming to the club?" he asked,
little abruptly.
No" Wrayson answered.