Evening star., 1923-11-19

~ AUL Neniza- pacing TesIieSsis
- about the room, glanced
surreptitiously at his watch.
and then glanced anxiously
at John Bruce.
John Bruce in turn stole look at
Claire. His lips tightened a little.
Since she had been told nothing, she
was quite unconscious, Of course, that
1t mattered at all because 1t was
already long after O'clock 1hal
Hawkins in particular, or any one
else i'll general. was expected TO 1oih
the little evening circle here in what
he. John Bruce. had by now almost
come to call his room. His forehead
gathered in frown. What was it
that was keeping Hawkins?
Claires face was full in the light,
and as she sat there at the table,
busy with some sewing, 1t seemed to
John Bruce that. due perhaps to the
perspective OF what he now knew,
he detected a wearinesS in her eyes
and in sharp lines around her mouth
that he had not noticed before. 1t
was Crang, of course; but perhaps he
too-what he had said to her that
any easier for her.
Paul Veniza continued his restless
pacing about the room.
Father, do sit down" said Claire
suddenly. What makes you SO nerv-
Gus tonight? Is anything the mat
rer?"
THE matter? No, no, no; of course
not" said Paul Veniza hurriedly.
But I'm sure there is said Claire,
Tp<A q positive little nod of her head.
~h both of you, for that matter.
5ruce has done nothing but fidget
the tasseI of that dressing gown
fox ne last half hour"
Bruce let the tassel fall as
II III it had suddenly burned his
:? Not at ALL" he denied stoutly.
"Oh dear!' sighed Claire, with
mock plaintiveness. What bores you
TWO men are, then! ! wish l could
send out-what do you call it?-a
thought wave, and inspire some one,
and most of all Hawkins to come
over here this evening. He, at least, is
never deadly dull"
Neither of the two men spoke.
You don't know Hawkins, do you,
Mr. Bruce? Claire went on. She
was smiling now as she looked at
John Bruce. 81 mean really know
him. OF course. He's dear quaint.
lovable soul, and I'm so fond of
him"
I'm sure he Is" said John. Bruce
heartily. Even from the little I've
seen of him I'd trust him with-well.
you know"-John Bruce coughed as
his words stumbled-"I mean, I'd take
his word for anything"
"Of course, you would!" asserted
Claire. you couldn't think of doing
anything else-nobody could. He's
Just as honest as-as-well. as father
there, and / don't know any one more
honest" She smiled at Paul Eeniza,
and then her face grew very earnest.
I'm going to tell you something
about Hawkins. and something that
wen you never knew. father. Ever
since / was old enough to remember
any one / remember Hawkins. And
when | got old enough to understand
at all, though ! could never get him
20 talk about it, l knew his life
wasn't a very happy one, and per-
haps / loved him all the more for
that reason. Hawkins used to drink
II great deal. Everybody knew 1t. I
! never felt l had the right to
PEAK TO him about it, though II
made me feel terribly, until-until
mother died"
claire had dropped her sewing in
ner lap, and now she picked 1t up
gain and fumbled with 1t nervously.
ct spoke to him then" she said in
u low voice. Il told him how much
you needed him, father: and how glad
and happy it would make me. And
and | rem ember so well his words:
I promise, Claire. ! promise. so
lelp me Goo, tnal VIII never ci!hh
mother drop" Claire looked up, her
sace aglow And know. no matter
THAT anybody says. that from that
lay to this. he never has"
Paul Veniza, motionless now in the
renter of the room, was staring at
aer in a sort of numbed fascination.
John Bruce was staring at the
aoor. He had heard, he thought,
step in the outer room.
The door opened.
lit Gfn a
at his frayed. black cravat, which was
5,wry. He lurched against the jamb,
md In cropping unsteadily for sup
nort his hat fell from his other hand
and rolled across the floor
Hawkins reeled into the room.
''Good-hic!-good evenin'," said
Hawkins thickly.
Claire alone moved. She rose to
ner feet, but as though her weight
we're too heavy for ner limbs. Her
"oh, Hawkinsi" she cried pitifully
and burst into tears, end ran from
The room.
moment the room swtrled around be-
6ore his eyes; and then over him
swept an uncomfortable desire to get !
his hands upon this maudlin, lurch- |
ing creature. Rage, disgust, bitter |
resentment, a mad hunger for re- J
prisal possessed him; Claire's future,
1er faith which she had but mo- /
,nent gone 50 proudly vaunted, were |
Ill shattered, swept to the winds, |
~ this seedy, dissolute wreck. Her
Eather, No, her shame! Thank God !
She did not know!
You drunken beast" he gritted in |
1nerciless fury, and stepped suddenly |
Onward
But halfway across the room he |
halted as though turned to stone. |
Hawkins wasn't lurching any more. |
Hawkins had turned and closed the |
door and Hawkins now, with his face |
white and dawn, a look in his old |
nlue eyes that mingled agony and
n utter hopeleSsneSs, sank into a
hair and buried his face in his
lands.
1t was Paul veniza who moved
low. He went and stood behind the
old cabman.
Hawkins looked up.
You are sober. What does this
mean?" Paul veniza asked heavily.
Hawkins shook his head.
81 couldn't do it," he said in,
broken voice. "And-and I've, set
tied it once for all now. got to
and / found out that it wasn't any
good for me to swear I wasn't going
% touch anything any more. I'm
afraid of myself. IL came near
,eoing into the saloon. lit taught
me something, that did; because the
,.nly way l could get by was to
promise myself I'd go back there
after I'd been here" :.
Hawkins paused. A flush dyed his
cheeks. He turned around and look
"a at Paul Veniza again, and then at
John Bruce.
You don't understand-neither of
you understand. Once I promised