Evening star., 1923-07-08
THE EVIL SHEPHERD
BY E. Phillips Oppenheim.
Copyright. 1899, by Little. Brown q Co..

, been out so little. the last few years,
/ that 1 ought not, perhaps. to criti-
/ cize. Lady Cynthia, however, seems
| to me to belong to the extreme section
tion who have a sort Of craze for the
unusual, whose taste in art and liv-
ing is distorted and bizarre. You
j.. know what / mean, don't you-black
drawing rooms, futurist wallpapers,
| opium dens and a cocaine box! It's
| to some extent affectation, Of course.
but it's a folly that claims its vic
Tins"
She studied him for a moment at
| tentively. His leanness was the lean
ness of muscular strength and condi-
| tion, his face was full of vigor and
determination.
You at least have escaped the alb
normal" she remarked. Il am not
quite sure how the entertainments at
The Walled House would appeal TO
you there, i should advise you not
to 60"
why not?" he asked.
She hesitated for a moment
Il really don't know why should
| trouble to give you advice" she said
"As a matter of fact. don't care
| whether you go or not. In any case.
you are scarcely likely to be asked"
| Il am not sure that I agree with
you" he protested. Your father
: seems 10 nave taken quite fancy
| to me"
And you?" she nurmured.
Well. 1 like the way he bought
f, that horse" Francis admitted And
am beginning to realize that there
may be something in the theory
which he advanced when he invited
me to accompany him here this even
| lng-that there is certain piuuancy
in ones intercourse with an enemy
which friendship lacks. There may
be complexities in his character which
as yet L have not appreciated"
| The curtain had gone up and the
last act Of the opera had commenced.
She leaned back in her chair. With
out a word or even a gesture. he un-
derstood that a curtain had been let
down between them. He obeyed her
unspoken wish and relapsed into si-
lence. Her very absorption, after
all. was a hopeful sign. She would
have him believe that she felt moth
ing, that she was living outside all
the passion and sentiment of life.
Sir Timothy came back and
seated himself silently. IT was NOT
until the tumult Of applause which
broke out after the great song of
the French ouvrier that a word
passed between them.
| "Cavalisti is better" Sir Timothy
commented. This man has not the
breadth Of passion. At times he is
merely peevish."
| She shook her head.
Cavalisti would be too egotisticaI
i for the part" she said quietly. "It
is difficult"
Not another word was spoken until
the curtain fell. Francis fingered for
moment over the arrangement of
her cloak. Sir Timothy was already
ances
1t has been a great pleasure TO
see YOU like this unexpectedly." he
said, a little wistfulIy.
| cannot imagine why" she an
swered, with an undernote of trouble
In her tone. Remember the advice
gave you before. No good can
come of any friendship between INV
father and you"
| There Is this much Of good in II.
ana at any @ rate he answered, as he held
give me the chance of seeing You
| sometimes"
That is not a matter worth con-
sidering." she replied.
II find 1t very much worth consid- :
! erlng. he whispered. losing his head
| for a moment as they stood close to-
gether in the dim light of the boz.
and a sudden sense Of the sweetness
! OF her thrilled his pulses There
| isn't anything in the world I want
30 much as to see you oftener-to
4, have my chance"
| There was a momentary glow in
her eyes. Her lips quivered. The
few words which he saw framed
there-he fancied Of reproof-re-
matned unspoken. Sir Timothy was
waiting for them at the entrances.
Il have been asking Mrs. Hill
ditch's permission to call in Curzon
street, Francis said boldly.
Il am sure my daughter will be
delighted" was the cold but courte-
Gus reply.
Margaret herself made no com
ment. The car drew up and she
stepped into it--a tall. slim figure,
wonderfully graceful in her unre-
lieved black. her hair cleaning as
| though with some sort OF burnish as
she passed underneath the electric