Evening star., 1923-04-27

4 =
breast OF the whole affair, but he put
the thought from him to see how fate
or destiny would work the affair to
the finish.
:, During the following week he did
I father frustrated every attempt
On one occasion he waylaid one Of
the young ladies' who was to be one
OF the bridesmaids on her way home
from the Vail place.
From her he learned that the prep
aratfons for the grand wedding were
going merrily on: "Clairena will look
like dream; she tried on her bridal
gown for us to see. Not one of us
the proper thing to do until the bride
( dresses for the great event." she
added
| Il suppose Miss Vail is-very-hap-
py. as all girls making ready to be
married usually are" he ventured
| 'Clairena is not very demonstra-
tive; she does not enthuse as I should
over life's greatest event" laughed
the young lady. locking up through
her long lashes into the face of the
handsome man before her.
Thorne thought Of a scheme, which
ne proceeded to put into execution at
once. Will you carry a message
from me to Miss Vail-a-noteo AS
1 am to be best man. and Smith is far
away, there are a few minor details I
should like to talk with. Clair-I
mean Miss Vail. about"
Certainly" was the reply. as she
looked at him. suppressing a roguish
giggle. She happened to know. as
every one else did. how fond Edward
Thorne had been Of her friend Clair
ena. She knew. too.@ that Clairena
for Thorne. She. like. all Ciairena's
friends. had been more than surprised
when her betrothal TO Smith had
| oeen announced-they had b~,n so
sure she would wed Ed Thorne
Drawing blank cheek book from
nus ms poeket-the sSk,t only bitE of paper he
words upon 1t. folded it and handed
you give It to her" he cautioned. "sb a
might not like to have Elm interfere
In what she desires"
vomMg Nuns I;,, the word" replied the
hand. and turning back to the house,
In the corridor she met the colonel
was IT only her fancy. or-did he give
ner an unusually sharp glance from
over the top OF his spectacles?
minute" she declared. darling up the
broad stairway to the floor above.
She knew she would find :her friend
In her boudoir-quite alone.
Her step was SO light Clairena did
not near her enter. The sight that
met her gaze amazed her. Clairena
SAT IN the midst of her finsry with a
portrait in her hand-ths portrait Of
Thorne. VI
her friend would have retreated
unseen, but she was too late To carry
out this project. GIancinR I'm AZ fhat
instant. Clairena beheld her. A deem
crimson nush suffused her face leayr
me next instant paler than before.
4 re0nAAfa6 70 1y~;x-
| CIairena." she said. laying the cr,,m,
pIeo note In her friends lap: adding.
| cant stay minute; I'm in so much
oi hurry; oye,bye. dear"
young girl who was to be ona nr har
| the room. iroH
Hastily ,glancing about and a.,ur-
! ing nerself she was alone, CIairena
eaeerIv. tneo OUT the note. reading
MY dear-Aiiss vail-would IL he
presumptous Of me to ask you TO see
me Ior few moments only-on vour
porch-western wing-at eiRht This
evening" 1mportant 'H'S
Within that silent chamber rofhe a,.,, j..
the next hour Clairena Vail fon9bt
the battle OF her life in tryinp to a.
cide whether she should meet Ed
"sro ihorne or not.
,.s she hoped her father had not seen
h her friend return with that note IN
her hand: but that was exactiv .what az
| had happened. ="hat
Looking out Of an unn.r r,,a
anrough his aeldglasses at a nassins
aerupiane. ae glancing down he had ohs
other side Of the gate with nga me ne
Lsdairena,s bridesmaids He saw =b,n,
nano tne note to the young rir, .ana
.rsu ner return to the house
con1 Ina. Fellow is still determined 70
with NV da' even clandestineIy-
gIily' Like the careful genersl % eh. she
vas ne began then and there tn ta,,
MS plan to Illustrate anv .cb.s,
Ihorne might have put forward Ve
talk with Clairena. 70
ne knew 1t would be most unvise
to seek Clairena in her room and ds
Ihand or her the note, which she roust
nave received from Thorne. he nnust
get at the matter in a more strateejr
himself anif moEe HE c,aN. must certainly prove
unsophisticated girl "'s
he felt like giving the object OF
h1s annoyance good canin1 ,nd
YOU'D nave done it il it had not been
Ior the fact that Thorne was to be
the best man at the wedding.
The colonel noticed that cla,rer,
her place at the dinner table opno.
site him. He noted. too. that now
and then she glanced uneasily at the
CLOCK on the mantle.
You must come into the drawing
room and sing and play for me, nv
, Gear he suggested as they arose
from the table.
Please excuse me this time, father.
IL have other matters I wish to
attend to-"
II must ask you to spare me at
least an hour. You will not refuse
When you know my reason, which is
l snal! hand over to you this evening
it was your dead mothers wish that
drew near"
Clairena burst into tears. Let us
put It on until tomorrow night, ia
tonight"
The colonel threw his arms about
her drawing her almost forcibly
down to the sofa, taking seat by
hed sos sSs my MI s no. x1 IT must saSs BE te heTe
In my breast pocket. together with a
little note"
He felt tho trembling Of the slen-
der form. as he gathered her close
his shoulder.
II am going to tell you now, what
you never knew before, dearie. and
that Is. came within an ace of
never marrying your mother, on ac-
count OF an old lover who persisted
in his attempt to win her from me-
Clairena gave q violent start. but
he pretended not to notice 1t.
1.-THE day before the one set for the
wedding I met him on the high road.
I would have passed him. but he
placed himself squarely before me.
insulting me grossly.
! There was nothing else that a
man OF spirit could do but knock him
down, which I did. Then there fol-
lowed the fercest battle that was
L a,zec fought hlita aida Of rariza ring