Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-26

HAtH NOHCSIH. 1SdIeu SnOulo.
But 1T was necessary so that you may
understand"
Go on" she bade him.
We'll, then: he saw In me one who
made it impossible that he should
win you--so he said. Therefore, he
could with satisfaction have killed
me. But because my death might
cause you pain, because your happi-
| ness was the thing that above all
things he desired. he surrendered
that part Of his guarantee OF safety
which my person afforded him. If
his departure should be hiudered, and
l should lose my life In what might
follow, there was the risk that .
that you might mourn me. That risI;
he would not take. Him you deemed
thief and a pirate. he said. and
ADDED that am giving you his oUr
words always-if in choosing between
! us two, your choice, as he believed,
! would fall on me. then were you IN
ms opinion choosing wisely. Be
cause OF that he babe me leave his
shin. and had me put ashore"
| she looked at him with eyes that
were asyim with tears. He took &
step toward her, catch in his
breath. his hand held out
Was he right, Arabelia? My life's
happiness hangs upon your answer.
But she continued silently to re
gard him with those tear-laden eyes,
without speaking. and until she spoke
! he dared not advance farther
n doubt torn enting doubt beset
him. When presently she spoke re
saw how true had been the instinct
OF which that doubt vas born, for
! her words revealed the fact that Of
! all that he had said the only thing
that had touched her consciousness
and absorbed II from al other con-
siderations was BIood's conduct as
/ it regarded herself.
He said that" She cried HE did
that. OH" She turned away. and
through the slender, clustering trunks
Of the bordering orange trees she
looked out across the slittering wa
tiers Of the sreat harbor to the dis
tant hills Thus. for & little while,
my lord standing stifiy, fearfuliy.
waiting for fuller revelation OF her
mind. At last it came, slowly, DELHI
erately, in voice that at moments
was half suHocated. Last night
when my uncle displayed his r2ucor
and his evil rage, it began 10 be
borne in upon me that such viRdic-
t!veness can belong only to those
who have uronged. 1t IS the frenzy
! into which men whip themselves to
( justify an evil passion. ] must have
known then, II had not ALREADY
learnt it, that I had been too credu-
lous of all the unspeakable things at
tributed to Peter Blood. Yesterday
] had his own explanation OF that
| tale Of Levasseur that you heard f.:
! St. Nicholas. And nov this this
| but gives ne confirmation OF his
truth and worth. To a scouMdrei such
as 1 was too readily brought TO be-
| lieve him, the act OF which you have
just told me would have been impos-
sible.'
THAT ia my own opinion" said his
! lordship gently.
1T must be. But even IL il were
not, that would now weigh for moth
| ing. What weighs-oh. so heavily
| and bitterly-is the thought that but
| for the words in which yesterday
| repealed him he might have been
saved. II only ] could have spoken
! to him again before he went.
waited for him: but my uncle was
with him, and I had no suspicion that
| he was going away again. And nov
| he IS lost--back at his outlawry and
be taken and destroyed And the
fault is mine-miner
What are you saying? TIE only
agents were your uncle's hostility
| and his own obstinacy, which would
| not study compromise. You must
| not blame yourself for anything"
! She swung to him with some I'M
patience, her eyes aswinl in tears.
You can say that, and in spite OF
his message, which in itself tells how
! much ! was TO blame, il Was my
! treatment OF him. the epithets ] cast a.
! him that drove MIN SO much lie has
! told you. l know it to be true
| You have no cause for shame" said
he. LAS for your sorrov-Why. If ii will
| @~rI sell
on me 10 do what man can to rescue
him from this position
| She caught her breath.
You will do that" she cried with
sudden eager hopefulness. You prom
| ise:" She held out her hand to hin, Inn
pulsiveiy. He took It in both his own.
! II promise" he answered her. And
| then. retaining still the hand she had
surrended to hin1-"Arabella," he said
very gently, there is still this other
matter upon which you have not an
| swered me-
This other natter" Was he mad,
she wondered. Could any other matter
signify in such a moment.
! This matter that concerns myself,
and all my future, Oh so very closely.
This thing that Blood believed, that
are not Indifferent to me-" He saw the
| fair face change color and grow trou-
| bled once more.
Indifferent to you?" said she WHY,
no. We have been good friends; We
shall continue SO. hope. my lord
Friends. Good friendsc" He was
| between dlsmay and bitterness ut is
not your friendship only that ask, Ara
bella. You heard what l said. what
reported. You will not say that Peter
| Blood was wrong
Gently she sought TO disengage her
| land. the trouble in her face increas-
| ng. A moment he resisted: then. rcaliz-
ing what he did, he set her free.
I "Arabella. :" he cried on 4 note o.
| sudden pain.
Il have friendship for you, my lord.
| But only friendship
! His castle OF hopes came Gathering
down about him, leaving him little
stunned. As he had said, he was no
| coXcomb. Yet there was something
| that he did not understand. She con-
| fessed to friendship and It was in his
power to offer her great position, one
| to which she. a colonial planters niece.
however wealthy, could never have as
| pired even in her dreams. This she re-
jected, yet spoke of friendship Peter
| Blood had been mistaken, then. How
| far had he been mistaken? Had ne been
| as mistaken in her feelings toward HIM
self as he obviously was In her feelings
toward his lordship? In that case
| His reflections broke short. To specu-
i late was to wound himself In vain. He
must know. Therefore he asked her
with grim frankness:
| rs il Peter Blood?'
| Peter Blood" she echoed. At first
she did not understand the purport O.
| his question. When understanding
came a flush suffused her face.
Il do not know" she said, falterins