Evening star., 1924-02-09
BY EMERSON HOUGH.

Theodosia Alston arose from the
| spot where she sat in the deeper
/ shadows and came forward to him.
/ He met her, his hands outstretched,
This pulse leaping eagerly in spite of
/ his reproofs. He dreaded, yet re-
| joiced.
"why are you here?" he asked at
| length.
My father and are on a journey
down the river to visit Mr.. Rlenner-
hasset on his island. You know his
castle there?"
| why is it that you always come
to torment me the more? Another
iday and 1 should have been gone"
! Torment you. sir?"
You -rebuke me properly. I pre-
sumo | should have courage to meet
| You always--to speak with you-to
! look into your eyes-to take your
hands in mine But | find it hard.
terribly hard. Each time it is worse
because each time I must leave
you. Why did you not wait one day."
| his Self-control.
Mr.. jefferson. how is he?" he de-
manded at length. You left him
well?"
"Unchangeable as flint. You said
that only the order of the chief could
! that ordrr-I went myself to see MI
! jefferson, that very day you started.
/ He said that nothing could alter his
! faith in You and that nothing could
alter the plan YOU both had made.
He would not call you back. He
! ordered me not to attempj to do so;
| but | have broken the President $
command. You lind it hard. DO YOU
think this is nor hard for rno also?"
: These are strange words What
) is your motive" What Is it that you
plan? Why should YOU seek to stop
me when am trying TO blot your
ffacc out of my mind? Strange labor
Us that--to try to forget what / hold
most de;r>.'
! You shall not leave my face be
| hind you. Capt. Lewis" she said
Sudd"nl;.
What d" you mean. Theodosia? ?
, What is it?
| You shall see me every night un-
der the stars, Meriwether Lewis. |
will not let you go. | will not re-
! lnuuish you
! He turned swiftly toward her, but
paused as if Caught back by some
! What is it," he said once more.
: half in a whisper. What do you
mean? Would You ruin me? Would
| you see ME go to ruin?"
NO. To the contrary, shall T allow
! you to hasten into the usual ruin of
a. man? II you go yonder. what will
! he the fate OF Meriw ether Lewis ?
! You have spoken beautifully to me
| at times-you have awakened some
feeling OF what images Il woman may
make in 4 mans heart. l have been
! no more TO you than any woman is
to any mantle image of a dream.
/ But. that being so beautiful, ought l
+ to allow you to turn it to ruin? Shall
/ let you go down in sayaEery? All,
if | thought were relinquishing you
to that this would be Il heavy day
for me-.
can you fancy what all this means
to me?" he broke out hoarsely.
Yes. L can fancy. And what for
has been-oh, call it what you like
admiration, affection. maternal ten
derness-I do not know what-but so
much have 1 wished. so much have
planned for your future in return
for what you have given me-ah, 1
dare come here if l did not know
that l was never to see or speak
to you again. It tears my heart from
my bosom that l must say these
things hi 5snde to y you: o h havs NE riSked all
no reward for that? Is my recon-
pense to be only your assertion that
I torment you, that 1 torture you?
| What! Is there no torture for me
as we'll? The thought that 1 have
done this covertly. secretly-what do
you think that costs me?"
Your secret is absolutely safe with
me. Theodosia. No, it is not secret!
We have sworn that neither of us
would lay Il secret upon the other
l swear that to you once more"
And yet you upbraid me when I
say l cannot give you up to any
fate but that of happiness and sue
cess-oh, not with me, for that is
beyond US two-it is past forever.
There are some words that burn
deep" he said slowly. Il know that
4 was not made for happiness"
Does a woman's wish mean moth
ing to you? Have 1 no appeal for
you?"
Something like sob was torn from
You can speak thus with me?" he
said huskily. IF you cannot leave
me happiness, can you not at least
leave me partial peace of mind?"
She stood Slightly swaying, silent
linquish me. you will not let me go
to that fate which surely is mine :?
You say you will not let me be saw
age? I say | am too nearly savage
into the wilderness, where l may be
a gentlemanr'
He saw her movement as she
turned. heard her sigh.
Sometimes" she said, ct have
thought it worth womans life
succeed. Failure and sacrifice a
woman may offer-not much more.
But it is as my father told me"'
He told you what?"
Ihat only chivalry would ever
make you forget your duty-that you
never could be approached through
your weakness, but only through
your strength. through your honor.
cannot approach you through your
strength and L would not approach
you through your weakness. even If
could. No! Wait. Perhaps some
DAY 1t will all be made clear for
both of US, so that we may under
stand: Yes, this is torture for us
both!''
He heard the soft rustic of her
gown, her light football as she
passed; and once more he was alone,
Continued in TomorroW's Starl