Evening star., 1924-04-12
By Rafael Sabatini

frightened beyond all reason at find
| ing herself for the first time under
! Mr.. Wilding's roof He was most
handsomely housed. His grandfather,
who had travelled in Italy, had built
! the Chase upon the severe and noble
lines which there he had learned to
admire. and he had embellished it's
! interior, too, with many treasures of
art which with that intent he had
| there collected.
She dropped her whip and gloves
on to a table and sank into a chair to
wait, her heart fluttering in her
| throat. Time passed and in the ST.
! lence OF the great house her anxiety
was gradually quieted. until at last
through the long window that stood
| open came. family waited to her on
| the soft breeze of that June morning
the sound Of a church clock at wes-
| ton Noyland Ginning twelve She rose
with a start. bethinking her suddenly
| OF DIANA. and wondering why she had
not YET arrived. Was the child's in
disposition sraver than she had led
! Ruth to suppose? She crossed to the
windows and stood there drumming
lmpAuently upon the pane. her eyes
strayinS idly over the sweep of elm
fringed lawns toward the river
cleaning silvery here and there be-
tween the trees in the distance.
Suddenly she caught a sound of
hoofs. Was this Diana? She sped to.
the other window. the one that stood
open, and now she heard the crunch
Of gravel and the champ of bits and
the sound of more than two pairs of
hoofs. She caught 4 glimpse OF Mr.
! iWilding and Mr. Trenchard
she felt the color flying from her
her throat and ii was in vain that
with her hand she sought To repress
the heaving of her breast. She was
afraid: her every instinct bade her
b. l. 4
stood and run from Zoyland Chase.
! ANA then she thought OF Richard and
/ ms danger and she seemed TO gather
courage from the reflection of her
purpose in this house.
| Mems voices reached her-a laugh
! the harsh cawing of Nick Trenchard.
! ~ lady she heard him cry. '"Od's
! heart Tony. Is this a time for traf-
! tlckine with doXies?" She crimsoned
an instant at the coarse word and set
her teeth, only to pale again the next.
Z The voices We're lowered so that she
! heard not what was said; one sharp
! exclamation she recognized to be in
/ Wilding's voice. but caught not the
! pause and she stirred uneaSily, walt
! ing. Then came swift steps and jan
Cling spurs across the hall. the door
! opened suddenly and Mr.. Wilding. in
Ia scarlet riding coat, his boots white
| with dust. stood howing to her from
| the thrs Shold.
! Your servant, Mistress westma-
icott, she heard him murmur. my
| house is deeply honored''
She dropped him Il half-curtsy, pale
land t"ngue-tied. He turned to deliver
hat and whip and gloves to Walters,
! who had followed him. then closed the
! door and came forward into the room
| You will forgive that ] present my
! self thus before you" he said. in
! apology for his dusty raiment. But
! be thought me you might be in haste
and Walters tells me that already have
| YOU waited night upon an hour. Will
you not sit, madam And he advanced
| a chair. His long white face was set
! like q mask. but his dark, slanting
eyes devoured her. He guessed the
! reason of her visit. She who had
hunbled him; who had driven him to
! the very borders of despair. was now
| to be humbled and TO despair, before
him. Under the impassive face his
| soul eXulted fercely.
! She disregarded the chair he prof
rered My visit > = has no doubt
surprised YOU" she began, tremulous
and heSitating.
"T faith, no" he answered quietly
'The cause. after all, is not very far
to seek. You are come on Richards 5
behalf"
Not on Richards" she answered.
"On my own" And now that the ice
was broken. the suspense of waiting
over she found the tide of her cour-
sAt-' NV tilE last MS encounter
must not take place. Mr.. Wilding,"
she Informed him.
lie raised his eyebrows-fne and
level as her own-his thin lips smiled
ineVer so family. 1T is, Think" said
he, for Richard TO prevent it. The
Ichance was his last night 1t shall
be his again when we meet. If he
viii express regret s@" He left his
sentence there. In truth he mocked
her, though she guessed it not
You mean" said she. that if he
makes apology 49,
What else? What other way re-
Mains"
She shook her head. and, if pale,
her face was resolute. her glance
steady.
That is impossible" she told him.
Last night-as [ have the story-he
might have done it without shame
Today 1T is too late. To tender his
apology on the ground would be to
| proclaim himself a coward"
Mr.. Wilding pursed his lips and
shifted his position. 1T is difficult
perhaps" said he, but not impos-
sible.'
1T is impossible" she insisted
firmly.
I'll not quarrel with you for
word" he answered. mighty agree
able. Call it impossible, if YOU will.
Admit, however, that it is all I can
suggest. You will do me the justice.
I am sure, to see that in expressing
my Willingness to accept your
brothers expressions of regret l am