Evening star., 1924-11-16

not at her best, either physically or
spiritually. She looked at him des-
perately for second as If he were
just one more hideous complication
in her life, and then her face bright
ened.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've come" she
exclaimed in a tone Of genuine pleas
ure which surprised Rawley, who re-
membered her warning telegram.
You're very kind" he answered
formally.
"Oh, it's not kindness. it's pure self
isness," she returned. I'VE need you
terribly-nobody but you. believe,
can make these two young people see
reason. or course, it's all Sibyls
fault. She should have known her
own mind earlier. Only If Freddie
wouldn't cry SO much"
Does he cry?" said Rawley. think
Ing that really II he went about
crying in the heart Of Africa
only because he loves her SO
much" said Mrs. Bruce. "Oh. I'm en-
tirely on his side. 1 think she ought
to go through with 1t now, no mat
ter how she feels. l can't face the
scandal of turning every one away.
Besides, between ourselves, Mr.. Seve-
ridge, it doesn't make much differ
marry. Romantic love makes so
much trouble. My daughter keeps
saying that it's terrible to marry a
man you don't love. So it is, but life's
terrible. It's probably a little more
terrible not to be married at ALL
can't make her see that"
Il think you're wrong said Raw
ley.
"Ah," said this alarming woman,
nj voit
you're old and sick and lonely and
no one wants to come and take care
Of you"
He wished she had not said Just
that. For more than year now he
had been, not lonely, but uncomfort-
ably aware that such a thing as lone
illness existed. A little shiver ran
through him, and he said coldly:
What do you want me to dor"
Il want you to make him behave
like a man"
Rawley shook his head. "If he had
it in him. he wouldn't wait for me
to make him"
AT least" said Mrs. Bruce, you
can make him go to her and say she
must take him or leave him. That
might bring her to her senses. Have
you no influence over your own
nephew?'
Worse than that" said Rawley,
"I haven't a nephew. I'm not Bill
Severidge. I'm just tho landlord"
Mercy" said Mrs. Bruce, "how
idiotic!" With which she turned
sharply and left the room as If some
how the whole thing had been his
fault.
Perhaps she would come back, he
thought, and tell him when he might
attack the attic. In the meantime he
went back to the perusal of the map
made many years ago by a famous
thought, where they left the main
x < X
A GAIN the door opened. He looked
- up. A girl, white as camellia
with a small and now trembling red
mouth. had come into the room. She
shut the door behind her and stood
leaning against it, staring at him.
Then she advanced to him, and as if
it were the most natural gesture in
the world, she put her arms about his
neck. and laying her head against his
heart, mur1nured: ooh, Uncle Bill,
you're going to help me. you're going
to be on my side. aren't you?"
Rawley was a brave man, but not
one who courted disaster.
So now, in one of the strangest ad-
ventures that had ever come to him.
he did not clasp the lovely creature
with undue violence: still less did
he let her go. He held her firmly
with one arm. while with the other
hand he patted her hair. 1t was nice
hair to pat-soft to the touch and yet
when it was pressed. possessed OF a
strong residence. They stood thus
for full minute-more. In the next
room a note was struck on the piano
and some one began to tune q violin.
The orchestra had arrived rather
early.
The sound seemed to rouse the girl
somewhat, for she said without rails
ing her head, breathing the words
into the top buttonhole Of his waist
coat: What did you decide?"
What did I decide?"
you and Freddie-I. watched you
out Of the window-talking and talk
ing. I meant to get at you first.
I nearly went mad" she answered.
you're sure you havent?" he ask
ed amusing no one but himself.
She drew back far enough to look
at him. You must hear my side,
too" she said. Rawley's thought was
that he wouldn't If telling it would
necessitate the slightest change Of
position. however II dldnt, TOT she
went on: II never told Freddie I
would marry him-never. I said I
would think 1t over, and he rushed
away and told his friends. though I
asked him not to. and then it got
into the papers, and everybody was
so pleased. particularly my mother.
who adores Freddie. and whenever
! tried to get out OF 1t he always
said 1t was too humiiating to him
if I threw him over when it had been
announced. Sometimes I would think
that I shouldn't mind marrying him
so terribly. But as it came nearer
I saw 1t was the most terrible idea
in the world. For q week now l
have been telling every one that
couldn't do it. and 1t is rs If they