Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-13
Continued from Yesterdays starr

Continued from Yesterdays starr
"oh. you shall have air enough
anon, he answered with half
strangled laugh, his passion mount
ing ever. "Hark You, now-hark you,
for Richards sake, since you'll not
listen for my own nor yours. There
is another course by which l can save
both Richards life and honor. You
know it. and you counted upon my
generosity to suggest ii. But you
overlooked the thing on which you
should have counted. You overlook d
my love. Count upon that. my Ruth.
and Richard shall have naught TO
fear. Count upon that, and when we
meet this evening. Richard and l,
* is / who will tender the apology.
who will admit that | was wrong to
introduce your name into the company
last night, and that what Richard did
was just and we'll deserved punish
,nent upon me. This will l do if you'll
but count upon my love"
She looked up at him fearfully, yet
with fiutterings of hope. What is't
you mean" she asked him family.
That If you'll promise to be my
Your wife, she interrupted him.
She struggled to free herself, released
one arm and struck him in the face.
Let me go, you coward
He was answered. His arms melted
from her. He fell back pace. very
white and even trembling, the fire
all gone from his eye. which was now
turned dull and deadly.
so be it, he said, and STROBE to the
bell rope. I'll not offend again. 1 had
not offended now"-he continued. in
the voice Of one offering an explana-
ton cold and formal-'but that when
first l came into your life you seemed
to bid me welcome" His fingers closed
upon the crimson bell cord. She guess
cd his purpose.
Wait" she gasped. and put forth
her hand. He paused, the rope in his,
his eye kindling anew. You you
mean to kill Richard now" she ask
ed him.
A swift lifting OF his brows was
his only answer He tugged the cord.
From the distance the peal of the bell
reached them family.
"Oh, wait, wait" she begged. her
hands pressed against her checks. He
stood impass ible-hatefully lmpas-
sible. IF if l were TO consent to
this how soon ,,,as,td lie
Interest warmed his face again. He
took a step toward her, but by ges-
ture she seemed to beg him come no
nearer.
within the week Richard shall have
no cause to fear either for his life or
his honor at my hands"
She seemed now to be recovering
her calm. Very we'll she said, her
voice singularly steady. Let that be
a bargain between us. Spare Richards
life and honor-both, remember!-and
on Sunday next For all her
courage her voice quavered and fall
Tered. She dared add no more, lest IL
should break altogether.
Mr.. Nilding drew a deep Dreati,'
Again he would have advanced.
Ruth" he cried. and some repentance
smote him, some shame shook him in
his purpose At that moment 1t was
N his mind to capitulate uncondition-
ally; to tell her that Richard should
have naught to fear from him. and
yet that she should go free as the
winds. Her gesture checked him. 1t
was so eloquent of aver. on. He paus-
ed in his advance, stifitf his better
feelings, and turned once more re-
lentless. The door opened anu Ola
Walters stood awaiting his commands:
Mistress Westmacott IS leaving,
ne informed his servant, and bowel
low and formally in farewell before
her. She passed out without another
word the old butler following, ana
presently through the door that re-
manned open came Trenchard. IN quest
of Mr.. WildinS, who stood nemused.
Nick sauntered in. his left eye al
most hidden by the rakish cock of his
hat, one hand tucked away under the
skirts of his plum colored coat the
other supporting the stem OF long
thoughtfully. The pipe and he were
all but inseparable; indeed, the year
before in London he had given appail-
ing scandal by appearing win II III
the Mall, and had there remained
him any character to lose ne must as
suredly have lost it then.
He observed his friend through mar
rowing eye-he had small eyes. very
blue and very bright. in which there
usually abode a roguish CLEAN.
my sight, Anthony, SAID ne, re-
minds me that ] am growing ola. l
wonder did it misled me on the score
Of your visitor?'
.SThe lady who left" said Wilding
with a touch of severity, will be MIS-,
tress WiIding by this day se'night:
Trenchard took the pipe from his
lips. audibly blew out cloud OIL
smoke and stared al his FRIEND: bodE
o. me-" quoth ne. rs this time Tor
marrying with these rurnorS VI
Afonmouth's coming over.
Wilding made an impatient gesture.
81 thought to have convinced you
they are idle said he, and hung MN
self into a chair at his writing taple:
Nick came over and perched himseII
upon the tables edge. one leg SWING
ing in the air. And what OF TINS
matter Of the intercepted letter from
London to our Taunton friends
81 can't tell you. But for this l am
sure, His grace is incapable OF any s,l
hing so rash. Certain is it that ne IL
not stir until Battiscomb returns 70
Holland. and Battiscomb is stiH in
Cheshire sounding the dukes fr1eno.
yet were you / should not marry
WiIding smiled. 'If you were me
you'd never marry at all.
Faith, no" said Trenchard as
soon play at 'hot-cockles. or par.
son has lost his-cloak. 'Tis mort
more amusing and the sooner ooiie