Evening star., 1924-05-02
CHAPTER XVII.
Nr. WiIding's Return.

The preparations to be made for
| the momentous coup Sir Rowland
meditated were considerable. Mr.
| Newlington was yet to be concerted
with and advised. and. that done, Sir
| Rowland had 10 face the difficulty OF
eluding the Bridgewater guards and
| make his way 10 Feversilams camp
at Somerton to enlist the generals
cooperation to the extent that we
have seen he looked for. That done
| he was to return and ripen his pre-
| parations for the business he had un-
dertaken. Nevertheless, in spite OF
all that lay before him. he did not
| find it possible TO leave Lupton House
without stepping out into the gar
| den in quest of Ruth. Through the
window, whilst he and Richard were
at their ale, he had watched her be-
tween whiles and had fingered, wait
ing; for Diana was with her, and il
was not his wish to seek her whilst
Diana was at hand. Speak with her
| ere he went, he must. He was an OPP
portunist. and now, he fondly imag-
| iued. was his opportunity. He had
made that day, at last. a favorable
impression upon Richards sister; he
had revealed himself in a heroic
/ light, and eGregiously misreading the
+ emotion ShC mad SHOWN before with
drawing, lie was satisfied that did he
strike now victory must attend
him. He sighed his satisfaction and
pleaSurablC anticipation. He had
been wary and he had known how to
wait; and now, it seemed to him, he
was to be rewarded for his patience.
Then he frowned. as another glance
| showed him that Diana still fingered
with her cousin; he wished Diana at
the devil. He had come to hate this
fatr-haired doll. to whom ne had once
paid court She was too continually
in his way, a constant obstacle in his
path, ever ready to remind Ruth Of
Anthony Wilding when Sir Rowland
most desired Anthony WildinE to be
forgotten: and in Diana's feelings to-
! ward himself such a change had been
gradually wrought that she had come
10 reciprocate his sentimentS-to hate
him with all the bitter hatred into
which love can be by scorn trans
muted. At first her object in keeping
Ruth's thoughts on Mr.. Wilding, in
pleading his cause. and seeking to
present him in "A favorable light TO
the lady whom he had constrained to
become his wife. had been that he
might stand 4 barrier between Ruth
and Sir Rowland TO. the end that
| Diana might hope to see revived
| fautc dc mieuX, since possible in no
other way-the feelings that once Sir
Rowland had professed for herself.
The situation was rich IN humliia :
tions for poor, vain, fooiiShly crafty
Diana, and these fumiliatiors were
daily rendered more bitter by Sir
RowIand's unwavering courtship Of
her cousin in despite Of all that she
could do.
In the end the poison of them en-
tered her soul, corroded her senti-
mentS toward him, dissolved the
love she had borne him. and trans
formed it into venom. She would not
have. him now If he did penitence for
his disaffection by going in sackcloth
and crawling after her on his knees
for a full twelve-month. But neither
should he have Ruth if she could
thwart his purpose. on that she was
resolved.
Had she but guessed that he
watched them from the windows,
waiting for her to take her departure,
she had fingered all the morning, and
all the afternoon, if need be, at Ruth's
side. But being ignorant Of the cir