Evening star., 1924-04-18

Tor your life is very dear to me. But
ii would i'll become you TO make such
use as this of the knowledge you
came by in that manner. 1t were
Judas act He would have inter
rupted her, but her manner dominated
him. You will leave this letter with
me. Richard" she continued.
Damn me! No" he began.
"Ah. yes, Richard" she Insisted
thank you for the gift. 1t shall prov
fear
1T shall. indeed" he cried, With an
Exeter to lay it before AlDelnarle"
Not So" she answered him. 1T
shall be weapon of defense-not of
offense. II shall stand as a buckler
between me and Mr.. Wildins. Trust
me, shall know how to use it."
But there is Blake to consider" he
e1postulated: growing angry. II am
pledged to him"
Your first duty is to me-
Tut" he interrupted. Blake feels
that he owes it to his loyalty to lay
and, for that matter, so do l."
Sir Rowland would not cross my
wishes in this" she answered him.
Folly" he cried. now thoroughly
aroused Give me that letter"
Nay, Richard" she answered, and
waved him back.
Dut ne duNdHCeu nevertheless.
Give il me-" he bade her. waxing
fierce. Cad 1t was folly to have
told you of it I had not done so but
that I never thought you such a fool
as to oppose yourself to the thing we
Listen, Richard" she besought
him.
Bat he was grown insensible to
pleadings.
Give me that letter" he insisted.
and canRhf her wrist IJar otbar
hand, however-the one that held the
sheet-was already behind her back
The door was suddenly thrust open
and Diana appeared. Ruth" she an
nounced. "Mr. Wilding is here"
At the mention of that name Rich
ard let her free.
"Wildingw he CALCULATED, his fierce
ness all blown out of him. He had
would be in full flight. Was the fell
low mad?
He is following me-" said Diana,
and indeed step could be heard ir
The letter." growled Richard in a
frenzy, between fear and anger now.
Give it me! Give it me, do you
hear
.rsh! Youll betray yourself" she
And at that same moment Mr. Wild
ings tall figure, still arrayed in his
bridegroom's ffnery Of sky-blue satin.
loomed in the doorway. He was Sc
discovery OF the plot by the abstrac-
ton OF the messengers letter. nor
Ruth's strange conduct-of which he
had heard from Lord Gervase-had
suficed to rune, outwardly at least,
the inscrutable serenity of his air and
manner. He paused to make his bow,
then advanced into the room, with a
passing glance at Richard, still
spurred and booted and all dust
You appear to have ridden far,
Dick" said he, smiling. and Richard
shivered in spite Of himself at the
mocking note that seemed to ring
aeaa anty siI &, RSxs0S The w0dds !, II, saw
he added Il think he waits for you"
Though Richard could not fail to
apprehend the implied dismissal. he
was minded at first to disregard it
But Mr.. Wilding. turning, held the
door, addressing Diana
Mistress Horton" said he, will
you give US leaveT'
Diana curtsied and passed out, and
lingering Richard at that moment,
Richard thought it best to follow her
example. But he went with rage in
his heart at being forced to leave that
precious document behind him.
AS Mr.. Wilding, his back to her a
moment, closed the door, Ruth slipped
the paper hurriedly into the bosom
OF her low-necked gown. He turned
to her, calm but very grave, and his
This is i'll done, Ruth" said he.
I'll done or we'll DONE" she an
swered him, done it Is, and shall so
remain"
He raised his brows. "Ah," said he,
II appear. then. to have misappre-
hcnded the situation From what Ger
vase told me, I understood it was
your brother forced you to return"
Not forced sir" she answered him.
Induced, then" said he. 1T but
remains for me to induce you to
repair what I think was a mistake"
She shook her head. 81 have re-
turned home for good said she.
! am so egotistical as to prefer 10y
Land Chase to Lupton House. Despite
the manifold attractions of the Latter.