Evening star., 1925-11-06
CUtPTER XVI.

could feel that she was trembling.
CHtPTER XVI.
Now. undel the circumstances il
might have been expected that dinner
would prove u somewhat nervous func
tiOn. Yet il was not altogether q
failure. Stanley was quick to see that
he had overplayed his hand a bit
Both Of his guests were obviously
more than a trif1e uneasy. Waterman
in particular had fallen quite silent.
speaking only in monUsyllabeS in
answer to remarks addressed directly
To him. Doris. to he sure. made a
rerfunctory effort to keep the con
Nersational ball in the air, yet she. too.
was i'll al ease.
II was no part OF Stanley'S plan
to put Waterman on his guard. He
therefore eXerted all his social tact
Ia dispel any apprehension that might
have taken root in Rollins mind. He
gave detailed account of his adven-
lures in the East. of the work of the
archaeological expedition. of the tan
cihIe results of their discoveries which
would soon he placed on exhibition in
the museum. of his meeting with the
Swami at Buddhist monastery ton
thousand feet above the level OF the
sea. together with some account of the
philosophy and ethics Of the Hindu :
cult. His talk waE So gracious 50
charming and 50 friendly that before
long both Waterman and Doris had
concluded that their ina cinations had
played them f2fSo. In short. Jim
became during the Course of the din
nor the same old Jim-varn2- hearted
affeCtionate. simple-mindcd.
1t was in ? competelv restored at
m"sphere of comfortable harmony
that Waterman found himself pre-.
sently sitting with his wife and hi old
friend in the lihrar" before the fire.
Nice old place this. he said.
settling himself comfortably in his
chair ana emptying his glass for the
third time since dinner.
Yes" aG"eed Stanley. Its all Of
that: and yet sometimes | think. that
III get rid of it
Get rid of it,
Yes. sometimes | find it lonely.
Tou see. its fun Of ghosts
Il never heard of it's being hsunt-
cd" laughed Waterman.
Yes. ii is-haunted By the ghosts
of my dead childhood-and yours. too
T:"'liu. We've often shouted through
these halls. and scrambled up these
s'airways- ana slid down these
Of my fathers hearty voice and my
mothers gentle presence. oh, if !
were married and had children of my
own to fill the vacant spaces here
il would he different. | should have
l'vin= ""mpa MONS who would soon
d'Splace my "hnStly comrades. Lei
me fiji your glass again. Doris
NO. n" more. tha anlls." she said
with - little shiver.
You. Rollin?"
Thanks. yes. it's really excellent
Yes. to be Sure-nowaday ys it'S any
r"rt in Il storm" lie rafilled Mater
non-s glass sud reseated himself.
Cr'-ious tNins-time's changes he
vo,G on. Now take Yourself. RolIin-
never imagined that you would turn
ont like this
How SOP" inquired Waterman. his
discomfort beginning to return.
AS boy. YOU were positively shy
and as for girls. scared to death"
Yes" interpolated Doris. he's
changed
why. at school" Stanley went on.
81 remember the first time you danced
with a girl YOU were paralysed with
fright. You perSpired like \ longShore-
man under a July sun. your partner
vas persuaded that you were com
posed entirely of feeI. But it wasn't
long before YOU were quite the ladys
man. and | understand
\ stalwart young Trishman in chauf-
fe'r's livery stood in the doorway,
cap in hand.
What is il. O'Hara?'
Did YOU want me. Mr.. Stanley"
"Oh. yes. O'Hara. please don't turn
In just yet. | shall have some letters
for you TO take TO the village. | want
them 10 catch the early morning post. -
"Al right. sir said the chauffeur
Hnd departed.
Now although Waterman had for. a
time recovered his assura nee. Doris
had by no means recovered hers In
point of fact. she was conscious that
before long her nerves might play her
false. She was afraid that at any mo-
ment she might ha guilty Of some
sort Of ill-timed outbreak. This was
the kind Of thing she never did. but
not in All her life had she felt so
completely on edge AS At the present
moment. II was not only that she
vas miserably unhappy. She was in
state of intolerahle apprehension.
Something was going to happen. She
had no idea what it waS-She didn't
want to know. She had a ridiculous
idea that at any moment she might
leap to her feet and scream. Sud
denly she felt that she must get away.
il was an impulse she could not con-
troll, so as the chauffeur disappeared
she rose abruptly and said:
And speaking Of turning in, | think
! shall do just that >
"Oh, not yet, surely" objected Stan
'av. politely.
II think so. My head Is splitting
Ind I sleep badly of late-hardly at
sl after o'clock. So | must get
itarted early, or l get no rest"
Stanley offered no further objection.
well of course. in that case he said
solicitously. But can't we get you
something from the medicine closet?"
NO" she said, II don't like drugs.
Never take them if I can help it.
Darkness and quiet will do the trick.
So III leave you two to port your
hSms as long as you please"
Stanley took ber hand.
Good night. my dear Doris, he
said "and l hope your dreams may
be agreeable. l shall see YOU in the
morning."
"Of course.
This is a night I have long looked
forward to. Nothing in life Is more