Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-12
The Fortunate Wayfarer
BYE. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

80
assured her. II must have looked q
nriceless idiot when I wandered into
that dining ROOM I was smoking flag
which your uncle hated and was wear
ing the clothes had worn all day pull
ing my samples about. I hadn't even
clean collar-Im not sure that 1t
; wasn't flannel one
You were living" she unused, "in &C
cord with your circumstances. The way
YOU have adapted yourself to the new
ones, though, proves that there must
have been an undercurrent Of discon-
tent"
But have II" he queried. little
obviously. Il sometimes have most
depressing feeling of not belonging any,
where, of passing through the world as
it were on sufferance.
Idiot" she scoffed.
They had reached with lettering foot
steps the long front of the house with
its great stretch of wall beyond. They
Martin pushed the bell and in a mo-
ment Mallowes made his appearance,
and, recognizing them, stood on one Size
with deferential smile. Blanche led
the way across the hall.
They haven't commenced to lay the
table yet for dinner. have they. Mall
lowes?" she inquired.
mot yet. my lady" the man answered.
I'm about half an hour we shall be be-
ginning"
Blanche beckoned Martin to follow
her into the room and closed the door.
She turned on the lights in the some.
what gloomy but impressive apartment,
and led the way to the round table.
"Sit exactly where they placed chair
for you," she directed-"and where was
uncle?"
He explained and she seated herself
in the hosts place.
INJURED. Gerald at the other end OF
the table. sulky and ill-tempered, you
looking absolutely bewildered and ex-
pect a little awkward just where you
are, Mr. Borden by your side and Dr.
Helsby opposite. You must have won
dered in those first few minutes what
was going to happen"
IT did, indeed" he admitted. why
shouldn't I? I don't suppose anything
like that ever happened to any one De-
fore"
mo. suppose not Uncle rather sur
passed himself in eccentricity that night.
He looked upon it as his last fling. YOU
know. He really thought he was going
THAT'S why / felt afterward I ought
to have made him have the money back
again, or most OF 1t.
"Ridiculous!" she exclaimed. ard.
rington can keep itself up all right, and
Gerald and Laurita will have all they
want even if she persists in refusing to
touch her fathers money"
"I shan't be obstinate about It," Mar
tin said. "I don't really want to part
with the money at all. It isn't that
am exactly a lover of luxury. Poverty
wouldn't be so bad II 1t weren't so un-
dignified."
agreed, when / have to make my last
Winters coat do. Still there are COM
pensations Great wealth, for instance.
leads one just as far into the quagmire.
Senseless extravaganza Is more undis-
nified even then groveling perjury. Not
that I've brought you in here to talk of
such things!"
She leaned forward to smell the roses
which filled great bowl In the middle
of the table She had unfastened her
fur coat and the dull scarlet of her
gown formed wonderful spot Of color
in the darkened room.
What did you want to come IN here
for?" he asked. >.
my uncle sat when he christened you
the Fortunate Wayfarer,'" she con-
fided-"to have you sit by my side and
to ask you-"
"well?"
It needed all her resolution to 60 on
It had seemed simple enough In that
moment of inspiration. The seldom
seen light In Martins eyes as he had
uttered his eager exclamation seemed to
bring things to sudden crisis.
ITO ask you" she continued, whether
I. too, could not contributor"
More than your uncle thou-
sand times, more than any enc else III
the world-but th!nk-how should l
dare"
Those long arms which he had WON
dered at and coveted for so long were
around his neck. Her lips were close to
his. her eyes shining with that whole
and wonderful truth. Even. in the mo-
ment of his ecstacy he seemed to live 1t
all through again. For single second
he was the bewildered young man OF the
past listening to the words which re-
leased him from his bondage: fash OF
the wheel of time and he was gathering
greedily, passionately into his life the
Greater Fortune.
Lord Ardrington was seated In an
easy chair in his very episcopal-looking
library. reading the Times and waiting
brought to him with the dressing gong.
shut that door," he begged without
looking around. This house is full OF
damned draughts. Fortunately Ard
rington will be ready for us tomorrow.
They came into the circle OF lamp
light. He laid down his newspaper.
''Well?" he asked.
Blanche nodded.
II had to do it myself" she confessed,
"but it's all right"
Lord Ardrington held out o hand to
Martin and accepted his nieces kiss
Then as he rose to his feet q sudden
whimsical expression crept into his face:
Once more Martin fa1cied that ne could
see him in his place at the head Of .ne
dining table-au elderly eccentric, CIV
ing away fortune for caprice. His
smile broadened.
"A divorce. too! I'd love to be there
| when you tell Gerald" he confideo.
(The End