Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-24
INSTALLMENT XXI.
"T'here Is Some One Else"

INSTALLMENT XXI.
"There Is Some One Else"
~ ARTIN was silent. Lord Ar
Nh drington waited patiently Tor
w several minutes, He cracaeu
himself a walnut and reliiieo
the two glasses. Then at last
his guest found WORDS.
mo one could help aomlr,hs ma ,ah
rita he said. I'm not good enough,
for her know that quite well. All
the same. I went through this without
a single idea that it might ever become
= reality, l purposely did not listen 20
a word of the service. l was only sorry
for Laurita when 1 saw now aHecaeu
Che was nv it.. I have tried to carry
ont NV bargain in the spirit as wen as
in the letter. I have kept even my
thoughts away from the nature OF the
hond which holds us. If you are Sc
r;ousIv asking me whether l wish that
hond In he real. I honestly can't answer
wo,, I tried so hard to convince my
self that IL was unreal that caht Vuih
around all in moment.
you're an extraordinarily conSCleI-
tious Young man." Lord Ardrhgooh W.
served. with faint irony. ,,.os
{ II don't think am Martin Ieplietu ~
I'm trying to be decent accoIonns - ~
I INV lights. I'm no difterent 10 o1liS.
Young men of my age, ana II you ass
me whether would ike TO nave taAen
,'t a,,,;ta into NV arms when she came
1ou,nstairs before dinner, / Will tell you
that it would have given me an aHah,
ING amount of pleasure, but II mac
done II I should deserve to have oeen
/ clicked out of the house. / Should nave
been taking advantage OF chiio
| temuerament suddenly worked upon ps
( those few minutes in church
+ Lord Ardrington relapsed once more
/ ,,,tn silence In A sense he seemed dis
/ appointed.
"Verv we'll, Martin" he said, We
I must all help one another so lar as
j T,aurita Is concerned, but don't hut'
| her Her mother suffered so terribly
that notwithstanding her later years OF
| hapuiness I believe that she died OF :
| broken heart. Laurita must be nappJ.,
"Then / think, sir" Martin ventured
that she should have year or TWO te
| look around to choose a HUSBAND 1ol
| herself"
| Lord Ardrington shook his head.
| Her instincts aren't that way. Mar =.
! TIM" he objected. However. let tna'
! fully Is there any reason why, II you
| accustomed yourself to the idea and II
| YOU realize that the child wants H.
| your marriage shouldn't be made real
| one?"
| The walls of the room seemed sud-
| denly to fall away Martin sat once
more In the park and listened to Garn-
| hams semi-ironic introduction. He
stood in her miniature hall and saw
her upon the threshold Of her strange
little room He sat at his table at the
Ritz and watched her come down the
room. his heart pounding like Sledge
hammer. 1t was moment OF absolute
self-rcvelation. He knew himself ana
all about himself knew whence had
come that sense of horror barely an
hour ago.
There is no real reason. Lord Ard
rington," he acknowledged. steadying
his voice with great effort. Il am not
n romantic person. l realize very ven
| what is possible and what Is not. That
lis why I answer you that there Is no
real reason why should not some day
| make Laurita decent husband II she
wants me-"
Lord ArdrinQton inclined his head.
IT am glad of that" he said. 1T Is
moment OF condolences. however. and
have an intuition. You and l are not
only alone In this room, but we are
rather lonely people In the world There
is some one else--some one Impossible
i'm your mind "
THAT is true. / only realized 1t few
minutes ago,
Some one impossihle?"
Some one quite impossible.
Asts cd a
once more.
I'VE are drinking an extra glass Of
wine tonight. Martin" he said We
shall neither of us be the worse for IT,
You know who Lady Blanche is?"
quite we'll"
she is the daughter of the Duke and
Duchess of Andover Henry. her father,
lis one OF the most pig-headed and
obstinate men l ever knew-~-a man
without the slightest sense Of humor
and an overweening idea OF his own
Importance. Her whole family stand
for everything that is unbending and
narrow minded In their order, They
are. nevertheless, great persons at court
and much favored by royalty, You UNI
derstandp"
II understand"
"Lauritas father" Lord Ardrington
ever known~~-was born gentleman. He
was married TO LauritaS mother, and
Laurita's mother herself was sweet
and good woman vilely used, terribly
unhappy Need l say more than that
should have been proud for her to have
been my wife had she been free"
Il understand quite we'll. Martin re-
peated
Lord Ardrington rose to his feet. He
passed his arm almost atfectionateiy
through his guests,
These young people will think that
I'm trying To make an old fogey Of you.
Martin" he said I'VE had better be
prepared for lecture"
A Tense Evening.
Lady Blanche was waiting In the hall
beside the coffee equipage, whilst NAL
loves, at the sound OF the opening OF
the dining room door. appeared from
somewhere In the background and
fastened TO the table upon which the
liquors we're displayed, Through the
partly opened door Of the drawing
room came unfamiliar yet seductive
strains Of music. Laurita was playing a
polonaise of Chopin. Lord Ardrington
was Immediately attentive. aud they all
listened until the music drew to an end.
Then Laurita appeared for q moment
upon the threshold. Again Martin gave
little start ~ ne saw her Her eyes
we're soft yet glowing. her mouth ten
derby sweet, Sine came toward them as
though her feet were on lhs air.
1T did mt know that yois wesa here