Evening star., 1928-01-11
inspiration.

was at Winchester and oxford. Never
theless I am Communist by convic-
ton. an insurgent Socialist. future
believe me-a future prime minister
Of England"
Il hope not" Miss Brown murmur-
ed fervently.
You hope not" he argued. be
cause you do not understand. Don't
he afraid. l am not going to try to
convcr; you--not all at once. at any
rate. Nevertheless. should like 10 be
honest. l came here tonight TO meet
you. ] wan, TO tell you some things
which feel sure you do not under
stand--you have had no opportunity
of understanding. You have been
dragged into an affair which does not
concern you, and you have heard only
one side Of question upon which the
happiness OF the world depends"
So after all her first instincts had
been right Miss Brown forgot the
music OF the dance. all that joyous
sense OF being at party with the full
intention of having a good time. She
was her very official self again-calm,
inaccessible, uncommunicative.
"Mr. Pennington" she said, Il am
afraid you are making mistake. You
think that ! have been trusted by
some one because Of my convictions.
That iH not 50. hayr no convictions
! am Il typis; earning az rlie from
four ~ FIVE pounds Is week. and doing
my best work faithfully for my en-
pl0yers. ] have been intrusied with a
commission, az YOU seem 10 know. IL
~ not my business to inquire into the
nature Of that commission. / simply
have my duty to do. Nobody. moth
ing. will prevent my doing IL TO the
fullest extent Of my power"
Very reasonably spoken" Mr..
Pennington admitted. But. Miss
Brown, listen. ] can tell you a great
deal you do not know. Wouldn't You
like 10 understand more clearly what
III" whole business means? Aren't you
a little at sea yourself sometimes?"
1t Isn't necessary for me 10 under.
stand was the stubborn fejoinder.
Il should do what ] have pledged my
word 10 do 10 the best Of my ability
even If my brain should tell me 1t was
wrong. ! have accepted a trust and
shall carry IL out"
Mr. Pennington talked on until
Miss Browns late partner looked
tentatively into the room. Her eyes
flashed message of appeal 10 him.
He came hopefully forward. and Miss
Brown rose ~ her feet.
"Mr Pennington" she said, 81 think
{, is wonderful of you that you should
have taken 80 much time and trouble
g1fh. I am afraid, rather a stupid per.
ssyn. / have been very interested in all
that you nave ssid. but you see am
not a principal. J am just one OF the
links in the chain. and n link must
never think for itself. What I have
pIsdged my word ~ do ] should do
even against my Will, even against my
conviction. Every one else is 80 much
cieyerer than ] am. They may be
right or they may be wrong. The only
| thing that is easy is 10 keep ones
word 10 the dead"
! Her fingers were already upon the
Young mans arm, Her ynledictory
smile ~ The companion she was leav.
| ing was fat ~ apology.
"fru viii fDfRige me II dance for
IA !li'le time, please" ehe i,aeg.d. II
! nave ~ f'-w opportunities. Dnc.s more.
| thahk You ~, mucb fpr nIi you have
/ tod me"
! bliss Brown. n small vihp ~ blark
| neat ond shapeiy, but with none of the
| 'Dpl"iH 'bnf@Eiipbs ~ iaiictte. with
bt4y those large blue eyes and the
| tBnpih FfD,% of her movements to
ffaw mons gaze after her, oluuF c0n.
h13HFly 10 her partner ss they nesfed
ms ktpfiG Her late champion. who
haG nDDoriinned " himself in snfne
itotafe government the functions af
mat minister whose chief uuaIifIeav
tl"ns must he diplomacy, looEed after
her ia faffied and angry silence.
MF. Pennington was a serious man
u affairs, but he would not have been
tbs brilliant politician he wss IL he
han not been possessed of IA SENSE of
IhuMoF, Ihs fr0Wn very soon disau.
DeaIsd from his forehead after the ir.
Tiiation III Miss Browns departure
lie bsckoGsd 20 an attentive foauau
10 refill his glass, and, leaning back In
his chair, laughed softly 10 himself
IL wss d laugh which began with a
smile, bot which broadeued uniii il
seemed 10 tighten al lis features. Ia
bring a sparkle ~ his eyes Presently
Gs sal np, drank his eban1pakna eut
shd starTet IN IN search III Bls
hostess.
Successful. ! can see, my Hssr
GhsFlss. she muImired, as sls greet,
sd him. what chsnfs had d uoa,
simple little child like that against
your"