Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-01
By Patricia Wentworth

, Now romance was III the uust VI wv
dead years.
There remained the strange iron,
that had brought them here--here. t.
realize how far apart they were. The
silence that might have been so SWEEP
became thing intolerable.
As if I.av,ion's thought had touched
her, Evelyn moved, She made 3
little cropping motion with her hant
and rose slowly IL her feet. Her cloal
had dropped across the low stone wall
her white dress was uncovered. Lay
tion's heart cried out in him. He saw
not Evelyn. but lost love itself. un
earthly. hlanched. withdrawn.
He made a step forward, and as ht
did so. the door at the top of the
steps swung in. There was a rustlinS
sound, and Lacy's voice with a catch
in it;
"Evelyn-are you there? Evelyn
OH
Lacy stood on the topmost step
bending forward, Clincing to the door
From where she stood she could see
the pool and Evelyn standing white
above it. She cried out, an involun
tary. frightened cry:
"E.velyn,'
Evelyn did not speak. She bent
uoNii locN utI IiNt Ntpih, anu buN ~
on. To Laydon she seemed to become
"A shadow among the shadows. n shad
ow crowned with nimbus where the
moonlight caught her hair.
She went UP the steps. and he fol
lowed her. The moment with all ii
might have held was gone.
Lacy Manning caught at Evelyns
arm.
EVELYN"
But Evelyn walked past her and
stood outside in the deep shadow
waiting. When Layton and Lacy had
crossed the threshold, she shut the
door and turned the key.
All the beauty and the fragrance
were shut away. She drew the key
from the lock. and went by so close
to Laydon that her cloak touched him
with light. fluttering touch as If a
leaf had blown against his hand.
He stood and watched her go. walk
ing with a strange switfness and en-
ergy. He turned with start to find
Lacy pulling ut his sleeve.
Il wanted to see the garden. I've
always wanted to see it-and now
she's angry. I've never seen her like
this"
why did you Gomez" His voice
was harsh, and she recoiled a little.
Il wanted to see the garden. I've
always wanted to see it. l asked her
this afternoon if she'd take me there.
wanted to see il so much.
And l was looking out of my win
dow. and-and / saw her come along
the lower terrace. so Of course /
knew she was going to the garden.
and-oh. I've never seen her quite like
this
You'd better go in" said Layton.
Lacy flared up.
Il think you're frightfully unkind-
do. And / don't care how angry
Evelyn is, I do love her more than
any one else in the world except
Monkey and Don.
And il that doesn't give you a
right to be interested and to help. I
don't know what does. And i don't
care what Monkey says
I.aCy's fright was passing. She was
not very brave in the dark. and moth
ing but the most urgent curiosity
would have given her enough courage
10 follow Evelyn.
But with Laydon at her side the
beech walk ceased to be terrifying
and became pleasantly romantic. A
sense that here was opportunity came
upon her with irresistible force, and
she turned to Laydon with an impul.
sive gesture.
You won't be angry-will you? It's
because l care. because ] really care.
Have you-have you made It up?"
Laydon felt desire TO shake Lacy
as he had once shaken her when she
was a little girl. He wondered II
ever shook her. He restrained
his impulse and said dryly:
Not exactly"
"Oh. why don't you? know you're
unhappy. Any one can see you care.
And as for Eveiyn-it was always you
she cared for-always, always. al.
wavs."
There was a short, intense silence.
Then Laydon said:
What exactly do you mean by that.
Lacy"
They had reached the end of the
beech walk. Lacy turned SO as to
face him.
II mean she cared-for you--that
she's never cared for any one else.
It's always been you. Those three
days that you were gaged-why.
she was quite different-like another
person. ] don't know what came be-
tween you. but whatever 1t was. II
broke her heart.
Why. there's never been a time
since then that there haven't been
any number OF people who'd have
been only too frightfully proud and
happy IL Evelyn would have looked
at them. But she never would.
Il honestly believe she's tried. ]
think she would have liked 10 have
been able TO care. think she would
have taken Chris Eliersiie If she could
have brought herself to do IL. But she
couldn't. told Monkey all along that
she'd never care for any one but you.
Me" Laydon's voice took an ex.
infection. 1t suggested a
certain savage humor.
''Yes~-~you. II was always Jack with
her. and never any one else. And ]
knew~-oh. ] knew from the very be-
ginning that you were Jack.
Monkey may say what he likes.
but ] did know; and told Evelyn the
first time she came TO Cologne"
"You~ioid-Evelyn." His voice was
expressionIess and slow.
Yes told her. so you see there's
no need III all for either Of you TO go
on being unhappy. She's cared for
you all alongside really has. so you
see there's nothing 10 prevent your
both being perfectly happy"
Layton said II See" and then said
no' hing more.
lie stood aside for Lacy 10 climb the
terrace steps. but when they had
reached the top. he went on ahead OF
her 10 where the library window stood
open.
There Was no sign of Evelyn. The
room was dark. Lacy put her hand on
the switch and flooded IL with light.
When she turned. Layton was gone.
She heard his steps receding. She ran
TO the window and called him softly:
"Jack-~Jack -~~ aren't you coming
in?"
There Was no answer,
Eir foitereli turned from the libra ry
window. The Dutch garden WAS abinze
with tulips: each formal bed sunk In
the gray stone paving was jewel
bright in the sunshine The tulips