Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25
TWENTY-FHIRD 1NsTALLMENT.


Then he paused, and every
nerve of mine sprang alert.
she told me-" he went on
''tl1at she cared for you. and did It
with the same frankness that she used
recently in dismissing me. have no
comments to make, except that wish
you both happiness. and have already
expressed this to her"
I answered with the conventional
thanks.
mot at ALL" he took me up. II like
Won and I'm devoted to her. No doubt
she has chosen wisely. I'm under the
shadow of what happened at GREENHOUSE
and possibly would have made her un.
happy. One accepts facts as they are
He lit q cigarette and repeated:
"Facts as they are! Some men, / sup
pose, would be out of patience with you
for" and he laughed. playing them
such a trick. I'm not. rather admire
YOU for 1t, for outwitting me-though,
In the case Of SO rare a girl as Eleanor,
the expression sounds more hlppant
than I mean. I don't blame you in the
least. because should have done the
same. One cannot stand on formalitles
In love and life. It's matter OF every
man for himself. my dear Ames, and
devil take the hindmost. So there's my
hand on it."
He leaned forward and shook my
hand warmly. There was in all this an
undercurrent of chagrin-indeed. OF
sadness-that in the case Of so proud a
his generosity atoned for the Sights
and contempt had suffered from him
and pitied, respected and rather liked
him. ,,
"that exemplify the adage that 1t never
rains but it pours. Everything had gone
well with me, too well. I had always
been lucky. Then in two weeks occur
the tragedy of Celia and Francis, and.
hardest Of all, this loss OF Eleanor 1 Bi a1,a
luck! Now heads. now tails. Let's
hope" and his smile invited sympathy,
"that my next throw will be more for
tunate."
'I'm sure Of it." I replied, not to be
outdone in good feeling.
Are your" he Queried. Then laugh
ing, well, my very next scheme de-
ponds on you and hope you'll indulge
me. In a few words it's this: The proc
ess Of dividing the Graham and Bal
lion estates includes an inventory
Afternoon, which Eleanor has to at
tend. Our attorney and the appraisers
will arrive at 2. Now. in spite OF what
painful associations the place has for
Eleanor, it occurred to me that, as long
as she must be there In any case, she
might at least do me the kindness Of
coming In time for lunch. She owes me
q little preparation. and so do you, l
told her that yesterday when l called
with my rueful good wishes. and she
consented, providing you could arrange
"IIl be delighted" I answered.
charmed equally by his manner and by
the prospect of an earlier glimpse OF
Eleanor. ."Of course"
"Good!" he exclaimed. TITS ap-
propriate, don't you think, for the three
Of us to sit together once more at the
came table In Greyhouse"
had hoped to drive by for Eleanor
and take her out with me; but it ap-
cussion in regard to the inventory. and
they had arranged to meet at Grey
house earlier in the morning.
Half past H." he enjoyed, mot a
moment later. I apologize In advance
for the service. Since that blackguard.
Hasta, disappeared, I've taken on, a
very indifferent butler. But I promise
one thing"
"Champagne-not Barbera this time"
He shook his head gravely. That was
a close shave for you; but, at least, 1t
explained matters. was utterly mis-
taken in the man. And, by the way, I
hear Morse is to be caShiered-poor old
Morse. I'm afraid he's not very COM
petent, but can't understand why he's
not been able to find Hasta. Well, to-
morrow, then. Au revoir."
With another cordial grasp of the
hand, he strolled away, nodding to sew
eral acquaintance at the door.
He remained very much in nv mind
that evening. I regretted misjudging
him, and indeed, were it not that
lovers are shameless, would have re-
preached myself. He had shown a
nagnanimity in keeping with his talents
and reputation, a breadth of nature
that, I realized, far exceeded mine.
understood his popularity, his host
of friends, and a success phenomenal at
his age, which, as I recall, was then
barely 80. Compared him with myself
even vanity had to admit that Eleanor
had been mercifully blind. Nothing
but luck could account for it-the Ill
wind of her experiences at Greyhouse
that had blown me good. I foresaw a
distinguished career before him that
might lead to any height; I wondered
II later, In view of his achievements, she
would not regret.
It occurred to me that a proof OF
Balloons fascination was shown in the
way he had evidently aIlayed her dread
{; him, which she had expressed so re.
Gently. OF course, a woman would
dread the disappointment Of such 9
man. And one else with his force woulC
have made her feel 1t: but apparently
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