Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-27
ELEVENTH INsrALLMENT.

OOONI AN41ON1 anu JOLld1A1la
went into the garden, little
caring to what extent they
~ might be observed: he because
he did not yet realize the stu
alton in which he stood, she because
she realized it but too well.
Beside him she came out upon the
long terrace, and by its flight Of steps
down into the alleys Of those spacious
gardens, now drenched In the light OF
the August moon, where cool evening
breezes sighed through tall, black pop
lars. Thus leaning, upon the arm OF
this man who to her was the man
among men, this prince who announced
himself ready either to raise her to his
throne or else to fling his throne away
for love Of her, she went and wondered
could fate have found her . more Bit
ter mockery.
Because she had not trusted him, she
had dishonored herself and him. Be-
cause OF revulsion and heartbreak. she
had married Philip Danvelt. She had
married an honest, kindly man whom
she did not love. thereby wronging him
and wronging herself. And OF what 9
not merely in the knowledge that with
trust and patience she would have had
her hearts desire, but in the realiza-
ton, which had been with her now Tor
more than half the three weeks that
her marriage had already endured, that
the man she had married was Q man
whom she could never love, q man in
capable Of experiencing love or IN
spring it, man with whom life was
to be q dull and dreary servitude be-
reft Of all noble aspirations.
ceive the magnitude Of her error, TO
realize that she would have done In
flnitely better to have sought In nun
merry the shelter she desired from the
worlds evil, and bitterly to regret that
she had not so sought 1t.
Honest and kindly Danvelt might be,
but only as he understood honesty and
kindness. He proved, upon the more
intimate acquaintance of matrimony
gross and boorish, Of an almost 1ncredi-
Bile stupidity and with all the self-as-
sertion and overbearing arrogance to-
ward his interiors and dependents that
is stupidity's commonest expression.
He was vain, too, and ostentatious
without generosity, and while he could
deck his wife richly and parade her on
such occasions as the present with all
the pride of possession, he had made
it plain even in these early days that
in his own house he would be not
merely master, but tyrant, and that in
all things from the slightest to the
weightiest his own will must prevail
unuuestioned, and no opinion must ever
be set against his own. He desired In
a wife not companion, but q woman
to bear him children and maintain his
house, and to discharge both functions
precisely IN the manner he should de-
cree.
She saw the dreary life ahead to
which she stood committed, and along
side Of it the life that might have been,
the life that Anthony was even now Of
the insurmountable barrier that already
closed the way.
She drew q deep breath Of the frag-
rant air of the Summer night and al
lowed 1t to escape again in q long sigh
over the grave of withered hopes and
forfeited opportunity.
take me back" she said gently. ct
am better now. I should not have
come out here"
"Ah, wait. There is yet so much to
say"
She laughed, but entirely without
mirth. Neither much nor little, my
lord. All Is said. All. Words have
been spoken that have forged bonds
never to be dissolved in life. am the
wife of Philip Danvelt."
"You are the wife the wife of
Philip Danvelt2 The wife? He repeated
the words duly, as II seeking to force
their meaning upon his reluctant mind.
When? When did you become that?"
Three weeks ago."
"Three weeks ago? Two months
after had left, believing that :"
He broke OF and for q spell they stood
again In utter silence. Ahead Of them
at the little avenues end @ fountain
FLASHED in the, moonlight, the water
quivering like molten silver in the
broad stone basin. Behind them the