Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-18
THIRD INSTALLMENT.

THIRD INSTALLMENT.
A FORTNIGHT later Philip
| ~ Danvelt returned from Middel-
| "A burg, and he was not quite the
4 \ same man who had last gone
thither. His accession to a
fortune far greater than he had sus-
pected had wrought a change in him.
He seemed more aggressive than hereto
! fore; he was more ponderous OF speech
and of manner. Although in black, he
was dressed with a richness beyond
merchants station, and he wore his
f1nery none too well. Immediately he
! preached the subject Of marriage TO
| ClaeSsens.
derously, that a man should settle
| early"
"Ay, ay," said Claessens dryly. you'll
have had enough Of travel"
| Philip did not consider the Interrupt
| ton amusing.
II need a wife, and I've fine house
up there in Middelburg awaiting mis-
tress. If you're willing, then, good
his hands 'c deemin9 it unnecessary to
complete the sentence.
| Good Master Claessons felt that he
was being used with patronage and was
between amusement and resentment.
Its not my willingness you must
ascertain; but Johannes" was his
answer, calculated to give pause to the
young man. 1t had, however, no such
effect.
Philip laughed shortly, very self
assured
"oh. that!" Airily he dismissed the
possibility Of Johanna's having any
| but one opinion in the matter. I'll
speak to Johanna in the morning"
In the morning when Philip asked
| her to fix day for their wedding, she
rose and confronted him frankly, calm
save for q CLEAN of distress in those
clear eyes. Phillip, have friendship
for you; even affection. But 1t Is not
the kind of affection that should exist
between husband and wife II they are
to be happy"
He laughed through his perturbation.
But all that will follow 1t always
does. Trust me, Johanna. under
stand these things; life and the rest.
I love you. Johanna" he said again,
| and now at last became lover IN ear
nest and began humbly and with some
warmth to WOO that which unopposeo
he would phlegmatically have appropri-
ated.
It moved her, distressed her, shook
her resolve a little. but did not sufnce
to beat it down. When she had made
this clear, he collapsed in dismayed
amazement. "Then all that our parents
planned Is to come to naught!
Gently she stroked his head, as ne
sat hunched in his chair. II am sorry,
So touched was she by his distress
that out of charity. to allay 1t, had ne
pressed the matter then, she might
have yielded. AS it was, she found II
in her heart to wish that Master. Egg
mont had never crossed her paUn' 70
reveal her to herself.
philip bore his lament to her father.
Gravely Claessens heard him, and
thought in his heart that what had
happened was very good for Philips
soul and might yet shape him into sucn
a man as Johanna should ultimately
be content to marry.
you've ruffied her, my lad. That's
I ALL" Claessens comforted him. you
are too downright and blunt. Women
patiently. "Ohl A good woman's
worth coaxing. Take my word for It
I am twice your age. And a maid Will
often say no to a man at first, and be
glad enough to say yes in the END
Johanna Is not a girl to be constrained
nor am I the man to constrain her
But I'll advise her-cautiously. Shell
have you in the end. But give her
| time"
His detection mitigated by such hope
as he could gather from what her
father had said, Phillip went back to
In the first days of June, Master
Danvelt received from his prospective
father -in-law this letter:
Dear Philip: Master Egmont has
just returned from England, and Is
| lodged here at the Zeelanderhof. II
we looked to see him ever again, at
least we did not look to see him so
soon, and must suppose the cause OF
this early return to be that he did not
find England to his taste. although l
perceive that other reasons may exist. "
There was a good deal to be read be-
| tween the lines. Claessens stressed the
fact that Master Egmont's return so
soon had not been expected, limited
that the reason for it was to be sought
elsewhere than in the vaguely apparent
reasons he mentioned, and almost sue
ceeded in suggesting That the gentie-
Master Claessens certainly intended
to convey all this and more to Phillip;
but he could not bring himself to use
more precise expressions or to disclose
the source of his disquietude. This
| had begun in the very moment OF
Master Egmont's arrival. The burgher
and his daughter had just dmed and
they were still at table when they
heard his voice in the courtyard. At
the sound of that voice, Johannes
breathing had stood suddenly arrested,
her face had gone white. and her hand
| had fed instinctively to repreSs the
tumult of her breast.
| Her watchful father observed these
signs. Nevertheless his welcome OF the
| traveller was cordial. Master Egmont
vEcs hidden to table. He was pale ana
"a little careworn; but MS oarK eyes
| flowed as they met Johanna'S; his lips
| laughed readily and soon there was
return of that radiance that men re-
marked in him.
He had landed, he informed them,
an hour ago, and he was lodged at the
Zeelanderhof, in the market place.
Father and daughter protested egalnst
this in different keys. But the count
was firm. Enough already mad ne DUR
dened their hospitality. He remained,
however. all day with them, entertain
| ing them with descriptions OF England
There CHANGED to be second guest
| at Master ClaesSens' table that night
| a Franciscan brother, one OF those itin-
Grant friars who wandered through the
land. Rarely did one OF these brethren
pass through Flushing without seeking
bed and board in the hospitable mousse
of Claessens and in exchange Tor these
comforts retailing to the merchant and
his household the current events In the
world.
Tonight this little brother Of st.
Francis had a greater than usual store
of gossip for them.
He was last from Bruges, he told
them, where the duke had now estab-
ltshed his court, and he began by speak
| ing of the great preparations there Tor
| the dukes wedding to the sister OF the
King Of England, shortly to be cele-
brated Very subtly he created the Inn