The Man Between: An International Romance

o Gramercy Park and spend an hour or two with her grandmother, a

you first, and then go to the Holland House. But do not keep your father waiting. If he is not a

lling on Fred? Wha

me kind. I hope you wil

s no dou

oned house she saw Madam at the window picking up some dropped stitches in her knitting. Madam saw her at the same moment,

darling Granny. I could

ching for you all morning. I want to hear a

houses are a common calamity; I can't expec

going out to dinner. Of course, you

but I don't like dinners. However, the Denning dinner was

ected

f he had arranged it for his late employer, the Duke of Richmon

y were p

a do

ryce, of course. W

y, he wore his clerical dress.

e dress of a servant of God, would put it off one hour for any social exigency. Why should he? It is a grander attire

make things clear to me, yet I meet

ght not to wear coats in which they can hold

ie S

heard of

eness. He is getting on now, but in the past

uffer. It is good for genius to

es that no woman could find room there, and if o

ory, it is l

know Mis

rd of her.

n trial now. If he marri

would have his just reward. L

Jeffrys, looking quite et

has been the type of faithful grief ever sinc

feels

their husbands every year? If they are poor, they have to hide their grief and work for them-selves and their families; if they are rich, very few people believe that they are really sorry to be wid

rs are nicer

was one, your father another. But you have said nothing about Fred. Did h

most delightful stories, he was full of mimicry and wit, and said things that brought everyone into the merry talk; and I am sure he charmed and astonished the whole party. Mr

re no stupid Mostyns. I hope you asked him to play. I think his way of handling a piano would have taught

m, Granny, and the company sep

-I mean, I hope it wasn't champagne. You know, Ethel, we think as we drink, and Fred isn't used to those frisky wine

fell fifty fathoms deep in love with her the very moment she entered the room. He heard not, felt not, thought not, so stru

tale! I don't believe a word o

as gospel

hen. Who was

or

son. It cannot be, and it shall not be, and if you

nds were in her black hair, and on the bands across her shoulders, on her corsage, on her belt, her hands, and even her slippers. Under the electric lights she looked as if she was

l me such

them, and as she raised her soft, black eyes to his, and put her hand on his arm, something happened again, but this time it was like possession. He was the courtier in a moment, his

but Fred Mostyn is the worst I ever heard tell

as well

nd I hope Fred will come round quickly. Do yo

Ruth says Dora 'turned the arrow i

talking! Say in good E

were together to make him mo

A girl doesn't carry o

mother, I am not troubling about the event as it regards

you to do

rstood. Aunt Ruth told me that father and you

el

you, but I never shall m

ave to settle that questio

Dora all the love that he has to give. I will have a ma

what Fred has to say. But I like your spirit and your way of bringing what is wrong straight up to question. You are a bit

nly advisory, they were in a great measure sympathetic. "Be straight with yoursel

able by reason of hunger and cold. He looked as if he was dying, and she was moved with a great pity, and longed for her father to come and give some help. While she was anxiously watching, a young man was also struck with the suffering on the violinist's face. He spoke a few words to him, and taking t

spot on this wi

art as the Land o

onaire and workingman alike. Ethel's purse was in her hand. As he passed along the curb at which her carriage stood, he looked at her eager face, and with a smile held out the battered hat. She, also smiling, dropped h

member of some operatic troupe. "Voices of such rare compass and exceptional training were n

r many days," he said. "Tho

our childhood, th

tains when all

could find out where he is singing.

an more closely than her father or Fred Mostyn, and when Ruth Bayard asked her if his

was about twenty-five years old, tall, slender, and alert. He was fashionably dressed, as if he ha

d between Ethel and the Unknown, yet his image was prisoned behind the bars of he

his lute wher

ecret thing h

rrored eyes m

ere had he gone to? When should they meet again? Ah, she understood now how Emmeline Labiche had

"I have seen him, and I shall see him again. We met by appointment. Destiny introduced us.

those who can wait in sweet tranquillity for them, and seldom does Fortune fail to bring love

d already breakfasted, and looked over the three or four newspapers whose opinions he thought worthy of hi

k of the singing before the

biquitous. All my papers had some

do the

e result of a bet or dare; a fourth was of the opinion that conspiracy between the old beggar and the young man was not unlikely, and credited the ex

rapidly down the avenue, and he looked as happy and careless as a boy whistling on a country lane. When his eyes fell

e sure of a thing

begging, that is not correct. Not many years ago, one of the De Reszke brothers led a cri

ty-brought her lifelong comfort with a couple of her songs. Is it not likely, then, that the gallant knight of

h, yet I do not believe

and Parepa Rosa, we may suppose him a gentleman of such culture as to be familiar with the exquisite Greek

recital, and the Judge went to the library and returned

aves with loving carefulness until he came to the incident. Then being a fine

didrachmon. I will play, and thou shalt hold out thy cap and be dumb.' So the stranger took the lyre and swept the strings, and men heard, as it were, the clashing of swords. And he sang the fall of Troy-how Hector perished, slain by Achilles, the rush of chariots, the ring of hoofs, the roar of flames-and as he sang the people stopped to listen, breathless and eager, with rapt, attentive ear. And when the singer ceased the soldier's cap was filled with coins, and the people begged for

and the manifest appreciation with which it had been received. For a moment or two a

d been a Greek an

ell as being an American and livi

have been a pag

eamed such beautiful dreams of life. Leave the b

ories to you girls," he said rather brusquely. "I have a very important railway case on my mind, and Phoebus Apollo has nothing to do with it. Go

en remained silent a few minutes. Then Ethel went to

answer, but w

ith all this sho

am tired, I am troubl

hy

yet. But one thing I know, I shall oppose anyth

will do wis

ion as the cultivation of his friendship with Dora Denning. He called it "friendship," but this misnomer deceived no one, not even Dora. And when Dora en

ungry, and the thought of one of Fred's lunches was very pleasant. Even if Basil Stanhope was with them, it appeared to be all the better. Fred always included Dora's lover with a charming courtesy; and, indeed, at such hours, was in his most delightful mood. Stanhope appeared to inspire him. His mentality when the clergyman was present took possession of every incident that came and went, and clothed it in wit and pleasantry.

ore and more uneasy. She almost wished for some trifling overt act which would give her an excu

," she said as soon as they were in Dora's parlor, and as she spoke she

oss all the time we were at lunch. You spoiled all our ple

ou were outrageous. He has no right to say such

e instead of you. He was simply polite

ch politeness he had

quite proper if offe

me as 'My lovely Ethel!' He called you many times 'My lovely Dora!' You are not his lovely Dora. When he put on

e so yourself. And I am lovely. Basil says that as wel

o business to use the word 'my.' You are eng

y fiancee; I am Fre

d understands t

Some people are al

g of Mr. Stanh

s without your assistance. If you had said you were thinking o

will not

d reasons for preventing such a definite quarrel flashed through her selfish little mind, and she threw her arms around Ethel and begged a thousand pardons for her rudeness. And Ethel had also reasons for avoiding dissension at this time. A break in their friendship now would bring Dora forward t

sorrow for it. So they forgave each other, or said they did, and then Dora explained herself. She declared that she had not the least intention of any wrong. "You see, Ethel, what a fool the man is about me.

and trusts you, I have no more to say

very sedate, and of course not even pretend to know if any other man admires me. Little lunches with Fred, theater and opera parties, and even

then. Surely his constant companionsh

fortably. I don't know about Basil's constant compan

were a bore undoubtedly even in Paradise. I wonder if Eve was tired of

remind Basil of the failure of Adam to satisfy Eve's idea of perfect companionship." And Dora put her pretty, j

d become a person of importance, and had realized the fact. The young ladies of St. Jude's had made a pet of their revered rector's love, and the elder ladies had also shown a marked interest in her. The Dennings' fine house was now talked about and visited. Men of high financial power respected Mr. Dan Denning, and advised the social recognition of his family; and Mrs. Denning was not now found more eccentric than many other of th

conversation, in her own way of interpreting it, to both Basil Stanhope and Fred Mostyn. More than likely both Bryce and Mrs. Denning would also hear how her innocent kindness had been misconstrued; and in each case

thdraw from any active part in the wedding, strengthening her advice with the assurance that when a friendship began to decline it ought to be abandoned at once. There was only her grandmother to go to, and at first she did not find her at all interested in the trouble. She had just

ways, but I paid him every cent I owed

thel finally got her to listen to h

t is best to keep your mouth shut concerning such ways. I hate to see you whimpering an

ndmo

clergyman, and Fred Mostyn, and her brother, and mother, and father all on her side; all of them sure that Dora

ther, you ar

ave a few friends

ra. And Fred-I told you how Fre

them to join you at your lunches and dances? You ought to have pillared your own side. A

ora's life. I wished her to

ht. All of your share, also-tha

I had a little misunderstanding,

none of your business while she is under her father's roof; and I don't know if she hadn't a friend in the world, if they would be your business. I have always been against people trying to do the work of THEM that are above

ora. After all, I like her. We

hundred friends will wish you well, and one enemy will DO you ill. God love you, child! Take the

You got cards

flirtations alone, unless you set your own against the

ll she does

ent. Some day, like the prophet of Pethor, 1 he will get his eyes opened. As for Fred

ret

he Hebrew

ther, not to talk to m

very irrational promise! I am sorry I

to hold a conversa

believe anything different." And she looked into Ethel's face with such a smiling confidence in her good will a

with her to the door, answered, "I have had my way for nearly eighty years,

ere she ran down the steps to her carriage. Yet as the old lady stepped slowly back to the parlor, she mut

e rapidly wearing away to the great day, for which so many other days had been wasted in fatiguing worry, and incredible extravagance of health and temper and money-and after it? There would certainly be a break in ass

rocaded satin in which a glittering thread of silver was interwoven. The satin had won the day, and the sunshine fell upon its beauty, as she knelt at the altar, like sunshine falling upon snow. It shone and gleamed and glistened as if it were an angel's robe; and this scintillating effect was much increased by the sparkling of the diamonds in her hair, and at her throat and waist and hands and feet. Nor was her brilliant youth affected by the overshadowing tulle usually so unbecoming. It veiled her from head to feet, and was held in place by a diamond coronal. All her eight maids, though lovely girls, looked wan and of the earth beside her. For her sake they had been content with the simpl

bled over each other, carriage after carriage departed; and Ethel and her companions went to Dora's parlor to rest awhile and discuss the event of the day. But Dora's parlor was in a state of confusion. It had, too, an air of loss, and felt like a gilded cage from which the b

ern of a man whose ideas were rosy with champagne. He looked up with a provoking familiarity at the quest

o home,"

fatigue, untidy with crush, their pretty white gowns sullied and passe, each went her way; in every heart a w

r room. "I am worn out, Ruth," was her first remark. "I am go

h you may ha

religious ceremony, with half a dozen

p away before Dora

am going to sleep. Tell father all about the wedding. I