Part 28 (2/2)

”Take et away from Banner's Post”

Cliffe hesitated a moment

”Why, yes,” he then said; ”I see no reason why you shouldn't go--particularly as your aret Willans”

When, a half hour later, the car started from the bottom of the steps and Mrs Cliffe turned aith a wave of her hand, Evelyn stood in the drive, asking herself bluntly why she wished to acco to do with it; she was getting tired of an aimless and, in a sense, uneventful life, for it was true that occupations that had once been full of pleasurable exciteun to pall But this was not her only object Grahaht meet him Evelyn admitted with a blush that she would like to do so

The nexther to join hi, on a balcony of the Hotel International, in Havana It was getting dark, but a few laht touched one white wall

The air was hot and heavy, and filled with exotic save Evelyn the sense of change and contrast she had sought Yet she knew that, so far, the trip had been a failure It had not banished her restlessness; Havana was as stale as New York She reret how different it had been on her first visit

Grahame and his companion had been with her then, and she knew that she missed them

She turned as athe end of the house He did not look like a Cuban, and she started when the ht fell upon hi for the stairs at the corner where the two balconies joined and did not notice her Evelyn realized that, as she wore a white dress, her figure would be indistinct against the wall, and, if she did not o down the stairs and disappear a the people in the _patio_ If he had meant to enter the hotel, he would not have coht not ht be wiser Yet her heart beat fast, and she thrilled with a strange excite that the choice she had to make would be momentous

Grahaoing dohen she leaned over the balustrade She did not consciously decide upon the action; it was as if so it

”Mr Grahaht on his face and she saw the gleam she had expected in his eyes Then he caave him her hand

”This is a remarkably pleasant surprise, but I didn't see you until you spoke,” he said ”Have you just come out of one of the rooms?”

”No; I've been here some time I saw you as soon as you appeared on the balcony”

Graha why she had waited until the last h to see that the delay had sonificance, but this did not lad you didn't letout into the street, and it's doubtful if I'd have come back”

”Yes,” said Evelyn; ”I seemed to know that”

He was silent for a low of color showed in his brown face Evelyn let him make what he liked of her admission She had not been influenced by coquetry, but by a feeling that it was a ti about an interview I'd just finished--that is why I didn't look round,” he explained ”I came from Matanzas this afternoon”

”Then the _Enchantress_ isn't here?”

”No; she's at Matanzas, but I can't get back to-night Will you be here long?”

”A day or taiting for a boat I wonder whether you would stay and dine with us this evening?” Then a thought struck Evelyn, and she added: ”That is, if it isn't undesirable for you to be seen here”

She had not expected him to hesitate and was prepared for his reckless twinkle

”Of course I'll stay! But did you mean--if it was not unsafe?”

”I suppose I did,” she admitted with a smile ”You know I helped you in a mysterious plot the last time I was here Noould be selfish of me to ask you to wait if you think you'd better not”

”There's no risk worth counting, and I'd take it if there was When you have a temperament like mine it's hard to deny yourself a pleasure”

”I shouldn't have thought you self-indulgent,” Evelyn smiled