Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1901)
THE O MA II A DAILY BEE: Sl'yPAY, Ml ;;, mui. 115 I Tristram of Blent. (I Being An Episode in a Story of An Ancient House. W 1JY ANTHONY' HOPK. (Copyright, 1X0, by A. H. Hawkins.) Krtiotnl ii f I'rrceiHnir Clinutrm. AUelalilc, w1fo of Sir Randolph Edge of .wem iinn, eiopca wun captain ! tiznuuen. fc3Ir Randolph died In Itussla, presumably In tlmo for Lady Edge and Kltzhubort to marry and bo make their pon, Harry. logltl mate. They learn Inter, however, that tho date, of Hir Ilnndolph h death has been given Incorrectly nnd Harry In not the rightful heir. They keep tho matter secret nnd eventually Mr. Kltzhubort succeeds to tho barony of Tristram of Blent and re Bides with Harry tit Hlent Hall. Unknown to Iady Tristram a Madam Zabrlska, and Mr. Jcnklnson Neeld, nru also In possession of the Hccrot and Madam Zabrlska, with lier unci!!. Major Duplay, come to reside ut Merrlon Ixidgi;, near Went Hall. Hurry learns from his mother that ho It not tho rightful heir to Illent, but they determine to hold tho title for him at any cost. To further his cause ho decides to marry Janlo Iver, hclrrn to Fulrholme, but Undo two rivals In Hob Hroadley and Major Duplay. The latter learns of Harrys untor tunate birth from Madam Znbrlska. He In forms him that ho Intends to tell Ivor nd they quarrel, Harry winning tn a brisk tussle. Noeld Ii'tomm the itucst of Iver ftt Falrholme. Madam Zabrlska meets reeid and they form a compact to protect Harry's Interests and maintain focrccy. Indy Tristram dies nfter extracting from her nn n promise that Cecily Ga'.nMorough, rightful heiress of Illent, shall tic Invited to the funernl. Cecily and her father corns to Hlent. but Harry falls to receive them. I-ater he comes suddenly upon Cecily In the garden and realizes that she Is a Tris tram, tho Image of his mother. Tho en- tragement of Harry nnd Janlo Iver Is an nounced, nnd Duplay announces his deter mination to expose tho false position of his future. snn-ln-Inw to Iver. Harry uncon sciously falls In lovo with Cecily nnd with out tcllliu; her this acknowledges that ho Is not tho legnl heir, but Bhe Is Lndv Tristram of niont. Then ho stenls away from Hlent by night, stopping to udvlno JJob Hroadley to woo and win Janle. He poes to Ixindon, whero political friends of his mother Interest themselves In bin case. Cecily, unhappy In her new posseHHlnn?, follows him to ocg him to take back Dlcnt. CHAPTER XVIII. - niver Some, ami Ilrlo-ii-Ilrnc. Tho Hlent was on flro Indeed nnd Mlna Zabrlska occupied a position rich In Im portance and prolific of pleasure. Others, such bb Iver and Miss S., might meot Mr. Gainsborough ns ho took timid rambles, they could extort llttlo beyond a dazed civility, but nono of them could compete with Mlna Zabrlska. To her alone tho doors of Dlont were open; sho held excluslvo right of access to Its hidden mistress. Tho fact caused unmeasured Indignation, tho reason excited unresting curiosity. This state of things ought to havo made Mlna very happy. What more could woman want? Ono thing only, but that's a neces sitysomebody to talk to nbout It. Sho had nobody. Janle showed no deslro to discuss Hlent, or anything or anybody con nected thorowlth. Tho major, for Instance, was ono of tho enemy. The gossips of Blentmouth wero beneath hor lordly notice. She was bubbling over with undiscussed Impressions. And now even Mr. Neeld had gone off on a visit to town. Cecily had acquiesced In nil the lnwyers did, had signed papers at request, had al lowed herself to bo Invested with tho prop erty, Bnluted with tho title, enthroned In tho fullest manner. So far then sho had accepted hor cousin's sacrlllco nnd the transformation of her own life. Yet through nnd In sptto of nil this sho main tained, oven to tho extreme of punctilious ness, tho air of belnpc a visitor at Hlent, Sho made no changes In tho order of tho household; when Minn nlwnys busy In hor frlond's Interest suggested rearrangements of furniture or curios, Cecily's manner Im plied that sho wus yj-opared to tnko no such liberties In another mail's house. It would havo been all vory well-bred If Harry had put his houso nt hor disposal for a fortnight. Seeing that the placo was her own and that sho had nccepted It ns being her own, Mlna declnrcd thnt hor con duct wns little less than nn nbsurdlty. This insertion was limited to Minn's own mind; It had not been mndo tn tho offender her Keif. The fear sho had felt of Harry threat ened to spread to his successor; she did not feel equal to n remonstrance. Hut she grew gradually Into a state of oxtremo Irri tation and Impatience. This provisional this ostentatiously provisional attitude could not bo mnlntiilncd permanently Something must hnpp i one way or tho other. Now what wns It to bo? Sho could not protend to guess. These Trlstrnms were old folks, Tho strain rondo Minn ex cited, restless, and at times exceedingly short witji Major uttpiny. - Tho outbreak ennio, and In a fashion n Trlstramesqun ns Mlna could desire, for all thnt tho harbinger of It was frightened lit tie Mr. Gainsborough wnn moro frightened rtlll. He enme up the bill one evening nbout C praying' Minn's Immediate presence tit Dlcnt. Somo thing hnd happened. 'ho ex plained, ns they walked dpwn. Cecily bad had a letter from somebody In London. No, not Harry. Sho must bco Mlna at once. This was nil ho knew except that his dnugh tcr wni perturbed nnd excited. His manner protcotcd against tho wholo thing with a mild detpalr. "Quick, quick." cried tho Imp, almost making him run to keep up with her Im patient strides, Cc:lly was In her room the room that hr.d been Addlo Tristram's, "You've moved In here," was Mlna's first exclamation. "Yes; tho housokeeper said I must, eo I did. Hut" Sho glanced up for a moment nt Addlo'o picturo and broko off. Then sho held up n letter which she had tn her hands, "Do you know anything of Lord Southend?" she nsked. "I've heard Mr, Iver nnd Mr. Neold apeak of him. that's all." - "He writes to say ho knew Lady Tristram and and Harry and hopes he'll know mo Boon." "That's very friendly," Mlna thought, but did not add that It was rather unim portant. "Yes; but It's moro than that. Don't you see? It's an opening." Sho looked at her friend, Impatient at her want of com prehension. "It makes It posslblo to do something. I can begin now." "Hegln what?" Mlna was enjoying her own bewilderment keenly. Gainsborough had not cotne upstairs, nnd the two young women wero alone In the room. "How long did you think I could Btand It? I'm not made of of of soap. You know Harry! You liked him, didn't you? And you know Lady Tristram! I'vo slept In this room two nights and" "You haven't seen a ghost?" "Ohost! O, don't bo silly. I'vo laid hero awake, looking at that picture. And It's looked nt me at least It seemed to. 'What nro you doing here?' That's what It's been saying. 'What are you doing hero?' No, I'm not mad. That's what I was saying to myself. llut tho picturo seemed to say It. "Then I go into tho Long gallery! It's no better therol" Her hands were flung out deipalrlnBly. "DO LISTEN, NOW, "You seemed to have settled down so well," murmured Mlna. "Settled down! What was thero to do? O, you know I hadn't! I can't bear it, Minn, and I won't. Isn't It hard? I should havo loved It all so, If It had been really mine, If It bad come to rae properly. And now it's worse than nothing! Sho sat back In her chair with her face set In a desperate unhapplncss. It Is yours; It did como to you prop erly," Mlna protested. Her sympathy tended nlways toward tho persons she was with, her sensitive mind responding to the Immediate appeal. Sho thought moro of Cecily now than Harry, who was somc whoro vaguely somewhere In London. You say that?" cried Cecily angrily. "You, Harry's friend! You, who fought nnd lied yes, lied for him. Why did you do all that If you think It's properly mine? How can I faco that picture and say It's mine. It's n detestable Injustice. Ah, and I did I did lovo It so." "Well, I don't seo what you'ro to do. You can't glvo It back to Mr. Tristram. At least, I shouldn't llko to propose that to him, and I'm sure ho wouldn't take It. Why, ho couldn't, Cecily!" Cecily rose and walked restlessly to the window. No, no, no," sho said fretfully. Sho turned abruptly round to Mlna. "Lord Southend says ho'd bo glad to make my ac quaintance and havo a talk." "Ask him down here, then." "Ask him hero? I'm not going to ask people to stay here!" "I think that's rather abiurd." Mlna had needed to summon up courago for this remark. "And he says there, look at his letter. Ho says ho's seen Harry nnd hopes to bo nblo to do fcomethlng for him. What does bomcan by that?" She came back toward Mlna. "Thcro must bo aomethlng possible, If ho says that." "He enn't mean anything nbout nbout Hlent. Ho means" "I must find out what he moans. I muBt seo him. The lettor came when I was Just desperate. Father nnd I sitting down hero together day nfter day. As If I. As If" She paused nnd struggled for self-control. "There! I'm going to bo quite calm and rcasonnble nbout It," she ended. Mlna had her doubts nbout that, nnd would have been sorry not to bavo them. Tho Intcreat thnt had threatened to vanish ftom her llfo with Addle Trlstram'o doath nnd Horry's departuro was revived. She sat looking nt the ngltnted girl In a pleas ant Euspenso. Cecily took up Southend's letter again and smoothed It thoughtfully. "What should you think Harry must feel about me?" she nsked, with a nenror ap proach to tho calm which sho had promised, but It scorned tho quiet of despair. Hero Mlna had her theory ready and ad vanced It with confidence. "I expect ho hates you. You rco he dirt what he did In a moment of excitement; ho must havo been wrought up by some thing something qultp unusual with him. You brought It about tomehow." "Yes, I know I did. Do you suppose I haven't thought nbout that?" Thoro'a sure tn bavo been a reaction," pursued tho sago Imp. "He'll havo got back to his ordinary stato of mind, and In thnt he loved Hlent abnvo everything, And tho more ho loves Hlent nnd tho sorrier ho Ik for having given It up, tho less he'll llko you, of course." "You think he's sorry?" "When I've rtono anything on nn Im pulse like that, I'm always Rorry." Mlna spoko from a tolerably large experience of Impulses nnd their results; a very recent example had been the Impulse of temper which mndo her drop hints to the mijor about Harry's right to bo Tristram of Hlent. "Yes, then ho would hate me," Cecily concluded. "And how she'd hate me!" she cried tho next Instant, pointing at Addle Trlstrnm a plrture. ' About that at least there was no doubt In Mlna's mind. She nodded emphatically. "I'vo, done what sho spent her llfo trying to prevent! I've mado everybody tnlk about her again' Mlna, I feel ns If I'd thrown mud at her, as If I'd reviled her. Yes, she'd hate me. And so must Harry." Sho turned to Mlna. "It'i terribly unfair, lint it, terribly? She'd have liked me,' I think, nnd I'd got to be aui h good friends with him. I'd cfimo to think he'd ask us t down now and then about onco a year, perhaps, It would bavo been something to look forward to all the year. It would ; have mado life qulto different, quite good onough, you know. I should havo been so content and so happy with that. O, It s terribly unfair! Why do people do things that that brings about things llko this?" "Poor Lady Tristram," sighed Mlna, glanchg at the beautiful cause of the ter rible unfairness. "Sho was llko that, you see," sho added. "Yes, I know that. nut It oughtn't to count against other pcoplo so. Yes, It's terribly unfair." A Bllcnco fell between tho two and Cecily walked again to the window. Tho sun was setting on Hlent und It glowed In a soft beauty. "To think that I should be hero and havo this, nnd yet bo very, very unhappy," mur mured tho girl, softly. She faced nround suddenly. "Mlnu, I'm going to London. Now tonight. There's a train at 8." Tho Imp sat up straight and stared. "I shall wire to our house; the maid's there, and she'll havo things ready." "What are you going to town for?" "To see this Lord Southend. You must come with me." "I? Oh, I can't possibly. And your father?" "He must stay here. You must come. Hun back and pack a bug; you won't want much, I shall go Just ns I am." With a gesture she Indicated the plain black frock sho wore. "Oh, I can't bo bothered with packing! What does that matter? I'll call for you In the carrlago nt 7. Wc musn't miss the train." Mlna gasped. This was Tristram, In deed. MR, DISNEY." "I Just feel I must go. If nnythlng's dono nt all, It'll be done In London, not hero." "How long do you mean to stay?" "I can't possibly toll. Till something's done. Go now, Mlna, or you'll bo too late." "Oh, I'm not coming. Tho wholo thing's absurd. What can you do? And, anyhow, It's not my business." "Vory well. I shall go alone. Only I thought you wero Interested In Harry and I thought you wore my friend." Sho throw herself Into n chair. She wan In Addlo Tristram's attitude. "But I sup poso I haven't got any friends," she con cluded, not In n distressed fashion, but with a pensive, submissive llttlo nmlle. "You're perfectly adorable!" cried Mlna, running across to her. "And I'll go with you to Jericho If you llko." She caught Cecily's bands in liera and kissed her chfok. Tho scene was transformed In an Instant; that also was tho Tristram way. Cecily sprang up, laughing gaily, even dancing a step or two as she wrung Mlna's hands. "Hurrah! Marchons! En nvant!" she cried. "Oh, we'll do something, Minn! Don't you hate sitting still?" "Cecily, arc you nro you in lovo with Harry?" "Oh, I hope not, I hopo not," she laughed gaily. "Hecauso ho must hate me so. And nro you, Mlna? Oh, I hopo not that, too! Comu to London! To seek our fortunes In London! Oh, you tiresome old Hlent, how glad I nm to leave youl" "Hut your father" "We'll do things qulto nicely, Minn, dear. We won't distress father. Wo'll leavo a note for him. Mlna, I'm sure Addlo Tris tram uboJ Just to leave a nolo whenever sho rnn nwny! Wo'll sleep In London to night!" Suddenly Mlna understood hotter why Hnrry hnd turrendcrcd Hlent, and under Mood, too, ns her mind flew bnck, why Addle Tristram had mado men do what they had done. "Oh, yes, you tlresomo old Hlent!" cried Cecily, shaking her fair hair toward tho open window. "How could n girl think sho was going to llvo on river scenes and brlc-a-brac?" Sho laughed in niry scorn. You must grow moro amusing it I'm to come bnck to you!" she threatened. Illier scenes nnd hrie-a-brar! Mlna was surprised thnt Hlent did not on the Instant punish the blnsphcmy by a revengeful earthquake or nn overwhelming flood. Cecily cnught her by tho nrm, a burlesque apprehension screwing her faco up Into a fantastically ugly mask. It wns tho Gainsborough In roe! she whispered. "Gnlnsboroughs enn llvo on curios! Hut I can't, Mlna, I can't. I'm a Tristram not n Gainsborough. No more could Hnrry In the end, no moro could Hnrry." Mlna was panting. "Hut. what are von going to do?" Bhe cried In n Inst protest of common senso, "Oh, I don't know, but something some thing something," was the not very com mon sense answer sho recolvcd. It was not tho moment for common sense, Minn scorned the thing and flung It from hor. Sho would have none of It sho who gtood between beautiful Addle thore on the wall and laughing Cecily hero In tho win dow. foellug by n strnngo nnd welcome II luslon that though thero wero two visible, shapes thcro was but one heart, one spirit In the two. "Wero you like this before you camo to Hlent?" A sudden quiet fell on Cecily. Sho paused beforo she answered: "No. not till I camo to Hlent." With lnuch sho fell on her knees. "Plonso for- glvo me for what I said about tho river and tho brlc-a-brac, dear, darling Hlent! CHAPTER Will. L'oiiHiilrnnirh anil n Crux. Lord Southend was devoted to his wife a state of feeling natural often,' crcdltablj always. Yet tho reason people gavo for It and gavo with something llko nn explicit sanction from him, was not a vory exalted one. Suannn made him no exceedingly comfortable. She was also a particularly good woman, but her husband knew better than to talk about that. Hehold him after the most perfect of lunches, his armchair In exactly tho right spot, his papers by him, his cigar to his hand (even theso Susanna understood), n senso of pence In his heart, nnd In his head a mild wonder that anybody was discon tented with tho world. In this condition he Intended to spend at least a con pi o of hours, after which Susanna would drlvo him gently once round tho park, tnko him to tho House of Ixmls, wait twenty minutes and then land him at tho Irapcrlum. Ho Ut a cigar nnd took up tho Ecouomlsl. It was not tho moment for anything exciting. "A lady to seo you, my lord on Im portant business." Excessive comfort is enervating. Afrr a brief nnd futllo resistance he found Mlna Zabrlikn in the room nnd himself regarding her with mingled consternntlon and amuse ment. Hcllcs of excitement hung about tho Imp, but they wore converted to business purposes. Sho camo as an agent. Tho namo of her principal awoko Southend's Immediate. Interest. "She's coma up to London?" ho ex claimed. "Yes, both of us. Wo'ro nt their old homo." Southend discovered his plnco ncz nnd studied her thin, mobile llttlo face. "And what havo you come up for?" he asked, after a pause. Mlna shrugged her shoulders. "Just to seo what's going on," sho said. "I daresay you wonder what I'vo got to do with If" His manner seemed to assent and sho Indi cated her position briefly. "Oh, that's It, Is It? You know tho Into Lady TrlBtram. And you knew" Agnln ho regarded her thoughtfully. "I hopo Lady Tristram the new one Is well?" There was tho sound of a whispered con sultation outsldo the door; it drew Mln.Vs eyes In that direction. "That's all right," ho smiled. "It's only my wlfo scolding the butler for having lot you In. Thl3 U my tlmo for reBt." "Rest!" exclnlmcd Minn, rather scorn fully. "You wrote to Cecily as If you could do something." That was rash of mo. What do you want done? I've heard about you from Ivor, you know." "Oh, the Ivers havo nothing to do with this. It's Just between Cecily nnd Mr. Tristram." "And you and me, apparently?" "What was your Idea when you wrote? I made Cecily let mo come and seo you be cause It sounded ns If you had nn Idea." If he hnd no Idea It was clear that con tempt awaited him. "I wanted to bo friendly. But ns for doing nnythlng well, that hardly depends on me." "But things can't go on us they are, you know," sbo said, brusquely. "Unhappily, as I understand tho law" "Oh, I understand tho law, too nnd vory silly It Is. I Bupposo It can't bo changed?" "Good gracious, my dear Mine. Zabrlska! Changed! And on this point, too!" "What aro nets of Parliament for?" Mlna demanded. "Absolutely out of the question," ho laughed. "Even if everybody consented, ab solutely." 'And Harry Tristram wouldn't cotisent, you mean?" "Well, could any man?" Mlna looked round tho room with a dis contented Mr; thero Is such n lamentable gulf botween feollng that something must bo dono nnd discovering whnt It Is. 'I don't say positively that nothing can bo done," he resumed nfter n moment, dangling his glass and looking at her covertly. "Aro you at leisure this after noon? "If you've got nnythlng to suggest," Mlna had grown distrustful of his Intelligence and her tongue showed It. "I thought you might llko to come and sen n friend of mine, who Is kind enough to be Interested In Hnrry Tristram." Ho added with the consciousness of naming nn Im portant person. "1 mean Lady Evenswood." "Who s she?" nsked tho Imp, curtly. To do them Jiihtlcc, Englishmen seldom forgot thnt allowances must be made for foreigners. Lord Southend explained gravely and patiently. "Woll, let's go," said Mlna, lndtrfercntly. Not Hint It seems much use," her manner added. "Excuse mc a moment." said he. nnd ho went out to sooth his wife's alarm and as suro her thnt ho wns not tired. As they drove Mlna hoard more of Lady Evenswood among other things, that sho had known Addle TrlBtram ns a child. An unusual timidity assaulted and conquered Minn when sho found herself with tho white-haired old lndy, who never scorned to do moro thnu gently Fiiggcst nnd yet exer cised command. Southend watched them together with keen amusement, whlln Lady Evenhwood drew out of Mlna come account of Cecily's feelings nnd of tho scene nt Blent. "Well, tbat'B TrIHram all over," sighed Lady Evenswood at the -end. "Yea, Isn't It?" irled Mlna. emboldened by a sympathy that spoko her own thought. "Sho hates to feel sbo's tnken everything away from him. Hut Lord Southend says ho can't havo It bnck. Is thcro nothing to bo dono? You son It's all being wasted." "All being wasted?" "Yes, Hlent nnd nil of It. Ho can't have It, and as things aro now sho enn't en Joy It." "Very perverse, very perverse, certainly," murmured Southond, frowning although ho wns rather amused, too, "With an obvious solution," said Lady EveiiBwood. "If only wo lived In tho realms of romance." "Yes," sho said, "but Harry wouldn't do that either." "He doesn't like his cousin," "Yea. I think so." Sho smiled as she added, "and even If be didn't that mightn't niattor." Tho other two exchanged glances aa they UK. A, 1). blUKLES, The Mont ltrllnlile 9ieelnlliit iu Mia rnocR of Men. STRICTURE Cured with a new Home treatment. No palu, no detention from business, URIN ARYoney nnd Hlaldor Troublos, Weak Hack, Burning Urine, Frequency of Urinating, Urine High Col ored or with milky sediment on standing. SYPHBLIS cured for llfo nnd poison thoroughly cleansed from tho syttem. Soon every sign nnd symptom disappears completely nnd forever. No "HHEAKINO OUT" of the disease on tho skin or face. Treatment contnlns no dangerous drugs or Injurious medicines. WEAK MEN from Excesses or vic tims of Nervous De bility or Exhaustion, Wnstlng Weakness, with enrly docny In young nnd middle aged, lack of vim, vigor nnd strength, with organs Impaired and weak, Curo guaranteed. CURES GUARANTEED CHARGES LOW listened. Minn. Inspired by a subject that never failed to rouso her, gained courage. "Any moro than It mattered with Miss Ivor," sho pursued. "And he might Just ns likely havo given Hlent to Cecily in that way ns In tho way ho actually did If sho wanted It very much nnd nnd It had been a splendid thing for him to do." Lady Evenswood nodded gently. South end rnlscd his brows In a sort of protest against this relentless nnalysls. "Because that sort of thing would have appealed to him. Hut ho'd never take It from her; ho wouldn't, oven If ho was in lovo with her." "You know him very woll. my dear?" "Yes, I I camo to. And I'm very fond of her," she ndded. "In tho deadlock," said Southend, "I think you'll have to try my prescription, Lady Evenswood." "You think that would bo of use?" "It would pacify this pride of Master Harry's, perhaps." Mlna looked from one to the other. "Is there nnythlng?" asked Mlna. The appeal wns to the lady, not to Southend. But he answered, chafllngly: "Possibly Just possibly tho resources of tho constitution" Tho bell of the front door sounded audi bly In tho morning room In which they were. "I dartsny thnt's Robert," remarked Lady Evenswood. "He bald he might call." "Oh, by Jove!" exclaimed Southend, with a laugh thnt sounded a trlflo uneasy. Tho door opened nnd a man came In un announced. Ho was of mlddlo height, with large features, thick, coarso hair, nnd u rather ragged beard; his arms were long and his hands largo. "How aro you, Cousin Sylva?" he said, crossing to Lady Evenswood, who gavo him her hand without rising. "How are you, Southend?" He turned back to Lady Evens wood. "I thought you wero alone." Ho spoko In brusque tones, and ho looked nt Mlna ns If ho did not know what sho might bo doing there. His nppearauce seemed vaguely famlllnr to her. "Wc nro holding n little conference, Rob ert. This young lndy Is very Interested in Hnrry Trls'rnm nnd his affair. Come, now, you remember about III Mme. Zabrlska, thtR Is Mr. Disney." "Mr. Disney!" Tho Imp gasped. "You mean?" The other two smiled. Mr. Disney Bcowled a little. Obviously ho had hoped to find his relative alone. "Jlndnmo Znbrlskn met Addlo Trlstrnm yenrB ago at Heidelberg. Robert, and Bhe's been staying down nt Hlent at Merrlon lodge, didn't you Bny, my denr?" Mr. Dlsnoy hnd sat down. "Well, what's tho young fellow llko?" ho nsked. "O, I I don't know," murmured tho Imp In forlorn shyness. This man was was ac tually the tho prlmo minister! Matters would have been rather better If he had consontcd to look Just a little like It. As It wns, her head was in a whirl. Lady Evenswood called him "Robert," too. Noth ing nbout Lndy Evonswood had Impressed her na much ns that, uot oven the early acqunlntnnco with Addlo Tristram. "Well, then, what's tho girl like?" asked Disney. "Robert, don't frighten Madame Za brlska." "Frighten her? What do you mean?" "0, tell him whnt I mean, George," laughed Lady Evenswood, turning to South end. Mr. Disney seemed genuinely resent ful nt tho Idea that ho might frighten any body. "Aro you a member of tho conference, too, Southend7" "Well, jes, I I'm Interested In tho fam ily." Ho telegrnphed a glanco of caution to tho old lndy; ho meant to convey thnt tho present was not a hnppy moment to broach tho matter that was In their minds. "I'm sorry I Interrupted. Can you give me five minutes In another room, Cousin Sylva?" He rose nnd wnlted for ner. "0, but enn't you do nnythlng?" untried out the Imp suddenly. "Eh!" His eyes under their heavy brows wero fixed nn her now. Thore wbb a deep lying twinkle In them, although ho stilt frowned ferociously. "Do whnt?" "Why, something for for Hnrry Tris tram?" Ho looked round nt ench of them. The twinklo wns gono; the frown wns not. "O, wns that the conference?" ho nsked slowly. "Well, whnt hns the conference de elded?" It was Mlno whom ho questioned, for which Southond at least was profoundly thankful. Mr. Dinsey slowly sat down again. Mlna did not percotvo the Blgnlfiennco of this action, but Lndy Evenswood did. "It's such nn nxtrnordlnnry case, Robert! So very exreptionnl! Poor Addlo Tristram. You remember her?" "Yes; I remember Addlo Tristram," he muttered "growled," Mlna described It afterward. "Woll, what do you want?" he asked. Lndy Evenswood was a woman of tact. "Really," she fnld. "It can't bo done In this way, of courec If anything Is to come before you It must como before you regu larly. I know thnt. Robert." Tho Imp had no tact. "Oh, no," bho cried. "Do listen now, Mr. Disney. Do promlfe to help us now." Tuct Is not always the best thing In the world. "If you'll tell me In two words I'll listen," said Mr. DUncy. "1 I can't do that. In two words? Ob, but, please" Dr. SEARLES & SEARLES OMAHA, NEB. SPECIALISTS FOR DISEASES OF MEN The Secret of Our Unparalleled Success is Told in Two Words: ..WE CURE.. Varicocele, Acquired Blood Poison, Nerv ous Debility and all Keflex Complications and Associate Diseases and Weaknesses of Men. VARICOCELE Are you afflicted with Varicocele or Its results Nervous Debility and ar yo nervous, Irritable and detpondent? Do you lack your old-time energy and ambition? Aro you suffering from Vital Wcaknoes, etc ? There Is a derangement of the sensi tive organs of your Pelvic System, nnd even though It gives you no trouble at pres ent, It will ultimately unman you, depress your mind, rack your nervous system, ua fit you for married life and shorten your existence Why not bo cured before It ll too late? WE CAN CURE YOU TO STAY CURED. Wo have yet to see the case of Varicocele wo cannot curo. Medicines, Electric Helta, etc., will never cure. You need expert treatment. We treat thousands of enses whero the ordinary physician treats one. Method new, without cuttlug". pain or loss of time. Ho had turned away from her to South end. "Now, then, Southend?" Lord Southend felt that ho must bo courageous. After all, tho women wero thore. "In two words? Literally?" Disney nodded, smiling grimly nt Mlna's clnsped hnndfc and Imploring fnce. "Lltcrnlly, If vou cnn." "Well, then," said Southend, "I will. What we w-ant Is" After ono glnnce nt Lady Evenswood he got It out. "What wo want Is a viscounty." For a moment Mr, Disney sat still. Then again he roso slowly. "Havo I tumbled Into bedlam?" ho nsked. "It wns dono In the Dearsdalc case," sug gested Lady Evenswood. "Of courso there was n doubt thero " "Anyhow a barony but a viscounty would be moro convenient," murmured Southend. Mlna was puzzled. Thcso mysteries were beyond hor. Hut sho knew that something wns being urged which might meet the difficulty and sho kept eager eyes on Mr. Disney. Ho listened with a snillo (was It not rather a grin?) of sardonic ridicule. "You mado me speak, you know," said Southond. "I'd rather havo waited till wo got the thing Into shape. "And I should llko you to sco the boy, Robert." "Bedlam!" said Mr. Disney with savago conviction. "I'll talk to you about what I camo to say another day, Cousin Sylva. Really today " With a vague nwkwnrd wave of his arm he started for tho door. "You will try?" cried the Imp, darting at him. She henrd him say, halt under his brenth, "D d persistent llttlo woman!" before bo vanished through the door. She turned to her companions, her face aghast, her lips quivering, ner eyes dim. The maglclnn hnd como and gone nnd worked no spoil; her disappointment wns very bitter. To hor amazement, Southend was radiant and Lady Evenswood woro an air of grati fied contentment. She stared nt them. "It went off bettor than I expected," said he. "It must bo ono of Robert's good days," said she. "But but " gasped the Imp. "Ho was very civil for him. He must mean to think about It, nbout something of tho sort, anyhow," Southend explained. "I shouldn't wondor If It had been In his mand," ho nddod to Lndy Evenswood. "Neither should I. At nny rate, ho took It splendidly." Lady Evenswood did not seem nblo to get over the prlmo minister's extraordinary affability. "Well, If ho treats you llko that great people like you and you're pleased, thank goodness, I never met him alone!" Mlna was not shy with them any more, sho had suffered worse. They glanced at ono another. "It wns you, my dear. Ho'd have been moro difficult with us," Bald Lady Evens wood. "You Interested him," Southend assured her. "Yes, If nnythlng's been dono, you've done it." They seemed qulto sincere. That feel ing of being on her bead Instead of her heels camo over Mlna again. "I shouldn't be a bit surprised If he sent for Harry." "No, nor If ho arranged to meet Coelly Gainsborough Cecily Trlstrnm, I mean." "I thought he looked well, ns If ho wns hit when you mentioned Addle." "Oh, there's renlly no telling with Rob ert. It went off very well Indeed. What a lucky thing he enme." Still bewildered, Mlna began, nil tho snrae, to nsalmtlate this atmosphero of con tentment nnd congratulation. "Do you really thlik I I had nnythlng to do with It?" Bho nsked, a new prldo swelling In her heart. "Yes. yes, you attrncted his attention." "Ho was amused at you. my dear." "Then I'm glad." Sho mean that her sufferings would perhaps not go unrecom penscd. "You must bring Lidy Tristram to see mo." said Lndy Evenswood. "Cecily? O, well, I'll try." Lady Kvcnswood smiled and Southeni laughed outright, It was not quite tho way In which Lady Evenswood's Invitations wero generally received. Hut neither of them liked Mlna less. It was Bomethlng to go back to tho tiny house betweon tho King's nnd the Fulha.m roads with tho record of Buch ndventures an these. Cecily wns thero, lnnguld nnd weary. She had npont the wholo day In that hammock In tho strip nf garden In which Sloyd had found her onco. Des pondency had succeeded to her excitement this was nil qulto In tho Tristram way nnd sho bad expected no fruits from Mlna's expedition. Hut Minn enme home, not In- doed, laden with anything very definite, yet Inden with a wholo pack of possibilities. Sho. put that point nbout tbo viscounty, which puzzled her, first of nil. It alone wns enoiiRh to flrn Coolly to nnlmntlon. Then sho led up, through Lady Evenswood, to Mr. Disney himself, confessing, hnwovcr that she took the "ncourngomcnt whhh tho great man had R.ven on faith from thoso who knew him better than sho did. Her own lmpresilon would havo been that he meant to dismiss tho wholo thing as Impos tlblo nonsenso. "Still, I can't help thinking we've dono something," she ended In triumph. "Mlna, aro you working for him or for me?" N t C'oiiKiiltntlnn Free. Treatment by malt Cult or mliliraa lit) 6. 14tk St. IIS. SEA1II.ES ,k SEAItl.RS, OMAHA This quostlon fnced Mlna with a latent problem which sho had hitherto avoided. "Mayn't 1 work for both of you?" sho nsked at Inst. "Well, I enn't seo why you should do that," said Cecily, rolling out of tho ham mock nnd fretfully smoothtug her hair. "I'm n busybody. That's It," said Mlna. "You know whatil happen If ho finds It out? Harry, 1 mean. He'll bo furious with both of us." Mlna reflected. "Yes, I suppose ho will," sho admitted. Hut tho spirit of self sacrifice wns on her, perhaps also that of adventure. "I don't care," sho said, "as long ns I can help." Thero wns a loud knock nt the door. Mlna rushed Into tho front room and saw a mnn In uniform delivering a letter. Tho next moment tho maid brought It to her n . long envelope with "First Lord of tho Treasury" stamped on tho lowor left hand corner. Sho noticed that It was ad dressed to Lady Evenswood's house and must bavo been sent on posthaste. She tore It open. It was headed "Private and Confidential." "Madam, I nm .directed by Mr. Disney to request you to Btnto In writing for his con sideration nny facts which may bo wttbln your knowledge as to the circumstances attendant on tho marriage of tho late Lady Trlstrnm of Blent und tho birth of her ion, Mr. Henry Austen Fltzhubcrt Trlstrnm. 1 nm to ndd that your communication will bo considered as confidential. I am, madam, yours faithfully. HROADSTAIRS." "Cecily, Cecily, Cecily!" Mlna darted back nnd thrust this wonderful document Into Cecily's bands. "Hn docs mean some thing, you seo; ho will do something!" she cried. "Oh, who's nroadstnlrs, 1 wonder?" Cecily took the letter nnd road. The Imp renppenred with a red volumo In her hnnd. 'Viscount Brondstalrs eldest son of the earl of Ramsgatc!" she read with wide- open oyes. "And ho Bays ho's directed to write, doesn't he? Well, you are funny In England! Hut I don't wonder I was afraid of Mr. Disney." "Oh, Mr. Disney's sccretnry, I suppose. Dut, Minn" Cecily wns alive ngaln now, but her awakening did not seem to be a pleasant one. Sho turned suddenly from her friend nnd, wnlklng as far off na th llttlo room would let her, flung herself Into a chnlr. 'Whnt's tho matter?" asked Mlna, checked In her excited gaiety. 'Whnt will Hnrry caro nhout anything they can glvo him without Dlont?" Mlna flushed. Thn conspiracy was put boforo her not by ono of tho conspirators, but by her who wns tho object of It. "Ho won't want anything If he can't have Hlent, Minn. Did they sny anything about me to Mr. Dlsncv?" "No!" cried Mini, eagerly. "Hut they will, thoy menu to?" Cecily was loaning forward eagerly now. Mlna hnd no denial ready. She was try ing to follow Cecily's thoughts nnd to trace the causo of tho apprehension, the terror almost, that had como on tho girl's face. "He'll bco It Junt na I see It!" Cecily went on. "And Minn" Sho paused ngaln. Still Mlna had no words nnd no comfort for her. This night of the other fide of tho question was too sudden. It wns Hnrry then, nnd Harry' only, who hnd renlly hcen tn her thoughts;, nnd Cecily, her friend, was to bo used ns a tool. There might be little ground for blnmlng Southend, who had never seen her, or Lady Evenswood, who had been brought' In purely In Harry's Interest. Hut how stood Mlna, who was Cecily's friend? Yet nt last a thought flashed Into her mind and gavo her n weapon. "Well, what did you come to London for?" she rricd defiantly. "Why did you come unless yon meant that, too?" Cecily started a little nnd lay back In hor chair. "Oh, I don't know," sho murmured de spondently. "He hates roc, but If he's of fered nient nnd mo tmil hoil take us both, Minn, you know he will." An Indig nant rush of color earao on her cheeks, "Oh, It's very easy for you!" In n difficulty nf that sort It did not seem that even Mr. Disney could be of much avail. "Oh, you Trlstrnms!" cried Mlna In da epalr. (To Ho Continued.) 41 MILES SIIOUTE&T TO NT. LOUIS. TheSt. Louis Cannon Ball Leaves Uii'.su Station dally 6:16 p. m. Arrives In St. Louis 7.00 a. to. SH MILES SIIOIITEST TO tlUI.VC'Y. The Quincy Express Leaves Union Station daily at 7:00 a. m. Trains leave dally for St. Louis, Kantai City. Quincy and nil points East or South. Tlckots to all points In Europe via all lines. Call t.t 0. b Ct. L. city office, HIS Faroam Street, Paxton Hotel DIk., or wrlt Hurry E. Moores, C I. T. A., Omaha, Nab.