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About The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899 | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1894)
' r WOMAJi AGAINST I'OMAJl BY MRS. M. CHAPTER IX. -Continued. But all these feelings died down now as he contrasted the two women every where he looked he neemed to see the bwoct fair face of his wife gazing at him, and at the vision his heart swelled. "How beautiful she was lat night.' was his thoughts as he hurriedly per formed his toilet. "So lady of the land could have been more superb. Tnere is blood in her vein : as blue as flows in any Darrell I Ljvr it; I am sure of it. Oh. how cruel we have been! How I have misjudged her! I have left her all these months neglected, unhappy, and despised. But now -now all shall be changed. I feel as if a heavy cloud were rolled awav from mv life. Sunshine is every- where, and blue sky - blue a-the glori- ous radiance ot ner wonderful eyes around me; but I must not startle her. How do I know she will forgive me -m poor sweet darling" I will plead to het to day. This very morning shall see me at her feet, then, if she will for give, we will go away away to Italy or some sunny place together, alone with our love. His valet scarcely knew his master, lie !-eemed so happy and changed: he sm ledand spoke cheerfully, and looked like a man who tasted joy after a long sorrow. 'It is a dark day, Mason," the Karl said, as he opened his letters by the window. "Yes. my Lord: looks like a storm. I beg pardon, my Lord, but I forgot, here is a note from my Lady, your .mother." Roy took and read it rapidly. 'Lady Darrell is fatigued, I will go and see how she is. Send my letters and newspapers down to the breakfast table, Mason.' The Karl left his room and wended his way to his mother's apartment, she was still in bed. "I am too tired to rise for breakfast, Roy,' 8he said with a faint smile, as her son lentand kissed her white hand. "Had you not better go and ask your w ile to take my place?" Koy pressed his lips again to the slender fingers. "Mother," he .whispered passion ately, "vou see all." "All, -T she answered gently. "I read it in your face last night. You love your wife. Rov; it is good and right, my dearest, that you should: I honor and respect the girl; she will make you a true -wife, and a proud Countess. She has been tried severely, but has come through the fire without a scar. You do love her, Roy?" "Yes, mother, I do. 1 did not know how much till now, when I hear you praise her. I will go at once and give her your message. And this morning I want to writj to Brown, or his wife, to make inquiries about her birth: there is some mystery, I am sure. She is nobly born.'' "I agree with you," Lady Darrel re plied. "We must try and discover the truth now." A sharp knock at the door disturbed them, and in answer to the sum nons Davis entered abruptly, with marks of agitation on her face. "Oh. my lady I beg your pardon, my lord: but I am bo frightened. I an t find the Countess anywhere'" "Can't find theCountess." exclaimed Lady Darrell. while Roy stood silent, grasping the bedpost. "She is not in her room: the bed has are gone; and I think she has left the ' Castle." "She has gone for a walk." cried Boy, suddenly i ushing aside the hor rible pain that crowded his breast. "How can you lie so alwurd! The Countess is in the grounds somewhere; she will be in directly, lion't vou see how you have alarmed her lmfyship.'" "My Jyord, I am very sorry," mur mured Davis, her eyes full of tears, 'but I feel somehow that my dear young mistress has gone. The room looks so strange: and why did she not sleep in the bed, my '" "You are talking nonsense," Roy aid roughly, scarce knowing what he said, the tread and fear that came at her first words almost suffocating him again. "There is some mistake, Hoy," Lady Darrell interrupted quietly. "Davis, send my maid to me: go back to your mistresses' room, and wait for me there. Roy, go into my dressing room. I will go and investigate this myself." The Earl strode into the other apartment, while Davis white and ner vous, went back to Alice's room. In a very few minutes Lady Darrell called her son. She had wrapped a warm silk peignoir round her, and though her face was pale she smiled at him. "She often rises and goes into the grounds, I know," she observed as she put her hand on her son's arm: still, it will satisfy Davis, perhaps, if we go and Investigate matters. The Karl did not speak, but he pressed her hand gently, and they moved towards the young Countess' apartments in silence. Davis met them in the doorway, and Lady Darrell walked into the bed room, while Roy remained just outside, his hand grasping the door-post for , support. j Could it be true? Was happiness .to slip from him just as he had had it in his hold? , His mother stood in the room and ' glanced around. She saw in an instant the maid was right. i , The rich coverlet was undisturbed, I the bedclothes were neat, there was a light indentation on the pillow, but' otherwise the bed bore no signs of be ing touched. "Doe your mistress ever sleep in the dressing-room?" she asked Davis xa low tones. The maid shook her head. "No, my iady." Boy now moved in slowly. "Well, mother"' he murmured. "I out say anything, dearest," she answered. "You can he hag not slept here, for yourself N "What la the matter, dear Lady Darreliy" said Valerie who entered at ft moment. "Cm I do anything? If ip-U told me you were Roy, r tf taa goae," he sail tit . 4 ,x ae. mm u thr-AH- wx UfcU :S. E. HOLMES. Valerie oke cheerfully; she looked beautiful in her morning gown of gray, fitting her rounded form to perfection; there was a troubled expres-don on her face, but her eyes, beneath their deep lashes, glowed with excitement and joy. "Search the other rooms," cried the Karl, striding himself towards the boudoir. Lady Darrell ga.'.ed after hirn In dis tress. "What can have hanuened?" she murmured to Valerie, who shook her heau. l)avis at this instant heard stejw in the pas.sage and looked out "It is Mason, my lord; he wants to speak to you." j fTOm tt,e inner room w nat is it. a.skea itoy, coming "My lord, there has been a robbery: Chelmick is in a dreadful way. Three of the gold cups are stolen, and a plate. The door of the Tower Wing is un latched, and we picked up this ribbon on the path leading to the coppice. "That." cried Davis, .eci.ing it "that belongs to my inistres. h, then she is in the grounds, after all." "And my lord. Chelmick desired me to tell you that Count Jura has gone away: he has not slept in his room, and his luggage Has disappeared. I took yo lr mes age to him this m irning, but could not open his dxr, it was " "(rone! Jura gone!" reK.'jted Roy blankly, passing his hand over his eyes. "Mother Valerie, what does it mean'" Valerie nushed the servants from the room, and shut the door "It means," she answered delilr ately, "that you have been robled, and that they have fled together." "Valerie!" cried Iady Darrell. "You lie!" said itoy in low husky tones. Valerie turned away and buried her lace in her hands in reality to hide the triumph that was gleaming on it. The Karl apprua -hed her. "Valerie, forgive me: I don't k.now what I am saying or doing. I think I am mad, but this is too horrible it cannot be true!" "Que. ion them further, Roy," his mother murmured: the shock was so great to her pride and honor, she looked almost 111. The Karl has'ily opened the door. "Mason, go at once, and see if it In correct about the ( 'ount; there may be so:ne mistake. Davis, come in here. Now tell me all tlMt occurred when you were with the Countess last night." The maid complied, and went over all that had happened. "You took all her jewels oiT, you say?" Valerie interrupted quietly, though her hands were tremblin'g, "and put them away?" "No: her ladyship did that." "Then you carried the diamonds back to the care of the butler?" Davis looked round suddenly. "No, miss; I left them here. My lady said she would put them away, and " ' "They are gone, too," finished Va lerie quietly. "Come, dear Lady Dar rell, there is no more to be said; you know the worst now." Lady Darrell put her hand on Va lerie s arm, and turned away with bent head and drooping limts. The Karl watched them go, then sank on to a couch and covered his race witn nis nanas: an was too con- elusive, the evidence was damning against Alice. Alice, his sweet dream-love, his wife, had fled-she was a thief, and a traitress ! Aj4 yet he could not com prehend it and strongest in his pain was the feeling that sue was gone from him forever yes, ever, though her guilt seemed so evident, he loved her still. He sat for many minutes, tnen rose with a groan and strode down the cor ridor, unconscious that a woman's eyes were following him hungrily and eagerly. "AH works well," muttered Valerie, from her hiding-place. "She is lost now: their pride will condemn her a thief. It was a good thought on Jura g part to take the diamonds, but I don't quite understand about the plate: she had no share in that Could Jura be indeed a " She stopped, then a thought came to her. "He mentioned Raul: now I see it clearly. Jura is no count; they are leagued together. What if the girl dis - overs Raul to be my brother. She may return and tell all." She threw a terrified glance around, then a smile came. "No, I am weak and feolish: he swore they should neither of them cross my path: he has the girl he loves, he will trouble me no more." CHAPTER X. "Going out again, Frank, in this weather?" Frank, Meredith laughed. "I expect you think mo mad, Geof?" he answered his friend. Geoffrey Armistead: "but I shall return so soon to dingy smoky London, I want to get all the air I can." The two young men were In the smoking-room of the Grange. Geoffrey Armistead's country house. "I shall be sorrv to lose you, old fel low." went on Mr. Armistead. "But I shall follow you toon, remember so look out for me." Frank nodded. "Why are you not more sociable with your neighbors, Geof?" he said after a pause. "You go nowhere." "I don't care for any of them; the only Deople I like are the Darrels. But I don't see much of them now, because they have a woman staying with them I hate with all hit heart Valerie Ross." "Is that why you refused to go to that dinner the night before last?" Mr. Armistead nodded. "She is no good. I cannot bear her. I knew her brother, though it is a se cret, Frank, that she has such a rela tive. He is an awful camp was con victed and sentenced to penal servitude for seven years for forgery. He is out somewhere on ticket-of-leave. The proud Valerie here thinks no one knows of It. Well; 1 shall never say mntng. Yon are safe, too, I know." Why i rraafe Meredith relapsed IsrlosUenoa. Co recalls Valerie VJaoe tk day he kl mm aar ai f- r-eiw, tits his r-U wtsi to ILa, trJ tit Ctn flushed as he remembered her loveli ness. "I wish I could see her again," he murmured as be turned from the win dow u go out. "ne looked so un happy, and now I know her story I un derstand what she meant about being friendless. I ao not care to see her at the cas.le. I shot d like to be able to do something for her." "WelL vou are off," exclaimed Geof- frey Armistead, "totne abbey again. I Why. Frank, 1 believe there is some siren hidden in the ruins. Don't blush, old man !" Frank smiled, and at that instant Sir Robert Carlyle was announced. "Have you heard the news?" he said hurriedly. They both answered in the negative. "The cattle has been robbed, the celebrated Darrell diamonds are stolen, and who do you think is the thief? No one less than the young Countess Dar rell!" Frank uttered an exclamation. "I tould not have believed it," went on Sir Rol ert: "at the dinner the other night he was charming, and yet they discovered yesterday morning she had elojied with a g.iest staying in the house a C ount Jura-taking the dia monds and a quantity of plate with her." "Jura!" repeated Geoffrey Arm1 stcad. "Where have I heard that name?" She is in trouble," thought Frank Meredith hurriedly: "there is m me mystery here. I am sure. She may let me know. Well, let her summon me when .-he will, I shall be ready.'" The cart with its r.trange burden was driven rapid ;y by Raul Ross along the deserted lanes. Count Jura sat silent, beside his com panion. The hmoek-froekg and slouched hats were complete disguises. Any one meeting them would have taken them for honest farmers returning to their homes from a distant market-town. The Count was thinking and plan ning. It was not the first time by many he had robbed a tiost of heirlooms and valuables: but never before ha I he car ried away, or attempted to induce a woman to come to his secret and haz ardous life. His reason and good common sense had tied before the passion tnat Alice had inspired within him. His lawless heart bowed down before her fair, sweet beauty. He had thrust all fear from his mind, and with Valerie's aid had got the girl Into his hands. He determined as tbey approached the Ablx.-y to make speedy arrange ments with Paul about disposing of the plate and jewels, and then to start at once from England, taking Alice with hirn. When the cart drew up outside the ruins. Count Jura bent over the girl's lifeless form, and lifted her easily from her hard resting-place. "Show a light, Paul," he said sharply- Paul Ross at once opened his dark lantern and shot a ray of light onto the broken steps that led to the vaults of the Abbey. "Wait here; I will return in an in stant, i ou are sure Dame uuruen is here all right?" said the Count. "Yes," answered Paul shortly, as he held the lantern high over hU head and threw the light on his companion's path. The Count moved down the steps carefully and entered a dark passage. He traversed this for a few seconds, then a glimmer of light at the father end told him he was in the right di rection. He wistled softly, and a figure came towards him. "IJame Burden?" he asked quickly. "Yes: George. What is it? The swag's safe?" "Yes -yes, outside. Lead the way in. I have got something here for you to look after." "In another moment he stood in a large stone chamber. It was a curious sc ne. On the rough walls, stained and wrecked by time, were hung rich curtains, caught on great rusty nails. The stone floor was lined with rugs and skins thrown carelessly down: a Dile of cushions were hung on one end of the matress, over which was stretched a rich silken coverlet. The light came from two tallow-candles stuck into the most beautiful old silver vases. A profusion of strange and costly silver and glass stood on the ground at the extreme end of the vault. I TO BE OONTlNCED.j Keeping Company. Sailing ships sometimes spend long intervals at sea without raising a sail of any kind above their ever-changing horizons. Hence the unique experi ence of the Lorton and Cockermoutb Is well worth recording. They left Liverpool together, and arrived at Astoria, Oregon, within forty-eight hours of each other. Throughout this long passage of over 15,000 miles they were not wide ly separated at any given instant, and for forty nays were actually Jn close company. Captain Steel and his family of the Lorton would dine on board the Cockermoth on one Sun day, and Captain McAdams and his wife of the Cockermontb would pay a return visit to the Lorton on the fol lowing Sunday Life may be made more worth living on sailing ships, remote from the land, were such an interchange of courtes es always pos sible. Chamber's Journal. No More Ice Wagon. It is predicted that ten years from now the distribution of cold air will be as general In the cities as Is gas or water, and the system will he per fected whereby the refrigerating gas necessary for attachment to a family refrigerator will be delive:ed In a tank just like carbonated water Is to the soda fountains, once a month or as required. The man who walks through life oo a carpet of velvet, and ban a nice time of it, Is the one who thinks twice before be thinks once, and then doesn't say much. That was a sad Mow," exclaimed ths man whose bouse bad been orcr to mad by a cyclone. Tali abort woman brio flighty I Loci a Uak extort THE CITY CHOIR. I vnt te haw tba eltj ebuir ; 'lb uiniiMr d ubl wae tlil; I bawd Ui i muaic moani tb ilr Thr M . "H U uka 11m pill-" "I'm on I I'm on r tba tenor eried. And lookad Into luv fata; "Mr ourn noma, my Kmruey bom," Waa balluwad by tba ba. Jt U tar l baa-It ia for tba shflakad ha Ktiruo ihrtU. 1 knaw not ally tbay lookad at me. And jollad , -He 11 take tbe pill" Then clutching slkllr at mi Unit. Oh,Hravrnl Mr baart atood till) Ya. ya !" i cried ; "It i hat U beat, Ye posers: 1 11 take tba pill" Aa 1, half fajntli g. reached the donr. And taw tba ht .rry dome, I board tbeui ngm : Lu life Is o'er He'll taka tba pUtfrim bouie." CHARLIE DID OWN UP. The London express was standing In the station at I ristol. i'orters were running to and fro with lug gage, pas eugers were tumbling over one another in their hurry. Among the latter was a young man who was wjlking up and down bv the train in an undecided wrt of way. To a stranger he would appear to be look ing for a friend in the carriages. In reality, he was weighing the attrac tions of two different compartment, against each other. The one was a smoking carriag , the other was not. r-iuoking. t e considered, was a good and pleaant thing, especially on a long rail way journey. And then he stopiied in front of the uoor and hesitated with bis hand upon the handle And vet in the next com partment, (seated In the further co ' ner, was a dainiv figure. And the seat oppos te was acant. He could just see it as he stood by the d r. I harlie iilagden was young, as 1 had said, just young enough to b; on the lookout for adventures. "Any more going on?" cried the guard: and the bell rang. The girl won. Charl e threw away his igarette and stepped into the carriage just as the whi-tle sounded and the train moved out of the ita tion. There was but one other pas senger In the same compartment be sides the dainty figure In the corner, an elderly lady of the complexion that comes not forth but by prayer, and fasting. She looked as though she belonged to societies for Prevent ing things, and lived on tracts. She was lunching at the time on "Short Cuts to Hell " Theglrl In the further corner looked up , for a moment ai Charlie entered and drew back her feet slightly. Charlie accepted the silent invitation and sat down oppo site to her liy that time her e.es had returned to the novel she was reading So Charlie unfolded hi 4 newspaper and began skimming the news, taking care, however, to hold it so that he could keep one eve on his opposite neighbor. 1 resently, as she turned a page of her ' book, she glanced across and caught Charlie's eye. He thought he detected a half Millie as ber eyes dropped again. She was certainly good-looicing, with dark-brown waving hair entrancing w th a w lte smooth forehead. Her mouth was straight and llrui, and In ber eyes, as indeed in her whole pose, i there was a look of calm assurance, which probably made her look some what older than she was. She looked j I about flve-and-twenty. Charlie was a critic of woman's dress. And even If this girl had not been pretty, it wou d have been a pleasure to look at her dress. For she possessed the secret which Is so valuable and so rarely known, of making her dri ss appear part of her self as though, so to speak, it had grown cut o. her, like her hair. Al together f.he was most satisfactory to look upon, and Cba lie did not re gret his wasted cigarette, liut ha. ing looked upon her for a while, he was conscious of a longing to talk with her. For some time he cast about for an excuse for addressing ber. feeling all tbe tune that the el derly lady at the other end of the carriage was watching him, doubtless with the view ol putting the Society for the Prevention of Young Men on bis track. Suddenly an expedient Cashed across his iuind. It was the same which has flashed across the minds of numberless young men ever 8nce railways were first Invented. and was probably resorted to by our amorous ancestors in the old coach ing days, liut to Charles it appeared a perfectly original idea. He watched f :,r her to turn the next page of her novel, feeling sure that she would glance at him. She did. He leaned forward and said politely, "Would you like the window up?" The girl calnny turned down apa.e of her book, closed It and laid It on the scat by her side. Then hhe smiled pleasantly at Charlie and said, "You don't mean It" "I beg your pardon, "said C harlie, a little startled. "1 mean that if you like the window " No, no," interrupted the girl; I "you don't mean to say would 1 like the window up, liecause It is up al ready; you moan would J like to talk to vou well. I would." j The elderly lady In the corner who saw very well what was going on, snl . ed audibly. Charl e was a little : astonished at finding the girl had brushed a lde his conventionalities so easily; but her perfect self-possession rescued the situation from all embar rassment. "It seems to nw so absurd," she said leaning back and crossing her , hands in her lap, "that two human : beings should think It neces-ary to travel a hundred miles together without speaking, just because they have never met before. They ought to be thankful if tbey are two nice human beings that they met at 1 hist." Charlie assented, blushing; be felt tbe girl waa running away with him. ' "Yes, 1 thought we should get on wall together when I saw jou at Bristol," Mlk be, "I si otud y.,u In , tht carrfsga, you know." "AM I don't mind confessing that 1 hoped you would gt-t In here, and not Into that horrid siuok.ng com parlmeuL" I'm glad I did," said Cbarlla "Now then." said the girl, "you must tell me all about yourself what is vour name, where you come from, and where you are going to." There is nothing more flattering to the young man, or, indeed, to the man of any age, than tbe interest ot a pretty woman. .o by the. time the train drew r.p at Swindon, Charlie had told her all ai.out his jieople, all atiut the other fellows in tbe bank, and how he had a fortnight's holiday, and how he was on his way to town to pay a visit to a frien I who ha I got married, and how he was rafher nervous as to whether he would find favor In the eyes of his friend's wife, whom he had never yet oeen. At wmdon he went into the lefreshment room to get some sandwiches for his new friend. Sh said she would like some soda water as well, adding, as an after-thought, that there might te the smallest drop oi brandy In it When Charley returned to the car nage, he found that the elderly lady had le.U And for the re-t of the journey to town, the couple had the carnage to themselves. Jot that they occupied the whole compart ment They only occupied two seats in close proximity to eac i other. liy the time the train reached Westbourne Park, Charlie and the )oung ladv had decided that it would be a great pity not to see more ot each other In the future than they had done In the past The youug lady suggested a little dinner that same evening, and (harlie, tnenLilly determining to delay bis arrival at his host's later In the evening, ac ce.ted the suggestion. The young lady, who-name, as Charlie learned, was, for all practical purposes, Madge I enson, had some business to do first. So they settled to meet at 7 o'clock at a restaurant The train was gilding slowly into Paddlngton, when the girl, who was looking anxiously out of the window, drew back hurriedly. "There's some one the platform that 1 don't want to sec," she said. '1 shall wait till the platform is crowded and then slip over to a han som." Charlie helped to gather up ber wra s, umbrellas, and things. "Look here,"ihe said, picking up a rather heavy dressing ba, "I wish you would take this for me; you can give it to me when we meet this eve ning. It will delay me so if I take care of it m self." Charlie took the bag and left the girl In the carriage, still looking cau tiously up the p.atlorm. As he stood by tbe luggage-van looking for his own bag, bts eye happened to fall upon the addie-s card let into the top of the dressing bag In his hand. "Thi might give mc her real name." thought Charlie, as he bent down to examine It "I don't be live It is lienson." Tbe name was Emilv G FardelL "Hullo Charley," said a voice at his elbow, 'dclightea to see you. Have you seen my wife? I expected her by Ihis train." Charley turned and found himself face to face with Martin Fard 11, his host. Now. it takes a man with pretty strong ! nerves to take calmly t'e discovery ! that he has unknowingly been mak- iug violent love to the wife of his best frlnd j "My dear fellow," stammeied ; Charlie, "1 I haven't seen your I wife. I don't know her, don't you know." "Ah, of course not," replied his ' friend "Well, she will probably come by the next train. There is ; another in about half an hour, .she has Ix-en down Into the country for a dance." "Look here, Martin," said Charlie, keenly alive to the necessity of get ting away and clearing up the situa tion with Mr. Kardell at once. "I have an appointment that will keep me for an hour or two. I shan't turn up until after dinner." j "All right. ''said Fardell; "111 wait , here for the wl e." I 'Thank goodness, he didn't spot ! the bag," muttered Charlie, as he got ! into a hansom and drove off. "I ! must but a stop to this nonsence at one . Poor Martin well, If ever 1 marry " Charlie felt that he had put his ' foot In it A man may bo as un scrupulous as most men; but he gen erally has some g'-ruples concerning his friend's wife. Charlie was not a bad fellow He was only a bit of a f.iol in the ways of the world And us he drove along to the restaurant, he had the uncomfortable sensation of having acted as a blackguard He bad not long to wait His new ac quaintance drove up about ten min utes after he arrived, and Charlie hurried out to help her to alight. "Hav you my bag?" she asked at once "Here t is," said ( harllo. "And I've looked at the name on It " "Ah! you saw it wasn't Madge Benson. I told you a story, you see," said the girl They went Into the dining room and sat down together at one of the tables. "I say," said t harlie, "I don't think we're acting quite fairly to Martin. Do you know I'm going to stay with you?" Oh! you are?" "Yes, and I met Martin at the. sta tion and be was looking for yoa.' ' Did you tell him you had been w in me."' mio akei this with an anxlet) she amid not conceal. "Certainly not," replied Charlie, "That was right. 1 wouldn't have had blm catch me for anything Champagne ehr" Charlie nodded ' in an absent sort of way, and tbe girl indicated ber favorite brand to the waiter. ! All tbe same, " said Charlkdrum mlng uneasily on the table wltb his i fingers, don't think Ifi fair." "Fair! to whom"'" 'To jour bufbanJ and l)j lrleud." ob:" Ther ate in silence for a time "Well, after all. there's no harm done," said the girl after a pause. "He'll never know " Wo, he'll never know," replied Cha lie. liut there will always be that beastly et ret between us. Any way for the future we must wipe (Hit all remembrance of to-day. We must meet a 'f me nad never met before. As vou will," 6be replied; "but you are su h a nice boy." "An) how, I'm not a blackguard," Instead f looking annoyed, Char lie's companion appeared to be anius' d. rhe made an excellent oin ner and drank fully three-quarters of a Ixiitle of champagne. As for Char- 1 lie, the discovery that Madge llenson wa none ottier man .tins, .nartui Fardell had taken away his appetrw. I- or the woman who answeis very well as an evening acquaintance does riot necessarily come up to the stand ard one requires in the wife of one's best friend And Charlie's admira tion for tbe undoubted bcautr of Madge liens iii was quite swallowed up in di-gust at the highly Improper conduct of Mrs. Martin FardelL They Ulked but little during the rest of dinner. The lady watc ed Charlie with a look haif of amusement and half of pity. The latter was glad when it was time to call for his bill and get away. He felt that every in stant he spent alone wltb his friend's wife was a fresh Insult to his friend. 'You're going home to-night?" asked Charlie, as they stood ud to go. "Of course," answered she 'Hut we can't go toget her." "No; if you'll get me a haDom, I'll start first Ion't forget my dress-ing-bag " eharlie called a cab and placed her In it. handed in the bag, and told the driver the address. She waved her hand to hi in as the cab droe off, and ( harlie turned away with a muttered oath. "Thank Heaven! that's over." he said to himself as he turned up Pic cadilly. "I never thought I should feel such a scoundrel as 1 have done for the Ust hour. How on earth did Martin get hold of a woman like that for a wife? She has no more heart,, than an oyst r. Poor devil:" For an hour or more Charlie, humr about Piccadilly, thinking over com monplaces to say to Martin when he arrived, aud meditating on the I est manner of facing the curious slt.ua Hon Into which he bad fallen. "Whatever happens," ho con cluded, "if Martin's wife want's to make a devil of some man or other, that man shan't 1 Charlie Hlagden." Then he called a hanclson and started for Martin's bou-e at Ken sington. Martin Fardell met him in thehalL "Well, Charlie, the wife turned up all right by a later train. ShVil- bs--down In a minute and I'll Introduce you," "Ah yes thanks of course," said Charlie. ' It's rather unlu ky," continued Martin, "but she lost her dressing bag on the journey, and it contained a lot of her jewelry. We've been telegraphing in uirles, but nothing has been hear.l cf it" "Oh, but she had It all right when" then Charlie stopped. "Yes, when she htarted. liut it's gone now." A glimmer of sus, Icion began to steal over Charlie's mind Just then a lady came down stairs. "Here, Fmmie," said Martin Far dell, "this Is my old friend, Charlie Hlagden. " Charlie shook hands In a kind of stu;or. I or Mrs Martin Fardell was I not In the least like his acouaiat- ance of the afternoon. "I'm I'm afraid," he stammered, "that I have given your bag fo to " "You have given It!" exclaimed Mrs. FardelL "To whom':" asked Martin. 'Well, I'm d -d if I know to whom 1 have given it," said Charlie, forget ting his manners In his mystiticatlon. "Put wheredld you find it?" asked Martin. "Oh, I I picked It up in the train, and" A knock wis heard at the door and Martin stepped across tbe hall and opened It "Here is the bag, dear, said Mar tin, e.xultinglr, coming back with the missing article In bis hand. "A boy handed It ia He said a lady had given him a shilling Id bring It." Mrs. Fardell opened It at once to" ' see If the Jewel-case was there. It was gone. In its place was a piece of paper folded. "It Is addressed to you, Mr. Wag. den," said Mrs. I arrcll, picking It out Charlie took it and opened it This Is what be read: l is h Cu i ni.iic .M an v thank for your help. ' 1 don't know how I kIioiiIJ have got tbe bag through ttta mutlon without you, as thorn nr one or two pooplo who ara always on Hie lookout for me at I'ud.linuton. ifna-r i tho Mreumaiancett. you will eieuae my muking another appointment to mou. you. ' Mi not "Let me see It Charlie," said Mar tin. And then Charlie had to own up. Modern Society. 1 Have the Pieces. J China may be mended as firmly as a rock by the following recipe; Two , persons will be needed for tbe work, 1 however, for tho manipulation must ! be rapid. The necessary materials are a little unslacked lime, puher- i.ed, the slightly beaten whit, nr egg, and a small hairbrush, such as is usea ior mucilage. Put tbe white I of egg on tbe broken edges of both pieces to be joined, and Immediately , dust one edge wltb tbe powdered I me; put the two edges accurately and firmly together, bold tbea In place for a minute or two and then ( lay .them aside to dry. . ., Not one man In a hundred has I eenee enough to take earn of man after be gete It.