' 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.
