Nebraska Newspapers

    THE HILLMAN
By E.PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
CHAPTER XV—Continued.
—9—
-It - «(K]<it*rfu!!” Sophy (l<v‘ irwL
“Try ii'l !<ar ?I«* tlirwid «*f it Jill in
your itnJ. K«>r two ucis you tiave
tvec asked to f u» your attention
upon the lormMiat brutality of the
tnarq’w. Kriiirttlift that, won’t you?"
“Not likely to forget it." Johu re
plied. “How well they all act!"
There w - .1 quarter <>f an hour s
.uteria! lh<- -urtain rose again.
Itumor* •■..ni. the last act had
Ixo-rt :1 • about for weeks, and the
house • moat tense with excite*
snetit a* the < urtum went up. The
scene was »!.» * untry chateau of the
“Matqui* ijuy.' who brought a
ijoim . from Paris
without .*.. anting His wife showed
Ugv~ oi - ay at his coming. He
had !•!' .„*;,! With him women whom
ailft4“ *<* rvt'vive.
TV sr” * - • : • ? her hus
hand are: !. :<• ’f t«»>k place in the
squar* hall f the chateau on the first
floor L uise reaffirms her intention
of lea ring the house. Her hu*-«Hind
am.:.' ..t r. Her i*s:tion Is hoi»e- ■
lea*.
-Wha: ra; tfii d..T h m.cks.
>:.e sr,;.**r sh- 'irdera r.nd passes
into her r«* Th* marquis sinks upon
a settee, and present 1> is joined by
oat of the ladies who hate traveled
with him from Parts. He talks to »«
of the , • .res uj>- a wall. She is
inijotietit • n< ei tl. Marquise de
Cuy.
The marquis km-'ks at h:« wife's
door. Her i tt** Is heard clearly, after
a moment > pause.
“In a few ni -ltiti-sshe replies.
Ti.*- marquis resumes his ntrtunon.
HU ;*!.■• m bee..mes impatient—
the marquis is** pledged hi* word that
she should !«■ received by his wife. An
aarient rt.:: .ty again*’ tie- Marquise
de <»uy pr» ••. fcer to insist.
Tie- i..;ir i -.- shrue* his shoulders
and kts-k- nK.re loudly than ever at
his wife'* <'.■■■ r. She c.*m«* out dressed
fir travel and is met l<y Faraday, who
suddenly appears.
: 1 do,"
«be to her lover. “You
see now r
Th< r>- w - :. moment'* ’'tea’hless sl
leare -i r jgh *1 *- li u*>- The seene in
itself w a« :. li"le ii-vood anything that
T3«- udi.-l.--e had expected. Sophy,
who had ten • r.ir.g over the edge of
*?»e ie,s. turn d around in no little
eaxiety. heard the door slam.
John had disnj>i«-ared I
He >f. The "li*: r with only his hat
In hi hand turning up his coat by in
sTinrt *« he pt.is.-d through the driving
r t AH lt:« senses seemed tingling
With w.r.;e namei.-ss horror. The hril
liaij'■ *<f the i.~ng'.r:ge he subtlety of
the situation, seemed like some evil
troll drown across that one horrible
climax It was I-orise who had come
from that room and pointed to Fnra
dsy *
He reached bis poor,'—he scarcely
knew how—and waived upstairs. There
fce threw off im. of h - dripping gar
arents opened the window w|de. and
r td »ber».
H- looked out over *hr Thames, and
tie re ■* a* a red flare U-f.ire his eyes.
CtepheR was right, he told hitnself.
There was t*otb»ng but evil to he found
here nothing bur hitter disappnint
kent rf'U-ng but Th<‘ pain which deejs
cos into Anguish. Better to remain
Bie Stephen unloving and unloved. to
draw n«-:r.*r to the mountains. to find
Joy in the crops and the rain and the
nun'li ne. to listen stonily to the cry
of human being* as if to so in** voice
front an nknown world.
He n**d a little further front the
window. and cased into tlie court at a
diZ7 > oth lelnw. He had cut himself
•dnf* from the pence which might have
been * . He vnoiit never know again
The J«y* of hi' earlier life. It was for
this tit: t he had fought so many bat
tle* e|unc tightly to one ideal—for
I**:"-, who could show herself to ant
ttf who -Tired to pay his shilling or
hi- hntf-gulaen. glorying in her dis
honor; w .rse than glorying in it—find
ing -me sui t le humor In the little Res
tore wi*h which she had j-.inted. un
nst aed. to her 'over
J. m lent a little lower from the
win w. a sudden dizziness seemed
to l—ve come oTer him. Tlien he was
tercel to turn around. His door had
►ft quick!» opened and shut. It was
hiq>hj who was crossing toward him.
tie- raiu dMataf from her ruined
•pert. clank.
“John ~ 'be cried. “Oh. John!“
Sle !«'! inn back to his chair and
tee * by h.' '. Se. She held his hands
lightly.
» *'ut feel like this." she
robed, “is mustn't. John, really!
Tot d*«n‘t - rstand. It's all a play,
leb-se wo .:,'t natty do anything like
thatr
H« stiver, t Nevertheless. he
s**' - ' 1* and drew her closer
re him.
"tb .lease. r'tefi to roe.** she
b"'cc*si. ’ ' ai --rer. 1* u. s- is her
•df aga »* letfs Maarvh Tbe Jins
Is'*’ <Je «■ never ttved except q«o
taww hnnh It is s-topiy a wonderful
crenSon. At «or «f the stent sc
tr~w»s -*w*U piny th» pert and gwry
In H—the very John Ok It’s
tee »* wuztfa*. «<r Jo*. They are all
waiting at the *n«|wr ywr-y. Ton are
•npeeted. Ten tens? g>- and tell her
that pi think «i' *<«n rfd.'*
slowly nu feet and raazht
1 keep
fhr swayed few n
thing Hasted Mte ter ten- -nd toward
•way. “
-ttenr -
wf'J *n
few voo. It s Looine yes
begged.
want—not me. Nothing that she has
(lone tonight should make her anv the
leSs worthy of yvu and your iove.”
He str<xle away into the farther
room. He reappeared in a moment or
two. his hair smoothly brushed, his tie
newly arranged.
"I'll cmue. little girl." he promised.
'•I don't know what I'll say to her. but
I'll come. There can't he any hurrn in
that !"
"t >f course not." she answered cheer
fully. “You're the most terrible goose.
Joan." she added, as they walked down
the corridor. “Do. please, lose your
tragical air. The whole world is at
Louise's feet tonight. You mustn't let
her know how absurdly you have been
fs ding. Tomorrow- yon will find that
every paper in Loudon \v«P be acclaim
ing her genius.”
John squared his shoulders.
“All the same.” he declared grimly,
“if 1 couid iiuru the theater and the
play, and lock up GraiUot for a month,
tonight. I'd d > it
CHAPTER XVI.
The days and weeks drifted into
months, and John remained in London.
His circle of friends and his interests
had widened. It was only his rela
tions with Louise which remained still
unchanged. Always charming to him.
giving him much cf her time, favoring
him. beyond a doubt, more than any of
her admirers, there was yet about her
something elusive, something which
seemed intended to keep him so far as
possible at arm's !c’>gth.
There was nothing tangible of which
he c >nld complain, and this probation
ary period was of his own suggestion.
He bore it grimly, bolding bis place,
whenever it was possible, by her side
with 'logged persistence. Then oue eve
ning there was a knock at his door,
and Stephen Strangewey walked in.
Stephen, although he seemed a little
taller and gaunter that, ever, though
lie seemed to bring into the perhaps
overwunned atmosphere of John's lit
It’s Louise You Want—Not Me.
tie sitting room something of the cold
austerity of his own domain, had evi
dently come in no unfriendly spirit. He
t««d: both his brother's hands in his
and gripped them warmly.
"I can't tell you how glad ! am to
s«* you. Stephen!” John declared.
“It has been an effort to tne to
come." Stephen admitted. "I am one
of the old-fashioned Strangeweys.
What I feel is pretty well looked up
inside. The last time you and I met
perhaps I spoke too much; so here I
am !"
“It’s fine of you." John declared. "I
remember nothing of that day. We will
look at things squarely together, even
where we differ. I'm—”
He broke off in the middle of his sen
ten<-e. The door hud been suddenly
opened, and Sophy ('.erard made a
somewhat impetuous entrance.
"I’m absolutely sick of ringing,
John." she exclaimed. “Oh, I beg your
pardon! I hadn't the least idea you
had anyone with you.”
She stood still in surprise, a little
apologetic smile upon her lips. John
hastened forward and welcomed her.
“It's all right. Sophy." he declared.
I.et tue Introduce tuy brother, may IT
My brother Stephen—Miss Sophy
Gerard."
Stephen rose slowly from Ids place,
laid down his pi[>c. and bowed stiffly to
Sophy. Site held out her hand, how
j ever, and smiled up at him delightfully.
"How nice of you to come and see
> ir poor. lonely brother!" she said.
; “We have done our best to spoil him.
but I'm afraid he is wry homesick
— -motlines. I hope you've come to stay
a long time and Unlearn all about Lo«
don. as John is doing. If you are half
s nice as he is. we'll give you such a
good time!"
From t' great height. Stephen
looked down upon the girl's upturned
face a little »«st»tdy. She chattered
away, entirety trns hashed.
“I <t» !*•**• you're mu shocked at my
bursting la u|w>n your brother like
this' We realty are great pais, ami I
live .»niy ju - arras the way. We are
ranch less formal up here, you knew,
than you are in the country. J»dm. I've
‘e-si i yon a menmtge from Louts*."
*A!snt tonight Y
She WshW.
>s most frightfully sorry."
sh * npls'nM. TmI rite has to go down
to S'Tvntham tv -pen a barter, and she
can't jsissib y be back In time to dine
before the theater. Oan you gues- what
she dared to sugo-st T
“I think I can.' John replied, smiling
-Say yon will, th.-re's “ dear."
1 l*egceJ. ”1 am not playing tonight.
May Bnser is going on in my place. We
arranged it a week ago. I had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and I haven't
had a decent meal this week. But I
had forgotten." site broke off. with a
sudden note of disappointment In her
tone. “There’s your brother. I musn't
take you away from him.”
“We’ll all have dinner together.”
John suggested. “You’ll come, of
course. Stephen?”
Sfephen shook his head.
"Thank you," he said. ”1 am due at
my hotel. I'm going Imck to Cumber
land tomorrow morning, and my errand
is already done."
“You will do nothing of the sort!”
John declared.
“Please be amiable." J^phy begged.
“If you won't come with us. 1 shall
s’ntply run away and leave you with
’ohn. Yon needn't look at your
rlothes." she went on. “We can go to
a grillroom. John sha'n’t dress, either.
I want you to tell me all about Cum
berland. where this brother of yours
lives. He doesn't tell us half enough
John passed his arm through his
brother’s and led hiiu away.
“Come and have a wash, old chap."
he said.
They dined together at i.mct s. a
rnriously assorted trio—Sophy, be
tween the two men, supplying a dis
tinctly alien note. She was always
gay. always,amusing hut although she
addressed most of her remarks to
Stephen, he never once uul>ent. He ate
nnd drank - I apt
himself or his plans, and firmly n> gs
tiving all their suggestions for th-- re
mainder of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced at the clock. John became
! conscious of a certain feeding of curi
osity. which in a sense Sophy shared.
"Your brother stems to me like a
man with a purpose.” 'he said, as they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
out of the restaurant. "Like a prophet
with a mission, perhaps I should say.”
John nodded. In the little passage
where they stood. he and Stephen
seemed to dwarf the passers-!>y. The
men. in their evening clothes and pallid
faces, seemed suddenly insignificant,
and the women like dolls.
“For the last time. Stephen.” John
said, “won’t you come to a music hall
with us?'
“I htiTe made my plans for the eve
ning. thank you." Stephen replied,
holding out his hand. “Good night 1”
He left them standing here and
walked off down the Stnir.d. John, look
ing after him. frowned He was con
scious of a certain fore!«od:ag.
“I suppose.” Sophy sighed, as they
waited for a taxicab, “we shall spend
the remainder of the evening in the
I usual fashion 1"
i “Do you mind?" J dm asked.
’ “No." she assented res guedly. “That
1 p’ay will end by making a driving
I idiot of me. If Louise is tired tonight.
(though. I warn you that 1 shall insist
; upon supper.”
“It’s a bargain." John promised.
“We’ll drive Louise home, and then FI!
take you back to Luigi’s. We haven't
been out together for some time, have
we?”
She looked up at him with a little
grimace and patted his hand.
“You have neglected me,” she said.
“I think all these fine ladies have
turned your head.”
She drew a little closer to him and
passed her arm ’hrough his. John
made no responsive movement. He was
filled with res» nmient at the sensation
of pleasure that her affectionate ges
ture gave him.
The curtain w;-, up and 'he play in
progress when they reached the box
that John had taken for ti e season.
The spell «>f it all against which he
had so often foygliv came over John
anew. He vt his chair hack against
the wall and watch 1 and iFstened. a
; veritable sense of hypnotism creeping
over his senses, presently the same
impulse v. htch had me to' him so
many times before indu.s'd hint to turn
his head, to read in the faces of the au
dience the reflection of her genius. He
had often watched those long lines of
faces changing, each in its own way.
under the magic of her art. Tonight
' he looked beyond. He knew very wei
that his search had a special oh joe.
Suddenly he gripped the arms of his
chair. In the front row of the pit. sit
ting head and shoulders taller than the
men and women who lounged over the
wooden rest in front of them, was
Stephen. More than over, among these
unappropriate surroundings, he seemed
to represent something almost patrl
arclml. a forbidding and disapproving
spirit sitting in Judgment upon some
modem aud unworthy wantonness. His
face, stem and grave, showed little
sign of approval or disapproval, but to
John’s apprehending eyes the critical
sense was there, the verdict fore
doorned. He understood as in a flash
that Stephen had come them to judge
once more the woman whom liis broth
er desired.
Tti*' curtain went up again anil the
play moved on. with subtle yet inevita
ble dramatic power, toward the hated
and dreaded crisis.
The play cauie to an end presently,
amid a storm of applause. The gritu
figure In the front <>f the pit remained
motionless and silent, lie was one of
the last to leave, atul John watched his
retreating figure with a sigh. Sophy
drew him away.
"We had better hurry round." site
said. "Louise is always very quick get
ting ready."
They found her. as a matter of fact.
In the act of leaving. She welcomed
them naturally enough, but John
fancied that her stvet-t.g s.*t >\ied some
signs of embarrassment.
“Y**u knew that l was g**ing out to
supper tonight?" she sited du’at
I teU you? The twin s- has asked tbv
Kn-ueh tssvpic from Ills Majesty's to
meet M. tJmiUot at supper 1 atu huts
rj ing home to dress."
John handed her into her waiting
automobile in sitvece. She giatsssl
into his fare.
"Is anything the mutter?' she ashed.
"Nothing "*
“The prince would have ask s} you,
without a d- :ht ~ Louts,- «s= n'nuvsL
lie kno s that you ate net realty
inheres si in the - g amt this party
s entirely French—they do net speak
a word os Kns-.sh. An revuir! $ophy.
Like eare of him. and o.iad you Mnw
yourselves 1"
Slw wavvsi her hand to them Nth
r.r.d threw horael* back among the
cushions as the car glided oft. Jolin
walked to the comer of the street In
gloomy silence. Then he remembered
his companion. He stopped short.
“Sophy,” he begged, “don't hold me
to my premise. I don’t want to take
you out tv supper tonight. I am not in
the humor for it.”
“Don't be foolish!’’ she replied. “If
you stay uloue. you will only imagine
things and be miserable. We needn't
have any Supper."unless you like. Let
me come and sit in your rooms with
: you.”
“No!” he decided, almost roughly. “I
am losing myself. Sophy. I am losing
something of my strength every day.
Louise doesn't help as she might. Don’t
stay with me. please. I am beginning
to have moods, and when they come on
I want to he alone.”
She drew a little closer to him.
“Let me come, please!" she begged,
with a pathetic, almost childlike quiver
at the corner of her lips.
He looked down at her. A sudden
wave of tenderness swept every other
thought from his mind. His mental
balance seemed suddenly restored. He
hailed a passing taxi and handed Sophy
into it.
"What a selfish pig I am!’’ he ex
claimed. “Anyhow, it’s aii over now.
We’li go back to Luigi’s to supper, by
all means. I am going to make you
teil me all about that voung man from
Hath!"
CHAPTER XVII.
Louise’ glanced at her watch, sat up
in bed. and turned reproachfully
toward Aline.
“Aline, do you know it is only eleven
o’clock?" she ex Ii inied.
“1 am very sorry, madatne.” the lat
ter hastened to explain, “but there is a
gentleman downstairs who wishes to
see you. He says he will wait until
you can receive him. I thought you
would like to know."
“A gentleman at this hour of the
morning?" Louise yawned. “How ab
surd! Anyhow, you ought to know
better than to wake me up before the
proper time.”
“I am very sorry, madame.” Aline re
plied. “I hesitated for some time, but
I thought you would like to know that
the gentleman was here. It is Mr.
Stephen Strangewey—Mr. John's
brother.”
Louise clasped her knees with her
fingers and sat thinking. Site was wide
awake now.
"He inis been here some time al
ready. madame." Aline continued. “I
did not wish to disturb you. but 1
thought perhaps it was better for you
to know that he w: s here."
“Quite riirlit. Aliie." Louise decided.
“Go down and tell him that I will see
him in half an hour, and get my bath
ready at once."
Louise dressed herself simply hut
carefully. She could conceive of hut
one reason for Stephen's presence k»
her house, and it n ther amused her. It
was. of course, no friendly visit. He
had come either to threaten or to
cajole. Vet what -ould he do? What
had she to fear? She went over the in
terview in her nmol, imagining him
crushed and subdued by her superior
subtlety and finesse.
With a little smile of coming triumph
upon her Ups she descended the stairs
and swept into her pleasantly warmed
and perfumed little drawing-room. She
even held out her hand cordially to the
dark, -rim figure whose outline against
the dainty \v hite wall seemed so inap
propriate.
“This Is very nice f you Indeed, Ur.
Straageney,’ she began. “I had no idea
that you had followed your brother's
example and come to town."
She told herself once more that her
si ght instinct of uneasiness hail been
absurd. Stephen's bow, although a lit
tle formal and austere, was still au
acknowledgment of her welcome. The
shadows el' tjie room, perhaps, had pre
’ vented him from seeing her out
stretched hand.
"Mine Is a very short \ 'sit. Mis* Mau
rel.” he said. “I had no other reason
for coming bn> to sis' John and to pay
this call upon you."
“I urn greatly flattered." she told
hint. "You must please sit down and
make yourself comfortable while we
talk. See. this is my favorite place."
site added, dropping Into a corner of
her lounge. “Will you sit beside me?
Or. if you prefer, drew up that chair."
“My preference.” he replied, "is to
remain standing.”
Sne raised her eyebrows. Her tone
altered.
"It must l>e as you wish, of course."
she continued: “ouiy I have such pleas
ant recollections of your hospitality at
V »
'*<> l*r*»«w*co Is to RoMiain Starve
iit*.
iv»k Hall Hwt 1 sttokM KWo. if tttotv
s»y p-xssiN* ss| is tvhtvit 1 msM
mart* ft—'*
W i»torr«|w*t >>« Rt«<t
admit that tko is-><s <tnlt ;> ««f IVat Hall
w»s Ml *•. liSj^r otfOrird to jrvws. Sar*
fvvr sko frtfw «t (iNSWviaK^ yws
«v»M sew Iwvt covesod osr iluv<<S
<W"
S&o skrvcwd fcfr sfc>wi!J»Jocsv sfc»'
was *da$tiae kw totti' *a»j !.4aa« to
ihv K’llijp.'tvacy «t tus attitado.
-WVttr
-You ssat to know »ty 1 Uav* found
K) «sf to Londi«r Ik «<m os. -|
came to llncl out ; little wore ubout
you.”
“About me?”
“To discover if there was anything
about you." he proceeded deliberately,
“concerning which rejiort had lied. I
do not place my faith in newspapers
and gossip. There was always a chance
that you might have been an honest
"oman. That is "hy I came to Lou
don. and why I went to see your play
last night."
She was speechless. It was ns if he
were speaking to her in some foreign
i tongue.
“I have struggled." he continued, “to
! adopt a charitable view of your pro
. fession. I know that the world changes
quickly, while we. who prefer to re
main outside its orbit, of necessity lose
touch with its new ideas and new
fashions. S<i I said to myself that
: there should he no mistake. For that
reason I sat in a theater last night al
’: ost for the first time in my life. I
. saw you act."
“Well?" she asked almost defiantly
He l.s.ked down at her. AH splend'*
s If-assurance seemed ebhitig away.
She felt a sudden depression of spirit.
|!1 sudden strange sense of insignifi
cance.
“I have con.e." he said, “if I can. to
hny my broth, r's freedom."
"To buy y-ur brother's freedom?"
she rcjH'ated. in a dazed tone.
"My brother is infatuated with you."
; Stephen declared. "I wish to stive
I him."
The woman's courage liegan to as
s. rt itself, s ■■ raised her eyes t>> his.
“Exactly w! at do you mean?” she
asked calmly. “In what way is any
men to ho s; cl fr- i me? If your
brother should i-ure < r me. and I. hy
| any chance, si. .aid ..appen to care for
him. in what ; • s]„.ct would that tie a
j state from whi. he would require sal
j vation?"
"You make my tusk more difficult."
hi- observed d. herately. "I>oes it
amuse you to pr: rice your profession
before one so ign-mnt and so unappre
ciative as myself? If my brother
should ever marry, it is my firm inten
tion that he sh: marry au honest
woman.”
Louise sat quite still for a moment.
A ilash of lightni g had glittered be
fore h»-r eyes, and n'her ears was the
■ Tush of thunder. Her face was sud
denly stmined. She saw nothing hut
the stern, forhiddii g expression of the
man who l.ioked do vn at her.
“You dare to say this to me, here in
‘ my own house?"
"Ihire? Why not; Ibin't people toll
' you the truth here a London, then?"
She rose a little unsteadily to her|
feet, motioning bin; toward the door,
and moving toward tlie belt. Suddenly
she sank back into her former place.
I>re:.!bless and help:, -s.
" liy do you waste your breath?" he
tski^ calmly. “We :irv alone here,
yon and I—we know the truth:’'
She '.at unite -till, shivering a little.
“Ihi we? Tell uie, then, because I
am euriou-—tell me why you are so
-urc of what you -ay.”
“The world has it." h replied, “that
you ;.re the mistress of the prince of
Scyrc. I came to London to satisfy
myself as to the truth of that re;- rt.
IVi you believe that any man living
among that audience last night, coalu
watch the play—although you are a
clever actress, madam—and believe
that you were a woman who was living
an honest life?"
“That seems impossible to you?" she
d«m: tided.
“Utterly impossible 1”
: "And to John?”
• 1 am speaking for myself and not
my I .. Stephen replied. "Men
lik ■ him, who are assailed by a certain
madness, are best left that with it.
Th.it i- why I came to you to bargain,
if I could. Is there anything that you
lai k—anything which your own suc
cc— and your lover, or lovers, have
fail'll to provide for you?"
It was useless to try to rise; she
was powerless in all her limbs. Side
by < do with the anger and horror that
his words aroused was a sense of some
thing almost grotesque, something
.which seemed to force an unnatural
laugh from her lips.
“So you want to buy me off?"
"I should l>e glad to believe that It
was within my power to do so. I have
not John's great fortune, but I have
money, the accumulated savings of a
lifetime, for which 1 have no better
purpose. There is one more thing, too,
to he said.”
“Another charge?"
“Not that." ho told her; “only it is
better for you to understand that if
you turn me from your bouse this
, morning. 1 shall still feel the necessity
of saving my brother from you."
“Saving him from me?" she ex
claimed. rising suddenly and throwing
out her arms. “Do you know what
you are talking about? IV you know
that if l consented to think of your
brother as my hushand. there is not a
mau in l.ondou who would not envy
him? Look at me! 1 aiu beautiful, am
1 not? I am a great artist. I am Lou
ise Muurel. and 1 nave made myself
famous by my own work and my own
genius. What has your brother done
in life to render him worthy of the
sacrifice 1 should make if 1 chose to
give him my hand? You had better
go baek to Cumberland. Mr. Stratige
wey. You do not see life as we see it
up here?"
“And what a ho. 1 John?" he asked,
without UK-vitig. “You tempted him
away. Was it from wautoaacss. or do
you low him?"
"Love him?" she laughed. “I hate
you both ‘ You are beors—-you are
gnerant people. I hate the moment I
over saw either of you. Take John hack
w ith you. Take him out of my life.
There is no place there for him
Stifh* picked up his hat from the
-ofa where It lay. I.outse remained
■.rfectlv still her breath coming gttk-k
(y. her eyes ht with less;.*,
' Madam." he soJsL “I am sorry to
have distressed yon. tat the truth
- '.senates hurt's the uavg callous of
us. Yon h*vy Neard the truth from
; mo. I wilt take John hack to Cumbers
land with me. Sf he will come. If he
»will no*—*
Take feita w itfe you r she broke lu
fiercely. "He will do as I d fetm -do
you ImrJ If I lift ssy little finger. fee
wad stay. It will he I who decide.
I—"
you will not lift your tittle fia
g-r." fee interrupted ceiwtfv.
“Why shouldn’t 1, just to punish
you?" silo demanded. “There nr*
scores of men who fancy themselves in
love with me. If I choose, I can keep
' them nil their lives liuugitu; to the
i hem of my skirt, praying for - word, u
touch. I cun make them funt-us one
day and penitent the next—wretched
always, perhaps, Imt I can keep them
there. Why sh<>uhl I not treat your
brother iu the same way?"
He seemed suddenly to dilate. She
I was overcome with a sense of tome lat
I ent power in the man. some commund
' ing Influence.
“Because." he declared, “I am the
I guardian of my brother's happiness.
| Whoever trifles with it shall in the fu
ture reckon with me!"
His eyes were fixed upon her •'oft.
white throat. His long, lean fingers
seemed suddenly to be drawing near
to her. She watched him, fascinated.
, She was trying to scream. Even after
"Take Him With Yoj:'’ She Broke in
Fiercely.
Ue hail turneil away and left her. after
she had heard his measured tramp de
scending the stairs, her fingers flew to
her throat. She held herself tightly,
standing there with beating heart and
throbbing pulses. It was not until the
front door had closed that she had
the strength to move, to throw herself
face downward upon (he couch.
Louise ate a very small luncheon.
but—an unusual thing for her—she
I drank two glasses of wine. Just as
>he had finished. Sophy came in. with
ink-stained fingers and a serious ex
pression.
iTO BE CONTINUED.)
CHINESE 3EC0ME MOVIE FANS
Dressed in Her Best Silks and Most
Dazzling Jewels, Oriental Woman
Watches Films All Day.
China has capitulated to the picture
show. So much so. in fact, that Chi
nese women now make attendance a
social event, to be observed with a dis
play of their choicest and most beauti
ful siiks and most dazzling jewels.
Instead of social functions at home,
with tea and music and that sort of
thing. Chinese women who would be in
fashion eat a large breakfast, adorn
themselves like a New York society
woman bound for the opera and stilly
forth for a day of watching the films
flicker.
“The motion picture craze in China.”
said Ernest Young, who has been sev
eral years in the Orient, according to
the Sc ittle Times, “now has reached a
point where the natives are demanding
an all-day show. The way the women
'doll up* at these exhibitions would
send their fairer sisters of other coun
tries into hysterics."
Mr. Young said the Chinese motion
picture fans are strong for action in
their film entertainment, and gladly sit
in a theater all day. providing there
are enough thrills to go around. The
more shooting the merrier the show.
The Orientals, according to Mr. Young,
also are keen for comedy.
"Chinese audiences." Mr. Young said,
“are very demonstrative and. when the
hero saves the heroine from an awful
death at the hands of some 'Desperate
Desmond.' they give vent to their ap
proval in rousing cheers and wild ap
plause."
Peru to Fight Malaria.
The government of Peru Is taking
steps for a vigorous campaign against
malaria throughout the country. The
work is to he classified under four
heads: Treatment of patients, pro
tection of people living in places where
malaria is recognized as epidemic, de
struction of germ-transmitting insects,
and drainage or other special treat
ment of swampy lands. In connec
tion with its campaign the Peruvian
government will Import annually what
ever quantity of quinine may be
deemed necessary, such imports to he
exempt from Import duties and port
charges. Individuals and institutions
are to bo enabled to purchase this
quinine from the government at cost
price for their own use or treatment
of malaria patients in their charge.
Something Nt» About Birds.
Prof. A. A. Alton, in the Scientific
American, declares that polygamy ex
ists among several varieties of our
common birds. The felicity of mated
birds and the "cooing dove" theory has
received a shook from Professor Al
len's discovery. Mr Robin «Ws not do*
serve all the praise that has been
showered upon him; neither does Mr.
AVret*. for they are b-'th gaiuists.
sav s Mr Alien. He te”s of finding two
different pairs of robins' rests, the
two nests in each pair hutlt exactly
alike. joined together ami having a
common foundation. Two female rob
ins ra sed brood*. sitting s V b\ side
in tw diTorem nests. one taale robin
preset,r.g over both ho usohohts.
Grieeeua Blew.
"I ass.si Jtbwaj *N «t his war gar
den and be became funov.s > angry. Is
the man craijT
"N*v but yen nrastn't make a mistake
' ke that again. Jtbway's w»r garvh-n
involved few In a quarrel with son*,
of hi' neighbors and he has lost the
fn.av sbip «( the only man In the com
nwnity who can piny a good game «f
NnvMh*
LATEST THINGS IN LAWSUITS
Italian Officer Claimed Bullet T
Shot Him and Got It—Swiss Re
sented Loss of Tnirst.
was
r.-'fin,
V.,f
V, .,.h
An Iti;Jinn officer who was w
In the Tn-ntlno has Just f.
action to i,I,fain a decision
rightful own,,rsf,|p Gf a |,ull< t •
ed from his B„rh ,,,
nurse claimed it. but the oil , .
tended thut ii was legally Ills
Judge gave the derision in the ■
favor by a novtil 1 in« of argutt
He found that the project!!'
discharged from the _ • ...
to belong to the man wl fired it
the country which Intm it to
It thus became, while ■, W11\
Its billet, a res nullus. wh ,,v ti
er Is entitled to pick up an- Ti,.
officer found it In his body
only brought to light by the
assisted by the nurse. Hein-*
ficer was entitled to keep it.
sounds a good deal like mu
about nothing.
Rome weeks ago an ahbe
French village to take up tin* it
bencv of another, and the may - ■
his late flock lit a bonfire In tl r !
to speed their departing par«or
ing merry at his expense ami < wing
unmistakably the Joy they felt
ing his back. Naturally tl
thought himself Insulted and
an action for damages, but as t
not show any the case was di
A very stout man recently b .*hr t
third-class ticket at a roadside
in England, and found^that le
not get into a third-class eompnr
Ro he went into a first, the d<
which are wider, refusing to p ■
excess. He was sued for the In.
and had to pay both that and the
The court holding that this could ?
be his first offense, nnd. knowing
lie could not squeeze through the
of a third, he ought to have !■ i
first without more ado.
After telling a barber to tri’
heard, a farmer fell asleep In the <
He was awakened by the apple n
of a wet towel to his face. and. b>. ug
In the glass, was not sure wlieth- •
barber had awakened him nr sonu eh
er fellow.
He bail gone to sleep with a i ird
two feet long and woke up • an
shaved. His whiskers, of wld< I, he
was very proud, had all gone. Ib- sued
the barber for SI OCX) and got Slim
A certain Inhabitant of Switzerland
had a most splendid thirst, win h h
plied daily with stimulants. Hi> >
secretly put a drink cure into his po
tations. which hud the magical *
■ ■f curing him of his craving, ami r
dering drink obnoxious. So angry w -
he when he learned the truth that in
sued his sister for $5,000 for the I -s
of his thirst!
abt -
ougtr
could
old
■nt.
of
Disappointed Horse.
That a horse, in spite of his *•!;■ -r~
sense." can l»e pitifully deceive*! ! ■.
appearances was demonstrated in a
telling manner. A young woman ■ <
waiting patiently for a car going eas
when a horse and wagon owned b> u
huckster stopped almost before 1
The horse, a friendly looking nniimi
gradually edged up to the curb near
the young woman, who smiled gra
ciouslv and patted him on the nose
As the car approached she walked
slowly toward the track and was war
Ing for the car door to open when the
friendly animal slipped up behind her
nud with a sudden plunge grasped the
hunch Of green leaves from her new
hat.
After a brief tussle with hat pin>
and yellow curls, the horse managed
to wrest the hat from the young wom
an and marched off chewing what he
evidently thought a uical of tine green.
The horse chewed the milliner's paint
ed leaves, and finding them not to his
taste dropped the hat. which was re
turned to its owner.—Milwaukee Jour
nal.
Babies Healthier Nowadays.
The death Rite among babies in tie
larger American cities has been r>
duced 11 per cent since 1910. accord
ing to the infant mortality survey Jn
completed by the New York milk con
tulttee. This reduction has been nun
among cities of 100,000 population an
over.
The smaller cities have not don.'
well. The reduction in cities betw. n
50,000 and 100.000 population is only
2 per cent, while those under 50,000
shew an increase of 5 per cent. The
general reduction is 9 per cent. The
survey covers 150 of the largest cities
In the United States since 1900. The
marked decrease in iufant deaths did
not begin until 1910. when organized
tenant welfare work became general.
Origin of Dollar Sign,
Although suggestions have been
made that the symbol of the doling
sign represents the Pillars of lfct£
cules or the caduoeus of Moronr/ it
seems less far fetched to regurdfit as
a plstograph of the Spanish / rms to
he found on all pieces of eit^Tit. The
list of such money symbols (^remark
ably small as compared wt|h those
for weights and measures. Some
years ago the United States made tl>*
first modern addition to money sym
bols, a distinguishing mark for its
Philippine dollar. This may be de
scribed as a black letter minuscule p
(for peso) with two bars scored across
Its stem.
To Be of Real Assistance.
Spinosa's tes: in the Scriptures of
Humanity: lie who desires to assist
other people "ill aAud referring to th.
voices of men and will take cats' only
sparingly to streak of human inns'- ^
teoce, while he will talk largely of hu f
man virtue or power and of the way
by which it may be made perfect. *<>
that men being moved, not by feir >r
aversion but by the effect of joy. r. y
endeavor as much as they cau to i ce
under the rule of mason.
Too Many There.
Major general (addressing the • n.
before practicing an attack behin 1 ’h*
Nttes)—I want you to understand that
there is a difference bet ween a re
hearsal artd the real thing There are
three essential ditVreuees. Kirst. the
absence of the enemy. Now itumiug to
the regimental sergeant majors what
Is the second difference?
Sergeant The absence t* U»e
geoerai, sir.