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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 16, 1901)
1G THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SVNDAY, JUNE 1, 1001. fa r J n rKTram Being" An Episode In a Story of An Ancient House. IJV ANTHONY HOPE. (Copyright, 1D00, by A. II. Hawkins.) 9ri'll rrecetHnic Chniter. Adelaide, wife of Sir Randolph Edge of Tilent Hall, eloped with Cnptnln FlUhubert. 81r Randolph dies In liuxula, presumably In tune for Lady Edge and Kltahubert to marry nnd bo make their son, Harry, legiti mate. They lenrn Inter, however, that tho date of Bit Randolph's death has been Riven Incorrectly and Harry Is not the rightful heir They keep the. matter secret and eventually Mm. Fltzhubert ouccccds to the barony of Tilstrnm of Went nnd re Ides with Hnrry at Went Hall. Unknown to Lady Tristram Madnm ZuhrUku, and Mr. Jcnklnson Nceld, are also In possession of the secret and Mndam Znbriska, with her uncle, Major Duplay. come to reside at Merrlon Iodgo, near Went Hall. Hurry learns from his mother that ho li not tho rightful heir to Went, .but they determine to hold tho title for htm at any coat. To further his causo ho decides to marry Janlo Iver, heiress to Falrholmc, but tlnda two rivals In Hob Droadlcy nnd Major , Duplny. The latter learns of Harry's unfor tunate birth from Mlna Zabriska. Ho In forms him that ho Intends to tell Iver nnd they quarrel, Harry winning In a brisk tussle. Neeld becomei the guest of Iver at Falrholmc. Madam Zabriska meets Nceld and thoy form a compact to protect Harry's Interests and maintain secrecy. lAdy Tristram dies nfter exacting from her son a promise that Cecily Gainsborough, rightful heiress of Went, sh.ill be Invited to .the funeral. Cecily nnd her father foina to Went, but Harry foils to receive them. Later he comes suddenly upon Cecily In 'the garden and realizes that she Is a Trls- 'tram, tho Image of his mother. Tho en gagement of Harry and Janlo Iver Is an nounced, and Duplay announces his deter mination to exposo the falso position of his future son-in-law to Iver. Harry uncon sciously fnlls In love with Cecily and with out telling her this acknowledges that ho Is not tho legal heir, but sho Is I.ady Tristram of Went. Then ho steals away from Went by night, stopping to udvlM Bob nroadloy to woo and win Jatile, lie goes to London, where political friends 01 his mother Interest themselves In his cine. Cecily, unhappy in her new possessions, follows him to ,cg him to take back Went. Harry Joins Sloyd In n real estate deal and becomes a competitor of Ivor. Cecily asks Harry to marry her so that ho may return to Went. Ho refuses, nnd then suddenly realizes that he loves her. Hnrry bests Iver In a business deal nnd Is offered a viscounty by political friends. He scorns the Idea of accepting n viscounty. Cecily returns to Went determined to begin life 'over and forget Harry CIIAI'THH Will (Continued). Well poor Mlna understood! All that tho enomy thought was legible to her; all this misery that keen perceptions can some times bring wb suro to be hers. Sho had spent tho moat notable evening of her ltfo nnd she got Into her cab a miserable woman. When sho reached homo there was noth ing to chnngo her mood. Sho found Cecily In a melancholy so sympathetic ns to In vito an Immediate outpouring of tho heart. Cecily was beautiful that evening In her black frock, with tier fair hntr, her pale face nnd her eyes full of tragedy. She had been writing. It nppenred: Ink and paper were on tho table. Sho was very quiet, but, Mlna thought, with tho stillness that fol lows n storm. Unasked, tho Imp sketched tho dinner party, especially Harry's share In It. Her despair was laced with vitriol and she avoided a kind word about any body. "Those peoplo havo got hold of him. We've lost him. That's the cnJ of It," sho cried. Cecily had nothing to say; she leaned back lu a slack dreariness whllo Mlna expatiated on this doleful text. Lacking the reinforcement of discussion the stream of Mlna'c lamentation began to run dry. ''Oh, It's no use talking," she ended. "There It Is." "I'm going back to Went tomorrow," said Cecily, suddenly. It was no moro than Mlna had expected. "Yes, wo may as well," sho assented, dis mally. Cecily rose and began to walk about. Her air caught Mlna's attention again; on this, tho evening before sho returned to Blent, she bad something of that suppressed pas sion which had marked hor manner on thr night when sho determined to leave It. She came to a stand opposite Mlna. "I've made up my mind. From this moment, Minn, Went Is mine. Up to now I've held it for Harry. Now it's mine. I shall go back and begin everything thcro tomorrow." Mlna felt the tragedy; tho Inevitable was being accepted. "I'vo written to Cousin Hnrry. I'vo told him what I moan to do. Ho must think It right; It's the only thing he's left mo to do. But f'vo told him I can do it. only on one condition. He'll hnvo my lottor tomorrow." "On one condition? Whot?" "I said to him that ho gave me Went bocause 1 wns thoro. becauso he saw me there in the middle of it all. Thattn true. If I'd stayed here, would he over hnvo tnM his secret? Neverl He wouldn't so much as como to sco me; he'd novor havo thought of mo, ho'd havo forgotten all about me. Ie was seeing me there." "Well, seeing you anyhow." "Seeing me there thoro at Blent," she insisted, now almost angrily. "So he'll un derstand what I mean by tho thing I've asked of him. And he must oboy." Her voice became Imperious. "I've told him that I'm going bark, going to stay there, nnd Uvo there, but that ho must novcr. never come there." Mlna started, her eyes wldo open In sur prise at tins heroic measure. "Never see him! Never hnvo him at Blent!" Mlna was trying to sort out tho state of things which would result, It was pretty plain what had happened; Cecily had felt the nood of doing something; here It was. Mlna's sympathies, quick to move, darted out to Harry. "Think what It'll mean to htm never to see Ulont!" sho cried. "To him? Nothing, nothing! Why, you yourself came homo Just now, saying that we were nothing to hlml Blent's nothing to him now. It's for my own sake that I've said he mustn't come." "You've bogged him not to qoroo?" "I'vn told htm not to come," said Cecily haughtily. "If It's his let hlra,tako It. If It's mlno 1 can choose who shall como there. Don't you see, don't you soo? How can I ever cheat myself Into thinking It's mine by right If I aco Harry there?" Sho paused a momont "And If. you'd thrown yourself at a mnn's head and he'd refused you, would you want to havo him about?" "N-no," said Mlna, but rather hesita tingly. "So I've ended It; I've ended ovorythlng. I posted my letter Just before you came In and he'll got It tomorrow. And, now, Mlna, I'm going back to Went." Sun throw her self Into an armchair, leaning back In a sudden weariness after the excited emotion with which sho had doclared hor resolve. Mlna sat on the other stile of tho tablo looking ut her, and nfter n moment's look ing suddenly began to sob. "It's too miserable," she declared In wrathful woe. "Why couldn't wo have said nothing about It and Just married you? 0, I bate It all, because I love you both, I know peoplo think I'm In love with him, but I'm not. It's both of you, It's the whole . L. I . mm; mm now ii never, never can go straight. It he got back to Blent now by a mirneio. it would be Just as bad. And I believe ho s fond of you." A scornful smile was Cecily's only but umclent answer. "And you love him." Mlna's sorrow windo her forgot all her fear. She said In this moment what eho had nover before dared to say. O, of roursd you do, or you'd never have told htm he muin't como to P Tm4 J rvr h em. Blent. But he won't understand that and It would make no difference If ho did, I suppose! 0, you Trlslrams!" "Yes, I lovo him," said Cecily. "That evening In the long gallery tho evening when ho gave mo Blent do you know what I thought?" Sho Bpoko low and quickly, lying back quite still, In the attitude that Addlo Tristram had onco made her own. "I watched hlra nnd I saw that he hnd something to say, nnd yet wouldn't say It. I saw ho was struggling. And I watched, how I watched! He was engnged to Janlo Iver he had told me that. But ho didn't lovo her yes, ho told mo that, too. But thero was something else. I saw It I had como to lovo him then already O, I think as soon as I saw him at Blent. And I wnlted for It. Did you ever do that, Mlna do yo'i remember?" Minn was silent; her memories gave her no such thing as that. "I waited, waited. I couldn't believe Ah, yes, but I did bolleve. I thought ho felt bound In honor nnd I hoped yes, I hoped he would break his word and throw away his honor. I iaw It coming and my heart seemed to burst as I waited for It. You'd know, If It had ever happened to you Ilko that. And at last I saw he would spenk I saw ho must speak. Ho came and stood by me. Suddenly he cried, 'I can't do It.' Then my heart leaped, becauso I thought ho meant he couldn't marry Janlo Iver. I looked up at him and I sup- "WETIE GOINO TO ARBITRATE GOINO OUT FOR US. HE TRUST, WULL YOU GO?" poso I said something. He caught me by tho arm. I thought he was going to klBj me, Mlna. And then then ho told me thnt Blent was mine not himself but Blent that I was Lady Tristram and ho Harry Nothing," ho said, 'Harry Nothlng-at-all.' " "O, If you'd told him that!" cried Mlna. "Toll him!" Sho smiled In superb scorn. "I'd dlo before I told him. I could go and offer myself to him Just because ho didn't know. And he'll novcr know now. Only now, you can understand that Blent Is Ah, that It's all bitterness to mo! And you know now why ho must nover come. Yes, It all ends now." Mlna camo and knelt down by her, caress ing her hand. Cecily shivered a llttlo and moved with a vaguo air of discomfort. "But I bellevo he cares for you," Mlna whispered. "Ho might havo cored for me, perhaps. But Blent's between." Blent was between. Tho difficulty seemed Insuperable nt least where you wers deal ing with Trlstrams. Mlna could not but acknowledge that. For Harry, having nothing to give, would take nothing. And Cecily, having much, was thereby debarred from giving anything. Yet at this moment Mlna could not cry, "Oh, you Trlstrams!" any more. Her sor row was too great nnd Cecily too beautiful. Sho seemed again to see Addle, nnd neither she nor nnybody else could havo been hard to Addlo. Sho covered Cecily's hands with kisses ns, sho knolt by her side. "Yes,, this Is tho end," said Cecily. "Now, Mlna, for Blent and her ladyship!" She gavo a bitter llttlo laugh. "And goodby to Cousin Hnrryl" "Oh, Cecily!" "No; he shall never come to Blent." Cn.VPTEIfcXMV. After the End of AH. "My dear cousin I shall faithfully obey your commands. Yours very truly, H. A. F. Tristram." And below very formally "Tho .Lady Tristram of Blent." To wrlto It took him moro than a mo menteven though ho wroto first, "The commands of tho head of the house," and destroyed thnt, ashamed of the sting and niallco In it. To send It to tho post It was tho work of another moment. The third found him back at tbo Bltnkhampton plins nnd elevations, Cecily's letter lying neg lected on tho table by him. After half an hour's work bo stopped suddenly, reachel for the letter, tore It Into small fragments and Sung tho scraps Into his waste paper basket. Just about tho same time Cecily and Mlna wcro getting Into the train to return to Went. This return to Blent was epidemic; not so strange, perhaps, slnco mid-August wns come and only tho people stayed In town who had to. Harry met Duplay over at Bltnkhampton. Duplay was to Join his niece nt Merrlon In about ten days. He ran agnlnst Iver In tho street; Iver wai off to Fnlrholmo by tho afternoon train. Mr. Nceld, ho mentioned, was coming to stny with him for a couplo of weeks on Friday. Even Southend, whom Harry en countered In WhItchRll, very hot and ex hausted, cursed London nnd talked of a run down to Iver's Merrlon they all meant Blont. Cecily had gono and Mlna; the rest wero Rolng there everybody except the man who three months ago hnd looked to spend his life there as Its master. And business will grow slack when nu tumn arrives; It Is Increasingly dimcult for a, man to bury himself In deeds, or plans, or elevations, or calculations when every body writes that he Is taking his vacation and that the matter shall have lmmedlnte attention on his return, Harry grew ter ribly tired of that polite formula. Ho wanted to build Rllnkhsmpton out of hand In tho months of August and September, The work would havo done him good serv ice. Ho was seeking a narcotic. For he wns In pain. It came on about a week after h- hnd sent his curt acknowl edgmont of Cecily's letter, laying hold of him, ho told himself, Just becauso every body wan taking his hollduy, and Blink hampton would not get Itself bought nnd sold and contracted for and planned nnd laid out and built. "I mutt take n holiday myself," said Hnrry, In a moment of seem ing Inspiration. Where, where, where? Ho Biifferod under tho sensation of having no whore whither ho would naturally go no home, no place to which, he could return as to his own. He found himself wishing that he had not torn up Cecily's letter. Ho retnombered Its general effect so well that ha wanted to read the very words ngnln, In the secret hope that thrv would r"'" and soften his memory. His own answer met and destroyed the hope. Ho kueu .u-i ho would have responded to anything friendly had it been there. Yet what did the letter mean? Ho Inter preted It as Cecily hnd declared ho would. She could not feel mistress of Blent while he was there. And Indeed ho had not meant to go. He told Iver that In perfect good faith. It would havo been In bad taste for htm to think of going or going anything like so soon as this. Whence then came this now feeling of desolation nnd of hurt? It was partly that he was forbidden to go. It was hard to renllze that ho could see Blent only by another's will or suffcrnnce. He could almost sny with Mlna and with Cecily her self, "This Is tho end of It." What then of the Impressions Mlna had gathered from Mr. Disney's dinner party7 It can only be snld thnt when peoplo of Im pressionable natures study others of like tempcrnmcnt they should not generalize from their conduct nt . parties. In society dinners- nro eaten In dis guise, sometimes Intentional, some limes unconscious, but ns a rulo qulto Im penetrable. If Hnrry hnd been unconscious, If the mood hnd played tho man, the de ception wns tho more complete. He went to soo Lady Evenswood one day; sho sent, expressing her desire for a talk before she fled to tho country. Sho had much that was pleasant to say, much of the prospects of hU success. "And If you do, you'll be nblo to think now thnt you'vo dono It all off your own bat," she added. "You've found out my weaknesses, I see," he laughed. THIS BARIHLAND QUESTION." SAID DISNEY. "LORD MURCHISON'S ASKED ME TO RECOMMEND A SECRETARY AND I WANT ONE I CAN "Oh, I doubt If there's nny such thing as an absolute strongth or nn nbsoluto wenk ness. They're relative, What's an advan tage In ono thing Is n disadvantage In an other." "I understand," ho smiled. "My con founded conceit may help mo on In tho world, but It doesn't make me a grateful friend or n pleasant companion." "I believe George Southend agrees as far as the grateful friend part of It Is con cerned. And I'm told Lord Hovo does as to the rest. But, then, It was only Flora Disney herself who said so." "And what do you say?" "Oh, pride's tolerable In anybody, except n lovor," ehe declared. Well, I've known lovers too humble. I told one so once; ho believed me, went In nnd won." You gave him cournge, not pride, Mr. Trtstrnm." "Perhaps that's true. He's very llkoly got the prldo by now." Ho smiled nt his thoughts of Bob Brondloy. And you'vo settled down In tho new groove?" she asked. Ho hesitated a moment. "Oh, nearly. Possibly there's still a touch of tho 'Desdl- chodo' nbout me. His would bo tho only shield I could carry, you soo." "Stop! Well, I forglvo you. You're not often bitter about that. But you'ro very bitter about something, Mr. Tristram." "I want to work, nnd nobody will In Au gust." "Oh, go down nnd stay at Blent. No. I'm serious. You say you're proud. There's a good way of showing good pride. Go nnd stuy in tho vory house. If you do thnt, I shall think well of you and oven better than I think now of tho prospects'," "I've not been invited." "Poor girl, she's nfrnld to Invltovyoul Wrlto nnd Bay you'ro coming." "She'd go away. Yes, sho would. She consents to Uvo thero only on condition that I never come. She's told mo so." "I'm too old a woman to know your family! You upset the wisdom of ages nnd I haven't time to learn anything now." I'm not tho least surprised. If I were In her place I should hate to havo her thoro." "Nonsonse. In a month or two" "If anything's certnln, It's that I shall nevor go to Blont ns long nn my cousin owns It," "I cnll It downright wicked." "We shnro tho crime, sho nnd I. She lnys down tho law, I willingly obey." "Willingly?" "My reason Is convinced. Maybe I'm a little homesick. But your month or two will servo tho purposo there." "Thcro's a great denL moro In this thnn you'ro telling mo, Mr. Tristram." 'Put everything you enn Imagine Into It nnd the result's the same." Sho sighed nnd sat for n moment In pen- Blvo silence, Hnrry seemed to ponder, too. "I'm going to think of nothing but my work," ho announced, "So many ynung men In tholr early twenties succeed In that," sho murmured mockingly. '"What does llttlo Mlno Za briska sny?" "0, everything that comes Into her head, I suppose, and very volubly." "I like her," eald tho old lady with em phasis. "Is thero such n thing ns nn absolute ilk lng, Lady Evenswood. What's pleasant at ono tlmo is abomlnajilo at nnothrr. And I'vo known Mme. Zabriska at tho other time." "You were probably at tho other time yourself." "I thought we -should ngree nbout the relatively," "There may always be a substratum of friendship," Bho argued, "You'll soy It's something very sub! Ah, well you'ro human In tho end. You're absslutoly for gcttlpg Blent and you spend your time with an old woman becauso sho can talk to you abouj. It! Go away and arrange your lire, and como bock and tell me nil about It. And If you're discontented with life, remember that you, too, will reach the stage of being Just told about it some day." Things will come homo to a man at last, strlvo ho over so desperately against them If the things are. truo nnd tho man over honest with himself. It Was one night, a little while after this conversation, that the truth camo to Harry Tristram and found acceptance, or at least surrender. His mind had wandered back to that scene In tho Long Gallnrv and ho had fallen to questioning about his own action. There was a new light on It and the now light showed him truth. "I must faco it; It's not Blent," ho said aloud. If It were Blent, It was now Blent only as a scene, a frame, a bnckground. When ho pictured Blent Cecily was there; If he thought of her elsewhere tho picture of Blent van ished. He was In lovo with her, then, nnd what wns tho quality Lady Kvcnswood had praised In a lover? Let him culttvato II how ho would and tho culture would bo dimcult yot It would not servo hero. If he went to Blent against Cecily's com mands nnd his own promise he could meet with nothing but rebuff. Yes, ho wns In love, nnd ho recognized tho Impasse as fully as Mlna herself, although with moro self-restraint. But he was glnd to know the truth; it strengthened him nnd It freed him from n scorn of himself with which hn had become afflicted, It wns Intolerable that a man should bo lovesick for n house; It was somo solaco to find that tho house, In order to hold his affections, must hold a woman, too, "Now I know wbero I nm," said Harry. Ho know what he had to moot now; ho thought he knew how ho would treat him self. An unexpected ally came to his assist .anco. He received a sudden summons from Mr. Disney. Ho found him at work, rather weary nnd dishevelled. Ho turned to Harry and said, without preface: "We're going to arbitrate this Barllllnnd question, on behalf of tho company, you know, as well as ourselves. Another In stance of my weakness! Lord Murchlson's going out for us. He stnrts In a fortnight. Ho asked me to recommend him n secre tary. And I wnnt to havo ono In whoso letters I can place somo trust. Will you go?" Hero was help In avoiding Cecily. But what about Bltnkhampton? Harry hesi tated a moment, "I should llko it, but I've contracted cer tain obligations of a business kind nt home," he snld. "Well, If you're bound keep your word and do tho work. If you find you'ro not, I should advlso you to tako this. It's a good beginning. This Is Tuesday. Tell mo on Saturday. Goodby." Ho rang a hand boll on tho tablo and, as his secretory entered, said, "The Canadian papers, please." "I'm very grateful to you, anyhow." "That's all right. Tristram. Goodby." Thero was no doubt what would bo tho practical way of showing gratitude. Harry went out. He left Mr. Disney's prcsenco determined to nccept the offer If Iver could sparo his services for tho time. Ho went homo and wrote to Ivor; tho let ter wclghod all considerations snvo tho ono which really weighed with him; he. put himself fairly In Iver's hands, but did not conceal his own wish; ho know that If Iver wcro against tho Idea on solid business ground ho would not be affected by Harry's personal preference. But tho business rensons when examined did not seem very serious and Hnrry thought that ho would get leave to go. Ho rose from his writing with n long sigh. If ho received tho an swer he expected ho was at tho parting of the ways and ho had chosen the path that led directly and Anally away from Blent. An evening paper was brought to him. A tremendous headline caught his notice "Resignation of Lord Hove! Ho will not arbitrate about Darillland. Will tho gov ernment break up7" Probably not, thought Harry; and It was odd to reflect that, If Lord Hovo hud got his ways Harry would havo lost his heroic remedy. So great things and small touch and Interest ono another. It was his last struggle; he had no doubt that ho could win, but tho fight was very fierce. Impatient of his quiet rooms, ho went out into the crowded streets. At first he found himself envying everybody he passed, tho tnbman on his box, the rough young fellows es caped from the factory, the man who sold matches and had no cores beyond food and a bed. But presently ho forgot them all and walked among shadows, Ho was at Went In spirit, sometimes with Addlo Tristram, sometimes with Cecily. Half afraid of himself, ho turned round and mado for home agnln; ho could not be suro of his self-control. But ngnln ho mastered that, nnd ngaln paced the streets, now in n grim resolution to tiro out mind nnd body so thnt theso visions should havo nothing to work on, nnd finding blank, un responsive weariness, should go tholr ways and leavo him In on Inscnslblo fatigue. The remedy worked well. At 8 o'clock ho found himself very tired, very hungry, parauoxicniiy composed, ne turned Into a little restaurant to dine. Tho place was crowded, ond, rather shamefacedly (ns Is tho national way), he sat down nt n small tnblo opposite a girl in n light blouse and a very big hat, who wns cntlng risotto and drinking lager beer. She assumed an nlr of exaggerated primness nnd gentility, keeping her eyes down townrd her plato nnd putting very small quantities Into her mouth nt a time. Glad of distraction Harry wntched with amusement. At last sho glanced up stealthily. "A tine evonlng," he snld, as he started on his chop, "Very seasonable," she began, In a mincing tone, but suddenly sho hroko off, to exclaim In n voice nnd accent moro natural nnd strenuous, "Good gracious, I've seen you before, hnvon't I?" "I'm not nwnro that I ever had the honor," sold Harry. "Well, I know your face, anyhow." She was looking at him and searching her mem ory, "You'ro not at the holls, aro you?" "No, I'm not nt the halls," "Well, I do know your face. Why, yes, I've seen your faco In tho papers. I shall get It In a minute, now. Don't you tell me. Sho studied him with dctormlnntlon. Harry ato awny In contented amusement. "Yes, you'ro tho man who why, yes, you're Tristram!" "That's right. I'm Tristram." "Well, to think of thnt! Meeting you! Well, I shnll have something to tell the girls. Why, a friend of mine wrote down to 1 UK. A. 1). SHAULKS, .Most Itrllalilc Siicclnllnt In 1)1 rimrn nf Men. STRICTURE Cured with a new Home trcntmcnt. No pain, no detention from business, URINARYC.lllnc' nnd Bladder Troubles, Weak Back, Burning Urluc, Frequency of Urinating, Urluo High Col orod or with milky sediment on Btnndlng. CVDUII a o cured for life nnd 9llrilLilS poison thoroughly clennsol from tho system. Soon every sign nnd Bymptoni disappears completely hnd forovor. No "BREAKING OUT" of tho disease on tho Bkln or fncav Treatment contains no dangerous drugs or Injurious medicines. WEAK MEN from Excesses or vic tims of Nervous Do blllty or Exhaustion, Wasting Weakness, with early decay In young and middle aged, lack of vim, vigor nnd strength. With organs Impaired and weak. Cure Guaranteed. 'HUB CURES GUARANTEED CHARGES LOW tho country, special, for your photo." "That must havo proved n disappoint ment, I'm nfrnld. Tho romnnco was better than' tho hero." "You may sny romance," sho concluded henrtlly. "To bo n lord and " Sho leaned forward. "I say, how do you get your liv ing now?" "Gono Into tho building trade," ho nn swered. "You surprise mo!" Tho observntlon wns evidently mennt to bo extremely civil. "But there, It Isn't so much what your Job Is ns hnvlng somo Job. Thnt's what I say." "I wish I nlwnys said and thought things as sensible," nnd ho took courngo to offer her nnother glass of Inger. Sho accepted with n slight recrudweenco of primness, but her eyes did not leavo him now. "I never did," ho henrd her murmur, ns eho raised her glass. "Well, here's luck to you, sir! (Ho had been n lord, oven If ho wcro now n builder.) You did tho straight thtug in the end." "Whnt?" nsked Hnrry, n llttlo startled. "Well, eonio did say, as you'd known It all along. Oh, I don't toy so. Somo did," Harry began to laugh. "It doesn't mat ter, docs It, If I did tho straight thing In the end?" "I'm sure as I shouldn't blamo you If you had been n bit tempted. I know whnt that Is. Well, sir, I'll say good evening." "Good evening, miss, nnd thank you very much," said Hnrry, rising ns sho rose. His manner had Its old touch of lordliness. Ills friends criticised thnt sometimes; this young lady evidently npproved. "You'vo no causo to" thank me," oald she with nn ndmlring look. "Yes, I havo. As It happened, I bellevo I wonted somebody to remind mo that I had dono the straight thing In tho end, nnd I'm much obliged to you for doing It." 'Well, I shnll havo something to tell tho girls!" sho said ngaln In wondering tones, ns sho nodded to him nnd turned slowly nwny. Hnrry wns comforted. Tho stress of his pain was past. Ho at on over his slmplo meal In n leisurely, comfortable fashion. Ho gained his rooms. A letter lny wnlt- Ing for him on tho tnble. Ho opened It nnd found thnt It wns from Mlna ZabrlBkn. 'Wo nro back hero," sho wroto. "I nm stnylng nt Blent till my undo comes down. I must wrlto nnd sny goodby to you. I daresay wo shall novcr meet ngntn, or merely by chance. I nm very unhappy nbout It nil, but with two peoplo llko Cecily nnd you nothing olso could havo happened. I seo that now, nnd I'm not going to try to lntcrfcro nny more. I shnn't usk you to forglvo mo for Interfering, becauso you'vo made tho results qulto enough punishment for nnythlng I did wrong. And now Cecily goes nbout looking Just llko you hard and proud nnd grim; nnd she's begun to movo things nbout and niter arrnngmeuts ut Blent. That's what brings it homo to mo most of all. ('And to me,' Interposed Harry, as ho rend). If I was tho sort of woman you think me, I should go on writ ing to you. But I shan't write again. I nm going to stny nt Merrlon through tho winter, nnd Binco you won't como here, this Is tho last of mo for n long time, anyhow. 0, you Trlstrams! Goodby, "MINA ZABRISKA." 'Toor llttlo Imp!" t,a!d Harry. "Sho's a very good sort. And hn noems nbout right. It's tho end of everything." He pnused nnd looked round. "Except of '.hoso rooms and my work and, well, llfo at largo, you know." Ho laughed In tho sud den realization of how much was left nfter thoro wns nn end of nil llfo to bo lived, work to bo dono, enjoyments to bo won. "But I don't believe," ho said to himself, slowly smiling, "that I should over havo como to understand that or to fulfil It un less I had what did tho girl sny? dono tho straight thing In tho ond and como out of Blont. Well, old Blent, goodby." Ho crum pled up Mlna's letter and flung It Into tho grnte, 1 Tho maid servant opened tho door. "Two gcntlomen to seo you, sir," sho said. "0, soy I'm busy ho began. 'Wo must flee you, please," Insisted Mr, Jenklnson Nceld with unusual firmness. Ho turned to tho man with him, saying: "Hero is Mr. Tristram, Colonol Edge." CHAl'THH XXV. There' tlip I.Hdy, Ton. Thero was nothing very remarkable about Colonol Wllmot Edge. Ho was a slightly built, trim man, but his trlmnoss wns not distinctively military. Ho might havo been nnythlng save that Just now tho tan on his faco witnessed to on out-of-door life. Ills manner was cold, his method of speech leisurely nnd methodical. At first sight Horry sow nothing In him to modify tho belief In which ho had grown up that tho Edges wns nn unnttractlvo race, unnblo to nppreclnto Trlstrams. much lens worthy to mato with thorn. Ho gavo tho colonol n chair rather grudgingly nnd turned to old Mr. Nceld for nn oxplanntlon of the visit. Neeld had fussed himself Into n sent al ready nnd had drnwn somo sheds of paper covered with typewriting from his pockot. Ho spread them out, smoothed them down, cleared his throat and answered Horry's look by n glnncn nt Edgo. Mr. Neeld was In a fidget, a fldgot of Importance nnd ex pectancy, "You will know," sold Edgo gravely, "thnt no ordinary matter has led mo to call on you, Mr. Tristram. You must eon nldor this Interview purely as ono of n business kind. I have Just returned to England, Kor two months I have been out of the way of receiving letters or news- OMAHA, NEB. SPECIALISTS FOR DISEASES OF MEN The Secret of Our Unparalleled Success is Told in Two Words: ..WE CURE.. Varicocele, Acquired Blood Poison, Nerv ous Debility and all Keflex Complications and Associate Diseases and Weaknesses of Men. VARICOCELE Aro you afflicted with Varicocele or Its results Nervous Debility and re yoq nervous, Irrltablo and despondent? Do you lack your old-tlmo energy and ambition! 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I went to tho Impcrlum club to night I nrrlvcd only thin morning and dined lu Neeld's company. Ab It chnnced, wo Epoko of you nnd I learned what had happened slnco I left England. I havo lost no tlmo in calling on you " Nceld was listening nnd fidgeting with his sheets of paper. Tho colonel's pro- nmblo excited llttlo Interest in Hnrry; tho renctlon of his Btrugglo wns on him; ho was courteously but not keenly attentive. "It Is not ngrccablo to mo to speak of my brother to you, Mr. Tristram. Doubtless wo should differ If wo discussed Mb char acter and conduct. It Is not necessary. "Is Sir Randolph Edgo concerned In what you hnvo to sny to me?" nsked Hnrry. "Yes, I nm Borry to say ho 1b. Another person Is concerned, nlso." "Ono moment. You nro, of course, nwnro that I no longer represent my family? I.egnlly, I'm not oven n member of It. It Is possible that you ought to address yoursolf to Lady Tristram my cousin or to hor lnwyers. "I bnvo to spenk to you. Is tho nnme of Comtcsso d'Albrovlllo known to you, Mr. Trletrara?" "Yes, I'vo heard my mother spenk of meeting her In Pnrls." "You nro nwnro thnt later nfter ho pnrted from Lady Tristram my brother went to Russia, whero ho hnd business In terests?" "I hnvo very good reason to know that." Harry smiled nt Mr. Neeld, who hnd np pnrcntly got nil ho could out of his pnpers and was sitting quiet nnd upright In nn eacnr attention. "What I am about to say 3 known, I bo llovc, to mysolf nlont ami to Noeld hero, to whom I told It tonight. Whllo my brother wns In Russln ho v,a Joined by tho comtesse. Sho paid him a visit secretly. I need hardly add. Sho passed under tl)o namo of Mme. Vnlller and sho resided in tho houso ndjolnlng Rnndolph's. When ho foil 111 ho had Jufct completed tho sale, of ono of Ills Russian properties. Sho was a brilliant woinun she dlod, by tho wny, two or three years ugo but extravagant nnd fond of money. Sho prevailed on my brother tq promlso her tho prlcn of this property ns n gift. Tho sum wns consider ableabout 7,000," Horry nodded. Hero aeemcd to bn somo posslblo light on tho rensons for tho Inter view. "This money wns to bo paid In gold on n certain day. I speak now from Informa tion Imparted to mo subsequently by tho comtoaao herself. It wns glvon under 11 promlso of Bccrccy, which I hnvo kept hitherto, but now And mysolf compelled In honesty to break." "Thero can be no question of what Is your duty, Edgo," Mr. Neeld put In. "I think nono. My brother during his Illness discussed tho mnttor with tho com tesso. Tho money was payable In Peters burg. Ho could not hopo to bo well enough to go thero. At her suggestion ho signed n pnpor, authorizing payment to bo mado to nor or to an ngent appointed by hor. The money being destined for her ultimately, this naturally seemed tho best nrrnngemont. Sho could go nnd recclvo the money or Hond for it ns a fact eho went In person whon the tlmo enmo and nil would bo sottled." "Quito fo. Arid tho transaction would not appear on tho faco of Sir Randolph's nccount3 or bankbook," Horry suggosted. "It's possible thnt weight was glvon to that consideration, too, but It Is not very motorlul. Tho comtesse, then, wns In pos session of this authority. My brother's III ncBB took n turn for tho worse. To bo brlof ho died boforo tho day enmo on which tho monoy wns to bo paid." "And sho presented tho authority nil tho bmiio?" nsked Harry. "And got tho monoy, did sho?" "Thnt Is precisely tho course sho adopted," assented Colonol Edge. Harry took n wnlk up nnd down Iho room nnd returned to tho henrlhrug. "I'm very sensible of your kindness In coming hero today," ho said, "aud your SEARLES CoiifiuKa'lliiii 1'rer. Treatment bjr mull, Cnll or n. Id reus Jit) S. 14IU At. Illt.N. .SU.tltLKS fc SKAIII.KS, OMAHA. WATER BUGS, CROTON BUGS, all other vermin eat Dr, Burkhart's Wonderful Offer i30 Days' Treata (EGETABIE 'mm m m mm mm m m mm mm e Are you Buffering from tired, languid feeling' If no, you nro lu need of Dr. Hurkhnrt'H Vegetable Compound, the most famous uprlng and summer medicine, re uouncd throughout the universe ns 11 great blood medicine. nu. w. s. iiimKiiAiiT, ciiiuiniiuti, u. conduct Is thnt of n man of honor. But at this point I'll stop you, plense. I'm nwnro thnt prima fnelo tho lnw would pronounce mo to bo Sir Rnndolph's son. That baa al ways been disclaimed on our pldo and could easily bo disproved on yours. I havo noth ing to do with Sir Rnndolph Edgo or his property." Tho colonel llstoncd unmoved. "In nny enso you would havo nothing to do with my brother's property," he re marked. "Ho left n will by which I was constituted solo legatee." "Then If sho robbed nnybody sho robbed you?" "Certnlnly; nnd three years later she camo nnd told mo so." "Then how In tho world docs It concern mo?" cried Harry Impatiently. "You put your finger on tho spot, Mr. Tristram, but you took It off again. You wild sho presented tho authority all the hanie." "Well, yes. Tho authority would bo re voked by his death. At least I suppose thcre'B no question of that. Did she get at them beforo thoy heard of tho denth?" "This monoy wns payable on Juno 22 tho 10th nn It's reckoned In Russia but we needn't troublo nbout thnt. As you and Nceld nro both nwnro, on tho 18th my brother foil Into n collapso which wns mis taken for denth." "Yes, tho ISth," murmured Neeld, re ferring to tho paper before him, aud read ing Jofllah Cholderton'B nccount of what Mine, do Krlea hod told him at Heidelberg. "From that attack ho rallied temporarily, but not until his death had been reportod." "I nm not tho man to forget that clrcuui stance," snld Horry. "Tho report of his death was, of course, contradicted Immediately. Tho doctor at tending him snw to thnt." "Naturally; nnd I nupposo the comterso would seo to It, too." "And tho only lmportnncn that tho occur rence of tho 18th hns for us at present li thnt, orcordlng to the comtcsso's story, It suggested to the doctor tho course which bhi', nn his prompting, ns eho declared, and certainly with his connivance, afterward adopted. My brother, having rallied from bin first collapso, kept up tho right a little whllo longer. It wns, however, plain to tho doctor that ho could live hut n vory short time. Tho comtntKo know this. My brother wns not In 11 condition to transact business nnd was Inrnpabto of e:urlng to her nny benefit by testamentary disposition, even If ho hnd wished to do so. Her only chance was tho money for the property. This sho saw her way to srcurlng with tho doctor's help, oven although my brother should dlo iKiforo It fell duo, nnd tho nuthorlty Bhe hold should thereby loso Its legal vnlldlty." "You moan that they determined to carry out n fraud If nocosary?" "Precisely. I must remind you that my brother know nothing of this. He was al together paBt understanding nnythlng about It. I may bo vory brlof now, but I am still anxious that you should fully understand. All Hint I'm snylng to you Is beyond qucs Hon nnd tan bo proved nt any tlmo by tak ing ovldenco on the spot; It Is easily avail able." (To Bo Continued.)