ATE EDITH a WHALLEY.
much a.
tTley aT"
their a pi
HI thirir is impossible. E-itr-.-e. tutte tra-
I "It s nothing of the kind. M )f. ,f
JL I ""'T V" i w-i; do aa 1 uaa you. The scheme
TTml aUCC"d."
" ' ' 1 n t v t hi srheme srouid net
be a Hl.-eaa It is the doing if til whote
ihnw that I .ipjwt to. Wily. Beaaarv-e. if (t
ot noised a imad . should never lure to show ourwITM
in curry agsin as long as we lived."
" But it never w.'J get Taased abr-md. How should It
When we are nnr married y m mar sure Eric win t
rush arninil telling us friends, and I don t thinlti we bail
mention It. ' she added. In jghmg .fcaring'y.
As Ffirlc Vane st lie she crnsawd the prtry rooming
rora. in whlrh sr. and M.t1g Leser wa-rs sitting, and
kneeing by Iw f end's rfiti:r h rt1njed. ail the
laughter gnne Hit f her voice.
' O! My d.wr. f y"U only knew what It mnra to me
r"u wouM never think of r-f iir to help me. Why! If
you were In my p,a -e I w uia I " tbrugh Are and water
f ir your happiness "
Madare put her a.-ms rmirvl the impulsive girl by her
aide and kissed b r tenda-riy The two women made a
beaaitiru. picture, the m n-ing. i!ie other kneeling at
her fet. The nun which s axuninac brightly into the
room. li up the t r-i fur heads anal cm a hakj round
fhem. si .1 it lov- 1 them. They ir strangely alike, sn
that sirs .niters a. ways t.ik- it for unimed that
sistrs All rosemlvrmoe "-irja, h-owevr. with
aranve. f r two numr'-s m.r dlaaaaimiitir rt wmUJ
be d.fflc ill hi Ami. Madire Lst-r ia a bright capable
wtmnn. well pieaut d wi:fi her f . rt her surrounding,
sufficiently irvtelltK' -.it to be interent.na;. wirtt an even,
tfmatviff tiat'Hrvuir.. a catm-it' f.r l-p afT-i'titm. And a
ncrra lieitef in G-l. The type if wurmn if which the
true w'f ami tinn ier ia mm!e. ;ml for whone harrntj
llve the worici i a.wavs the hetter.
Bcatr-oe Vn i a mix:.ir. ia ''Htnpnx M me :s br.!
liant. fu.l of fire mil ret:- n-t.vity w';h ianvnt pnwers
and rupH biiitiea, w'nch. up to tbe prewert MiTie. have lan
1irmiwit fir Ituk f riir, ininti. The mvth-rlt cJiini
if an lr iuigxtt fn:n-r. hi-r life hai been wir iTuntinued
muml f pleaaure. imt when, a yur b-f w my twory
opetna. h r fiuher iln-l. Itvpif her. 1ne-"HI of the iarx
fortune -"be had aiwaya btn t ' t-T;-ct. merely a aim:!
annuity -lie had urpr!!eJ her ac'tua.ntar.cer by the cheer
ful alacrity with wbich she h.l ii-cept,Ml her ihu:iKe 'it
cirTumt inc-es. At the time of Mr Vin-'i !, h M.tolge
had irtnt- ti her fr'cn-1 n1 Uejr(r'l her to stuu-e her hiim.
hut Bea-rtce bad m:ii. in her t.ih k. lecMed nianner:
" Dim I aik ra that. ler. :i y iu love me. I m.urt b
imlrpemli-nt jr Mr.'' anj th-re t2ie mUer hi.l enileL
A ye ir hter Beatrice fnirpriaeti M.-nlye by ca.mJy walk
ta tutu Uia rMan where art was sitting, in her !ieMitif-jl
cnunt-y home on the ahorea of Lance Winnebngi). ami her
aurpnae Weptmed into connterharlon am B.ntrlce !im"dJ
Ik errand on whi.-h she had orme In the emphatic.
tlit)y tlitatoriai manner to mhi.i M.ultie wna ao ac-cimnani-d.
Beatrice recounte! bi w Ere Hamilton, the
man wiUi wti'tn he u deeply tn love, and who al
though he hived h"r when her father died and he dia
covered alut ma as poor aa hitmaelf. fearing to aak her
to aha re hia nowerty. knowing how untauited her bringing
up had been to the makings of a poor man a wife, had
left her. not daring to tell her of hia lore. Beatrice, hav
ing lMciv-red her lover's whereannita. now impiurea
Madge to go to rh place where he la staying and to in
duce him. by fair mentis .ir u.vnr:?. ti .ik her ta
marry him. and thi-n. m the wedding dav Betrlc. tak
ing advantage of her p-rsMnal neemil.hce t-i Madge, ui
tu iriiange placca wtth h-r fr'.-nd and her-if marry Eric
Hiuulton. trusting to the love sne knows he beam her
to gain his forgivenesa for her il-cepf.on. and to live hap
pily ever after, aa tha a.idueluiis gtrl wlnda up her rapid
sketrh of her mad aiJirme.
"It 1 eia sure the f .irthera:ice of your pian- would bf
f'r your hapfiiness. Beatrice. I would gladly connrat to
help ye.i. ' Ma.!e (Mintinut-ai. " but I ee not!iT!j but hu
mi)lai:on and pnm for you at the end of it all. and that ia
why I u; Uia thing ia imponaihie."
Beatnt'H ruw to her feet, her face fluwhed wtth ex
citemetit. hr v nee trembling with ettgwrneaau
"O! Maiige. why will you not understand? I tell
yuu he loves trie. I know he doea.' Why. only rtie day
b0or father a death he had begun to proixvee to me. when
we were Interrupted by Mra. Fulham calling upon me.
Think of it. Madge! My whole life spoiled by the chance
vtalt at a mero aonuaantance. That is." ahe added hastily.
" iuvjas yiu will hep me to force fate and undu the evil
that woman unconsciously did."
" But Beatrice, surely, if tliia man loved you, he would
never have allowed your altered circumstajicea to hare
prevented him isking you to be hia wtfe." .
How cuuid he, a beggarly art:at. auk me. a poor
woman, ui marry him?" BeHincus rrt irti-d. a.nrotit an
grily. " H of course thought me quite imaiabie of
raagtng pour man a wife, and so he went awaiy. and I
havo never hanrd of him since, until yeterly, when
Miw- Caaaun wrote to me. ojid in her leuer memiotied
that ' Mr. HotnUton. the arit. wia staying at the laita
fikT thu aignrnt-r moevtha. painung aorno deiljrhtfiil local
ausnary.' It was then that right a I wnlkcil my room,
bring uiiabla to sleep, that the idea came ro me that ha
Ouuid be IndiH'ed to propose ti you. and that we w.:uid
cluuigu pluuna on the wedding day. Omte hia wife. Madge,
I will m convince him how capable I am of helping
him to the suL-ceaa which must be has one day. O' way
you will 'Ui it, dear. For pity's sake, any you will do It.
for I thing my wretche-1 Impotence will drive me mad."
Wit a barter cry. almost like an animal ia pain, alia
flung herself into a chair, and Imrying her head in her
grans on Utaa table beside her ahe burst into tonrs.
Madge wa.ked over to the weeping girl, and, getuiy
stroking thu bowed head. be once more tried Ut show her
impulsive friend how alt -gether iraprar ttoaijle her wild
plan was. Beatrice choked down her tears, but did nut
her hed until Midg" rem:irk.l :
"I oannot mderstsnd i gtr if ur rtrt ir-ig T
a mtn who y u fei sn sure w 11 ik m- ti intt y m
simply because 1 am a Men a -man."
Then ahe turned quickly, aid ;i iming ; n k '- h..i.r
frocn her tear stained face, she said nuf. y
" No! t Jo not think he will do that H- an amlu
tioiis man. but he at not a caul. He m int ;k .m y j i
ri sa rabie me so strongly And havnat "n. - n.i 1" ip hit
mind that ma mam wtth me .a im; ; . ie .ie ,i -n
imiurne he ears for y u O. don t sn-er M idtte 1 anuw
to a woman like you such a man uppenn nt -mj.bie,
hit I am content to re.le. even while I :iv- ntn. tiiat
he ia only a man. and love ia not. to him. the i.l '. :iat it is
to tas women."
Mailare passed her hand wearily over her .'y.- The
arene was becomang almost more than sue ecu d bear.
As a last arrunetit she faltered.
" But suppose he hms cease! to rar f r ';""
BeatrVoe lauarharf. airnost aanor-.f -niy h id ".t ii.- .J
for twenty-five years wttitout krit'Wng V.er mn -r v. r
men. estieclaaly talis mail of whm they i- iMK.m;
" H-lp me to become his wife.'" !ie .itld ' I :i.-w
he will love me O? M-ulat". he m-.itt 'nt-He
snail love me Thlnat wliat men. and w im-M. e . have
daivd for thoaw they love. Sur-iy 1. t". n.:y i- w h ah
for a stake whK-h mwii more titan l.fe :ta :" - w. '
As she poaie she stood erect, her wl: le r i tie
tifled to an almost ethereal intensity with tti- ! i.gnt
In her glorious gray eyes, her f ill, rt h v ic- ri.trng
!l
e cninr-r
trnimishsnt with a passion which thr-V-d
woman as she listened and made her thr w h.-r x-tter
juilpnerx to bhe winds. Tailing her friend"? ha'i.i. In
hers she exclaimed:
Perhaps you're ri!. And o me what may ! rll 'io
aJ in my i,wt to help you no !e-c me the wife . f Eric
HamtUvn. ireir he m ist be ither town man if he fail
to trim ich !o'- as yours."
WitJi a happy laugh Beatrice kisee! her friend, and
t-hen the two girls sat and talked .rver tlieir plan um.l
the SJin had sunk to rest and the shndows crept intj t!-e
rMn :und wrn"i them day was dune.
Having on.-e aftven her promise Madge Lest-T w-i- not
the woman to shirk the conewquences. Before a w--n liad
p.i.ed the had taken a pr-tty rootage at Lake 'J-tT-va
ind hud moved into it. taJting with her a number .if
serva-nts and her carriage and horses, feei ng it was
part of the game ahe was playing to let it be known that
nhe was a wealthy woman. She also invited a.n eideriy
and partially deaf aunt, named M.ss Knox, to spend th?
summer with her and play propriety when necessary
Thus equipped, she. nr'ravey speaking, sat down and
waited for events to evolve themselves.
Soon the cottagers called upon Miss Lesfr and her
gam. and Mrs. Payne gave a pleasant dinner party in
their honor, at which function Madge wxs intr-iduced to
Eric Hamilton. She thought he gave a siight start as he
looked at her. and ahe felt the oolor rash into her face
as she returned has polite acknowledgment- Her luft
hurried her on to present her Co other g-u'u. a.id f r
the rest of the evening she had no chance ,'f .ujuin
speaking tj him. She noticed, however, that, although
a oumparative at ranger, he seemed to be a general favor
ite wtth every one there, and she ws nut surprised. fr
nut on.y wts he a distinctly handsome, wail bred man.
but he w a's i brilliant (nversationall.-n, and as
Madge listene! to him ahe Lgan to reallre how this man
had so completely won the love of her lmpulmve frx-nd,
Beatrice Vane.
After that evening siie met him almost -very da
either ut picnics, tehh.s p-irtit. y.i. nt.::c. - Uier saxjiul
-'er.tu. to wttu-h tlit-y W'-rt Ihiji r.v:- i. ,: the begin
ning of their ajeo.uaintnc Madaie nad f-kl a diep con
tempt for this gr-at handsome man. who had rin away
frotn the girl he love.l rather than share hia " litt.e ail '
wllil her. flha had, in conversation with him on one oc
casiim. led up to the subject of Jove matches between
poor men and women, and he had expressed himself so
strongly upon the aeifiahness of men forcing wumtii they
pretended to we into such a life of care and trouble that
she hud cne to think Beuirice was right. anl her tr.i-:c
srhttne was indeed the only way in whicn alie cx.uld e i-r
betxdne this man's wife. The two soon oea-ame excellent
friends, and Madge decided thsit the tank of earning Enc
Hamilton's affections would be by no means an unpleas
ant one. Thai Eric both admired and clked Madge was
patent to ail beholders, and she. wiam.ng to hasten mat
ters, both for her own atLke for at times the part she
was playing filled her with dread rftid a. so for thu't of
her friend, she commi!SHmed him to .ih.iu lii-r portrait,
and one month after that eventful convi rsut.oti a her
iaknde morning ro m Ma ixe found h.-raeif sealed ftr hr
first Sitting. Har aunt dosed over a book at the far end
of the long drawing room, and her artiert frt-iid sktchel
wirh an eatsy grace and chatttfd to her of h;s work and
hia anbitf n with a natural franknes which Madge
found dellgtitf ul to listen to.
Madge hud written to Beaitrice msr. wt dai,ly. teillng
her how their plun was succeeding, but as sitting followed
sitting she found each lettar more dirflcuii to write than
tile lust, until they dwindled down to hwreiy two each
week.
Madge did not attempt to explain to lo-relf why w-tt-lng
to Beatlic li.id hei-ume so difficult. With tile char
acter alie hud uwuin.-l. niie bad submerged her own calm
temperan.i nt, and :U1 a ranh abandonment, wholly un
like her former e-lf. .tie lived for each dav ,( it came, and
left the morrow to laKe tiioug.'it for its If
Her aunt remark -d how her niece climnp-d. ..nd.
noting her unueual eacitability. alie a ndei e.i if M.. !-'
was going to be ill. Tn answer to her inquiries. In-r ni-e
always laughingly informed her sj.e had never f-lt better
in her life, and so Misa Knox onca mora suhiiuled into ln-r
habitual state of calm content.
The last sitting is over. And Eric Hamilton and Madge
I-ester are diwuasing the finished portrait. Midge, wear
ing t.'ie gorgeoua gnwn in which sne baa been pomng,
stands by the open 2re.piat.-e., with uue fool rtsting gr-ice-
f -illy upon the f- nd-r. Tie aritt' ya tr-is nn n
Tn tar- t the tv ng woman by his id. and. a he Jrmi
rt. is only a tr ie ar'int can. the beauty of the living n-.o-I
ie face, lie f.-eis h a art is hut a old. t r"ile thing if r
.ij. and with a iuiik brta of dis.ipDnintmeut, he tarns
awi-' and walks to the window.
wiui t worn -in s Intuition she understals 'us S'tlin,
and. f'li oTing him quickly, she places her hand up-'ii Ins
arm. and wtt eyes trght with -xcitem-nt and Joy as
sue ral.aes tlie ucc is he has achieved, she exclaiin.-. in
dlsointeil s-nt-mes.
' I; is t-rfe t. your fortune is made Every woman
who ss it will beg yeu to paint i-.er portrait. And now
you caji " il.e had almost sai l marry Bettr ce. ' when,
wtth a shudder, she remember-d her compart w th her
friend, and au rather lamely concluded. "I know I am
right. Tin wi.l be the grt-st portrait pa. itt-r in A tier
i a '"
Madge had br m mean verratel hia work It was
beaatif-il beyond del rtption '"itchl-ur mine of his ad-niir-r
i uULbusiasm, l''i if str-!" -ver to me picture, and.
as he again looked at it. his Heart gave a great hound.
f r '.( r ailaed that Madge w m right. He has in.!--l
pain; I a maisterpun-e. !? Watched him almost br itii
!t Ui'. and. as he taw the look which overspr-. i lus
face. ilie -X'-lanr -ti:
" An! Tou. too. ie how ;k rf- ct ,t is."
He tumil iun kly towards Iter, aid in a v- wii.ch
thrilled her w.tu w'ld joy. he sa.d u.etly
" Y-s. if is beautiful It is the 'test w-rk I .ace -ivr
;loiie in my 'if-, or e r .!iall do, 'hough I w rk fir all
eternity. 1 i-.a .-e painteii the W'-tnan I love
She never -noved but stNd w-th hands capped i -gether.
"ler facr .stri.igely pale, after het f irmer excite
ment, he- eye" rtxed nil liln. waiting, w.'nt.r.g fi r l.ini to
tell her of his love Loving bun. a.- he now knows she
Jos. witn ail the strength of her st-onar nuire and
knowing she must accept his love ,ln pMss it on to an
other wfunan. i-'-i heir her I7 o- ne i.oiie can.
The man continued, his vc - sink.ng almost to a
whisper, as he leaned towar is ii.-r. and took her willing
iianus in hie.
' ji uige. d-ar. I th nk you ar right. That dour por
trait . f Ty love will bring nte f so tliat 1 41. .1.: . t :.-aslii:r-d
to xsk you to linii your fate will mine. I -ir.oa.d.
I Who v. iiiivf waited until thai lame is n-ine. but. my viar
ilng. I mi only a mun. md ymr pr-i:s made no- foru-t
all "ut that I lovg you t love y iu. d alone kniwi ,,IW
m icii."
i?he is in li:s arms Ills lips 11,. ce found h-i c. and. for
g -ttiiig ail but that '' loves, ami is beloved, si.e s c in
tent. But only for a f"W short moments, for stid iem v
like 1 crash of thunder on .1 summer day. tne memory
her terrble compact rushes to her mind, and with in
effort of .-elf-eimirol she lis nirns her-" f f-mi her
lover's arms, and savs. gently;
"Eric, we are forgetting my .a ant. Let is w iite her.
and siiiiw her your picture, and t.-ll ,.er our n -vs."
" One more kiss, sweetheart. Just one mi re. . 0 :,. its.
and then, still holding each others hands, tinv tarn t 1
walk to where Miss Knox is sleeping tn her n.i.-.
As taey are crossing the room a woman c m. -s tow ir is
t.heni fr im tiie curtained doorway, and wit. a a cry. in
which love and terror are strar.grly mixed. Madge reccg
n.ees Eeatrice Vane.
The two women, who have loved each other since tney
were children, stand and gaxe one at Uia other, both
white tn the lips, and neither snya one wort
Rea.zing tnat there is something amiss. Enc turtle
towards M uitie. and as he does so. Beatrice for the tlrst
time pM'ka into ins face.
" tit .1 suppressed s r-am she catches the surprised
man by tne ami and half dmgs him to the window
" W ho are you "" she axks breathlessly. " You have
Inn v dee. you have his llgure. tut you arc not he. M-idge.
tell me! Who is this man. who oalls himself Eric Hamil
ton''' Madge stands intently watching her excited friend,
utterly bewildered, out with a feeling of exultation grow
ing in her heart. She motions to her lover to speas. and
lie. king pitifully at Beatrice. Eric says gently:
" May 1 ask if you are Miss VaneT' g
The gtri nods an eager " Y"s." still watching his face
with a painfu.ly intent gaze, and he continues:
" I think you have mistaken me for my cousin, who
uears the same name, and who is exactly my own age.
..nd who is also an urtiM." Here he stops, nervously, and
Beatrice says brusquely:
" i on! Go on "'
Eric hurries on. rather disjointwUj--.
" P'mr old Eric told me of you the night before he
su.letl aa war artist fourteen months ago. He said he
hud not aked you 10 be his wife baxiause he loved you
too well to drag you into tile miseries of domestic poverty.
H hoped to muke a, name for himself during the war.
and then to return, and ask you to snare it." Om e nvre
lie -atop, and again Beatrice Implores hun to -mtinue.
Paaniing his hand thruch his hai- and turning hia
eye from the leseecli:ng tare lookinj Uf at him. lie says
m ftly. and with greui n-verence:
"Miss Vane, our ruble 1ml w-ts Uilbii in one of :!ie
lirst battles of the Japiiiieie.Rahiii..n war."
Be'itnie muiics no sound.
Madge would ;ive words to hear the tortured girl cry
on, or givu some expression to loir grief, but her eyes
alone .show the agony she is suffering, ua she stands, aa
though turned to sure, her hands tightly gripping the
back of a clut.r befurs her
Madge gently put lo-r arms around the girl, and Eric,
choking down a sob. turned and left the f r-n nds t arether.
Miss Knox waktis at thu sound of the door 1 losing,
and. seeing her niece el gained with a stranger, aim silently
paat'-s fr in the room. aahaui-d of being ctiught napping
m broad daylig!it. And so the two women are left alone.
At last, when the terrible silence haa become ilmost
past endunnce. her own newly born love gives Madge an
insplratiiin, and she says smftly:
" You were rtht. my darl'ng. Yaur Eric did love you
he dm-M luvs you."
The hideous spell which threatened to overthrow her
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reaa-m is broken. wtth a bitter cry she turns towards
Madge, and aa the pitiful tears at length burst from those
tortured eyes she sinks into a chair ami moans:
"Yes, Madge, he loved mn a.id I doubted himl"
For some time -ahe continues to heap reproaches on
herseif for having so inisjudgd her dead lover, and Madge
listens, thankful for any cnangfl from that weird, awful
silence.
When Eeatrice at length t-Basaoa to upbraid here!f.
Ma dip-, anxious to k-.-i-p her fn?nd's mind occupied, ques
tions her as to how she came, to enter the room when
ne did.
With a start. Beatrice sits upright, and says huskily:
Ah! I had forgotten. I came. Madge, because your
last U tters told nie you had leumed to love this man. who
I tli night was my Eric and I wantel t.i judge for myself
if lie. too, loved you. So I chose the time you told ma
you always r.ad your sittings, and. telling the servant I
would announce mys-af. I hid in the curtains by the door
-and I listened. O. m OmT what I have stifT-red this
t.ay H'JSil, don't interrupt me. 1-et me teil you all. It
loes me gatast to talk. YjU both st. Mid in the shadow so
I could not distinguiuii your faces, but his voice was my
Eric's voice, and I nevtr doubted but thst it was he.
wte ilevi! p.,ssesseoi me. Maiige. and I pr-iv-d 'r-nt t
strtlie you dead, as y.iu stood there, looking into Ins eves,
your hnr.ds in hiK. No puy entered into my heart for the
: -
1';
SCCr$S
position I. myself, had forced you into. I only knew yiu
had won the love I had staked more 'nan my life to win.
And and I haled yon you. my little Mad'e. whom I have
loved since we were liabies."
With the gr"at tears raring each ether down her
tlustied cheks. Madge exclaimed :
" You didn't hate me more than I hated myself. Eut
dear. ' she added. " I meant to keep my faith with you,
even though I loved him so."
"Ah. ye' I felt that." Beatrice sa.d fiercely, "and
that only made me h.a-e you the in ire. for it was not
the man I wanted, it was his love, and I nw, aa I lis
tened, that you had that for ever"
" Eut. Beatrice, you ,,r- forgetting that man Is not
your Eric, lie is only mine. Your Eric guvtj his Ufa trying
to wn "U and your 1 v "
The tierce excitement gradually died out of tne auf
fernig girl's eyes, as she list'-ned to her friend' worm.,
and wth a sigh, such as a tir-ii child might give aa Its
head is laid upon the pillow shr a:d softly, gazing
dn-a.iulv before her-
Y s' Tou ar right i. ur Cmuching behind that
curta.n thinking his lov eould never be mine, I lungod to
die. but now I will prav to live, that I may beoome worthy
of h's dear love An 1 then, when we murt in the great
beyond, perhaps iel. i ins in. r -y. wil give hum back to
me for ail eternity '
jl Message in Cipher.
'By JOHJsl SCHOLFIEUD.
, 1 ';L wii. de ivtr thua packet into
1 I ih hands of the Japanese im
I I bassadur. London, without a mu
"j mam s uniae-escry delay." said
" sir Jasper Hale to Harold Mal
vern, an attach. to the British embassy.
Pans. "You are to cross from Calais but
do nut entrain at Paris. Drve. walk, or
nds to one of the outlying suburbs, and en
train thrre. Return with the answer as soon
a you can. and be prepared ta start tonight. "
So saying. Sir Jasper banded Malvern a
small packet, and dismUaed him.
Hurriedly bidding his man pack up hii
valise the young attache descended to the
drawing room, where a few guests were assemble.-,
among them being the beautiful
daughter of Paul Ivaaovnch. chief secretary
to the Russian embassy. Malvern at once
approached her. fur he had funned a great
liking for the lovely girl.
" Ah." sa,d the girl, immediately brighten
ing as he approached. " I have nut seen you
for seme time. Doubtless you have beeu
busy, and have been unable to call?"
- War has far reaching influences." he re
turned, w-.th a bright smile, " and even
touches a humble attach like myself. Wax
i doubly cruel when the demands it makes
upon my time keep me from you." he added,
in a won-per.
" You English Lave not lost the art of pay
Ing pretty compliments." returned Vera,
ivaiiovitch. wtth an appreciative little laugh.
At this moment two Russians efM e red the
i"um. and. after greeting thru bus teas, cams
Uiwarda Vera, and Malvern. The gtr! shrank
back almost imperceptibly, and a half frigfct
ned lock showed momentarily la her face.
Malvern t once noticed it. and wondered
t ins cause. The next moment the two Rus
sians had unhanged greetings with Vra
hrul The younger he immcdiaiaaly lda-n-uhaxs
a a rich and wel! known tit. Peters
burs; man of buhiun, wuu moved in the best
of dipioma tie circles, but whose record was
nut liuigaihsr ga enviable ucaa. No one knew
how he baacamaa puaatuuasd aaf his money. It
wag ba from whutn Vra had turtnk on sa-a-Uig
bua approach.
His comapaniua Matvern did sl remember
having seen Orr be I ore. Exactly why Mule in
aMuldn t ull, but ha was ud.li nly seised
a t u a sort of priivmini.n i f mischief.
He nueuv jii.-a :o a.t.-ai Vtr-.' om.uri
by every iiunccivauiaf means, bu: no, siie
would Qui n.ert his gaae. What power had
the hanUMome young BanMaa over her?
' O. by the wary, Mr. Mu.ve.rn." sue sa.d
present, y as the attache thought, with as
sumed indifference " you recui,t-ct I wanted
you to read my mother's p-eros? I have
brought the book wtth me and have marked
my favorites). " an.
" Thank you." ha sail: " It's good1 of you.
I wilt taka every cars of the book." and he
commence il turning over th leaves, pauaftig
At certan pages which Vera, haul marked.
AJ he read he suddtsaiy noticed that some
of the letters hail a tiny dot. no bigger than
k pin's head, pencilvd over the top. He
paused' for a moment, vaaruely wonder-ng if
thers were any ttidurn mean.ng .n thme m s
Qc (toti.
What did those dtot over the inters mean?
Dn taey corns by accident or daaaign? Was
Vera endeavoring to convey to him a silent
meaaaag? His attention became riveted jn
them. He begin slosriy to nead.
"By perfumed meadbws and purilcg streams.
The cows are browsing laauly;
USEFUL
English Pigeons
Far oft ihe s,,unj ,,f joyful nrg "
Tl.eii i.e stopped. With a quick flash of
intuition hw irgied out the united letters.
There was b c-u-r-e-f-u-i all dotted. In a
moment he had ;:. "Be careful"' These
were words tl;..' startled ham. It was indeed
a mei-sage from Vera a message uf warn
.r.g tjod bies hr! 3!;e was as loyal and as
true is steel, other letters were dVitledover
the leaf, but junt as he aaa about to try ta
decipher the. -est his hostess led the way ta
dinner, and. offering his arm to Vera, he fol
lowed the others into the drawing room.
Save f r a gentle pressure on his arm the
girl gav- no imrlration of any e-sage or
sign, so Malvern merely returned the press
mre. He weil knew that Ruseta was the center of
plot and count erpiot. and that her sea-ret
service was manipulated by seme of the
cleverest, most astute and ingenious scuun
dre s in the world.
With such thoughts crowding In on him,
and wiih a sense of inm-curlty and mystery
surrounding tne whuie busineaae. It is not sur
prising that -he younguttarhe was silent and
preposeesaaed at dinner though he did his
level best to appear cheerful and at ease.
Immediately the ladies had withdrawn
Malvern at once sought his room, locked the
dour, and fevermnly perused the bo k of
poems, which he hud put .nt o his p.n-k-t and
searched for further reveia'ion.
" Be careful. ' he spelt out ug'nn and
again: and scatter-! il.out the pii4 s w-re
oiher dutted words w h.i h. wlien deciphered.
read: " Y ju are b iiti; aatcheii. Beonyour
guard against the two "
That was all: but it was enough to quick
his pulsea. and set him throbbing with ex
citement. Was Vera, acqua.nted with h. forthcom
ing visit to England with the d:spu;chi-s?
That was a ujestiun he atked hiniseif re
peatedly, but found no satisfactory solution.
Well, he had rece:vel a warning, and hoped
to profit by It. He would start on his inset, n
without an instant's deiay F'.r greater se
curity he piai-d the din?atcb-s Urnily
fastened. ttnaj-r his shirt.
Without waiting to change into tweeds, lie
put on an overcoat and a .tap.
He chartered a cioand cab. and. so aa not
to excite any suspicion, told the driver to
proceed slow'.y to an outlying suburb, whence
ha Intended to entrain for CaMis. He had
n m,m, S. '
been driving for about tareer-quartci-s of an
hour, wnen- the sound of a aiaarp but u.s
t.nct t-uil teuf. caustit his ear, and set
h:ni al ug g.
W-re thewar Rutsiuns " the two " to whom
Vt i i c.pi.er ' al evidently referred m
pu: -.u.t ' The niulor rapidly apprnicbed. and
w . cv .itr.-.'.y wa.rt-ng along at tttrriflc
spi-ed. A.- security agu.r-sl possibae accident
:jie dnv-r topp d a'e.l to the left of theroe.il
aial watched fir tin- motor to pass. In an
other moment the motor was on them, and
wr.etaa-r by accident or design Malvern could
n- var de"-rmine. but just as the car wh.axed
put, the back left wheel caught the rght
front wha-el of the carriage. There was a
sharp wrench and a Jerk, and the front of
the cab was a complete wreck.
lii-edli-sn of the driver's cries and ourses.
Malvern sprang out. tlung him hia fare, and
started :o run af.er the motur at tupmust
-peed, for he thought he had caught a gllmptie
.1 a huddled female form In the car as It
iimhi-d by and he also fancied he reccgnixed
ix. th the Russians. He ran on until almost
exhausted, following the trail of the car on
the muddy road as best he could, until the
wheel marks turned off into a narrow drve
RECIPES FOR DAINTY
and
Prepare
GLAZED PIGEONS P!uck. rtrn
cieanae tne oiruaa. and bioncti them.
sumciect rorcemeat tor ihe number uf
pigeons with the following ttgreuicnt.:
M.n ced veal, green unices, and VUfchrucm.
eaned With One a pice and wi! mixed with
a few bread crumbs and a little milk, at an
the birds with Una. and wrap each in a slice
of bacon and then in a sheet uf paper, anil
roast them. Bat out and trim aa many n.ii
of veal as you have pigsuiis. laroicg tiiem
nasty witn g oii buccn. Put them in a pan
with a good bunch of herbs, three cioVcs. ice
Inmm.ngs uf tiie veal, and a aiice uf li..m
moistemr.g it all wuu a Uttie stock. W hen
these n.leis are Ccuked. drsin Weil, aid aim n
uii ire injuur miu a clean pan
uharply till reuueaad to Ba.I. &
nd bud it
rttui s
the flilat Ui this, and set the pea uver nut
cinders so IhaU tho sea y gin
are r .y r-muve the Uccn aitii li:
rd di.-h hem aiterna'.ciy
lets u ur a litti
buds and aHiiva
V hen aJ
Pigeons
o V-ii h.-
e assariice
hot
With
ut ham uVer I - e
Good Gumbos
okra Gumbo. Put into a saucepan a
spoonful of pure lard and one of flour Stir
it Weil until it is ot a light brown. Chop an
onion fine and throw in, cut a fat capon or
chicken into small pieces and put It into the
saucepan with the flour and bard. Bur it ad,
the while until the chicken ia nearly done.
When the whole ut well browned add a slice
of n.ira cut small. Throw in two or th-ea
pods of red pepper and salt to taste. Aild
one auart boiling water and leave it on the
Are two and a half hours. During that time
take either a can of okra or the fresh ukra,
and chop it up a bat Put in a saucepan with
a little water and let simmer or.aa-uuaner of
aa hour stirring all the wtnle. Then add to
it either six fresb tomatoes or one-half can
of tomatoes and let cook on a slow fire one
h. ur uncovered. When your gumbo
be-n cooking two and a half hours t.ike it
off to cis. I and k:m . ft ail -he atr ase. Then
return to the saucepan, a. id the ok-a and vt
r.ai a id let simmer slowly ore hour, or
ur.ui the ugra ia lauruughiy cooked.
Ftndfal Cxi fish
BALd-atL One cup raw salt flan, one pint
potatoes, one egg wed beaten, une-u.u-.rter
spoonful pepper, and mure suit if needed
una teaspoon butter.. Wast) the than, pu K
in une-half inch paecea, and free from bones.
Pare potatoes and cut in quarters. Put nsu
and noiatoacs in stewpan. cover with boiling
enar Buil twentv-ftve minutes, or ur.t.l
putatoais are soft. Do nut aiiuvr potato- : j
get soggy- Dr-un off all water; miash and
beat until pertec'ly llgnu Add butter ami
aait. andk. when slightly cooled, the eattts and
morw salt if liked. Shape them w thuut
smoothing much. Sl!p off into frying hot
Sard one minute. Fry only five at a time
CAKES. Taka alx good siaa-d pi t.t.s.
pare, and boil: one pound codfish. Put it
over fire In cold water: do not let t Im.l.
Mash fish and potatoes together. Wh.-n hot
season with sa.t and pepper to taste, adu a
piece of butter. twi emts b-at-n hgr.t th i
fork. Fry in boiling hird Ave n..iiut.-s. F .:
on sheets of brown paper. sVrve tut with
ensti fried bacon.
DISHES
Sjroory Smdbiches
ELI
tid-Tl.
tiol.s
t'Uop
M.ae
TE. Take cadd btsef. boiled tongue.
,,ad ciid raut turkey .n eiual propor-
i nop tine, and st.r together in a ba.w!.
up pM-kle4 ghermns and stuffed o.ivee.
a . ad dressing and pour over tin
. :r.:x weil and place between thin slices
uf i.ui iei d ur.-ad-
FREXi'li Chop or.e cup whit- meat of
ctiii-fcrB. tnree mives. one ajhi-rk:n, and one
Umiiiui'ii uf opa!-. add tu this une-ha.f
pint ma ir.uaise d: eatai.-.g, thin With ous
tabiespuou uriagon v.r.eaa." Spread on I h.n
aiices uf bread, roll and t:e.
a PA." lsH Bone twelve oil preserved an
chovies and cut into Inch length strips. Make
inn a pate with one ounce caQtrs and a
sprig of parsley, add a da.a uf paprika, une
ha.f teaspoun mixed mustard, one uitne-
pooo tairagon vinegar, una tablaapixm oil,
the yolks of two hard boiled eggs, and sa t.
M x smooth; chop the whites uf the eggs,
i liter linn lines uf bread and spread w.ib
paie. sprinkle uver them the choptied whites.
Trim and tu with narrow r.buuua.
whith tavrminuted in a small hout.e.
He cautiuumy entered Uie drive, stepped
quietly uii the graaa. then made for ume
buhes. and. ptahir.g them aside, stood, ta.f
ci.nceali-il. loukll.gat tiie Llily ligiUcd Window
to be seen. The fr mt do. r was left apen.
The car had been 'eft near tiie gate !ur ud
den emergency As he li . k-J it tiie lighted
window he suddenly became aware that a
w man was peering ..nt into the dai khc-ss.
and that the woman was Vera Ivinuv.t . h.
Cautiously he stepped fr .m his place ijf
concealment and endeavored to a' tract 'l.e
attention of Vera. At last she both saw ar.t
re co gm Bed lutn. tiuielly she opened the win
dow and let down a " r-ipe " made fr im a
couple of rugs which she had erur-;y Va.
tetird inside. Then, aith desperate pluck,
the brave girl swung over the til'., caught on
to the rugs, and scrambled down ta M.i.v-rn.
who caught her as she fa-.l the last iew feet
"Quick!" she whli-prrd. "The car""
She half dragged him to the motor into
which they boih leaped. It was the work rf
a moment to start it. but no sooner had Mal
vern done so man two men the Russian.
ran out of the house. Two bullet.-, wiuzz. d
harmlessly past the cur. and :n another mo
ment Mulvern and his prwioua charge et.
tearing hack oward Pans safe from ir
suit. The young attache, safely del.ver-u t;;
di pate lies.
And thai s how .1 was that Muivern got
pr limited ;n the d.piomal.c a rvict and aaa r
ned Vera Ivanovttch.
Vera had known that the two Russia i
w-re in the secret servics and were watc h. ra
the young attaiheh I: was ahe who had
en.leav .r-d to warn Malvern wr.ii h.-r atarei
cipher, and so had practlca.iy sav-d the it
uaiiun. On pretense of driving her hi.m
after the dinner, they had kidnaped her in
order to make her revca: anything ihamigtu
know of ihe young n'tuche'i movements, f r
they suspected that She was in lea .'US llh
Malvern.
They intended keeping her a prim ni r aiii
house, under the strut su.-Vuillai-.i e uf tan
female custuiiiana. uiu.l her f n.h. r had of
fered a aum uf muney fur her release. Both
were ultimately cupi .rid and b .n.aiicd, and
so two Sangeroua mn rt muii fn.m fur
ther m.ury Ui the inieresia uf Enj.ai-4 U-d
Japan,
i