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I SlIjohnwi? JEAN [COPTBIQHT, EOEEET BC . / CHAPTER XII. (Continued.) 4lYes," said Jessica, lazily. "I am lways pleased to go with Mamma iWlnthrop. Jack." "But thee does not comprehend, John," his mother said, softly. "Thee, nor Jessica. Only for a few things I went, and Jessica was reading. Had I not attempted crossing the street. I Would have met with no adventure. But this young girl who saved me ?? "A young girl, you say. mother?" John Winthrop interrupted, earnestly, some strange thought deepening the pallor in his face. Mrs. Winthrop smiled indulgently upon her son. "I think thee would call her a young girl, John," she said, "and very sweet !n the face. But gray eyes she had that turned to black in her speaking. ; Slender and good to look upon, and sweetly spoken?until then." "And when she turned away she j said?what was it she said, mother?" "Why should thee strive to remem-, ber her words, John, my dear? She was wicked in her hatred, or she could not have uttered them. Could she truly know thee she would not so have spoken." "But she said, mother?" "She said," Mrs. Wlnthrop's eyes were troubled, looking upon her son across the dainty table, "to tell thee that had she known whom she was saving she would no* have lifted her band for me. She said that thee would know. She mistook thee, John. She ' could not have meant my son." "And her name, mother?" "Her name is Beatrice, John?a pleasant name?Beatrice Field." "AlecJa Graham's sister, she said?" I, "Yes. John." i "And from New York?" "From New York?yes, John. But why will thee think on these words of a willful heart " "She was slender and dark, with brown hair and gray eyes?" "Uray eyes, joim, mat turned to black in speaking, and brown hair that curled upon her forehead; and slender?yes, John." John Wintbrop frowned heavily as be mechanically pushed away his j plate, liis eyes bent upon the snowy cloth, not daring to meet his mother's loving eyes. "Thank God!" he muttered. "At least it was not she!" CHAPTER XIII. A TACE IN THE CBOWD. ' Miss Jessica Gray, John TVinthrop's ward, was left an orphan with a fair fortune in money and beauty at fifteen. For three years she had been affectionately cared for in the pleasant Quaker homestead among the Berkshire Hills, growing in character, perl> Aaa m ? r>lt n nftAW /\ f lvu uiui.ii unci li-ie uiuuuui ui the wild flowers there?so many flowers, so many weeds crowded together Indiscriminately. The lurking fire under the indifference of her manner might some day burn that which should awaken it. In the quiet home among the New JEugland Berkshires with gentle Mrs. ?iYlntbrop for companion, her fiercer nature slept. Occasionally she roused itnd brightened, surprising even herself with her brilliance; but these rare occasions were only when John Winthrop was at home. Still she did not pause to analyze this change in herself any more than she would have analyzed a change more marked in any other. She was too indolent to question the causes of life. Life itself was good; rather stupid at times, too animal l'ke, but worth living. < So that it was not until that morn- i lng of the adventure in front of the | "Belie Jardiniere" that Jessica Grey was -oused to be more than a passionate w wnan unawakened. She had never bef re oeen conscious of the heart that tinged her blocd to the brilliant, intense degree of Beatrice Field. But this moruing the smouldering fire in her blood btgau to lift and glow, perhaps heralding?who knows?a craterous outbreaking like the destroying fires of Aetna or Vesuvius. "I beg your pardon, Jack," she said, smoothly, the waking demon lurking in the darkening eyes, "but sometimes T o m m AKA 1 Ann! *? A TA nn I? iUrtnA 11 1 x <iuj iui/ic iuucjj aujuug 111 Coc uuiijing crowds than under the trees at dear old 'Cedarhurst.' There one's stupidity was not so markedly apparent as It is here." 5 Her guardian was kindly attentive at once. lie fulfilled his duty to the letter to this girl, as in all else of his life. "You do well to remind me, Jessica," he said, putting aside his own thoughts for the time. "You have been in Europe for two years now, and if you ore still lonely, you should have told me sooner. We return to America next week, but until then, you shall have an opportunity of making friends here. I have introductory letters to many persons. I will call upon them V TTHROP'S DEFEAT, 2 NoDtl. ^BY _ ^ AA'l't LUDLUM: )KNEE'S Snvt. 1C0.1 1 to-day. No time like tlio present, you know, Jessica," lie added, smiling. IIh. smile was always good to sec. Now It quickened to a brighter glow that demon spark in Jessica's eyes. "And you must promise me, mother, never again to attempt shopping without companionship. Even your wonderful 'Bon Marche* or the 'Beile Jardiniere' or those shops of the 'Louvre' might prove snares for you. I shall never feel 3ecurc about you, unless one of us Is with you." "I promise thee," said Mrs. Winfhrop, smiling, always pleased at hir evident affection and care. "I will no again venture alone, John." "Xnmo fine nnvwnv. to cruard vou." added Jolm, kindly. "But, then," the lurking devil had crept Into Jessica's slow, soft voice, though she toyed indolently with the spoon balanced upon her coffee-cup her eyes from under their lashes on his face. "But, then, there was the beautiful young lady, you know. Jack. Her speech was something like the speech of a heroine in a novel when the hero is in question. How Insolent she must be to have utterpd such words to our dear ifamlna Win throp. Or else?"was there ever suc'i another slow, even, exasperating voice before??"how she must hate yon, Jack! I never believed you capable of hurting a woman." There was fire under John Wlithrop's reserve, too, and this waking woman was frightened at her work when she saw the blaze in the doikgray eyes under the heavy, meetiag brows, and a vivid flush cross his fa:e, leaving it still more pallid by contrast; the stern lips set like steel lines under the shrouding mustache. He clenc?*ed ills hand upon the table until It was like a dead hand closed rigidly forever upon some precious thing. How he commanded his voice into even speaking she could never know. His very self-control startled her more than open anger would have done. "Women judge for women," he slid, sternly, "and men for men. You know too little of the one or the other to judge, Jessica. You will be happier if you learn from my mother's quiet life rather than from novels. Because a woman is beautiful outwardly docs uot answer for her soul." Still arguing away Alecia's influence! Always setting her against these 1 strange happenings of life! "And there is really no true beauty without a white soul, Jessica," said Mrs. Winthrop, gravely. "Thee can- 1 not judge John's hurt of a woman. He would harm Tin nnn wlin la fnnrl " "But if one is wicked and desires to be good, and is still judged only because one is wicked bow can you hope for good results, Mamma Winthrop? 1 Maybe this girl, whoever she is, was ' infected by the old tragedy atmosphero lurking in Paris," suggested Jessica, with a cold smile, "and believed that she would do good by some ill vengeance, like Brutus. We women are strange creatures, Jack. Men never understand us." "Especially Miss Jessica Gray," said John Winthrop, resolutely fighting down the fierce fire ia his heart "I 1 gain fresh knowledge of you every day, Jessica." "You are such a cynic that I wonder ' at your acknowledging even that, ' Jack," she said, lightly, still indolently toying with her spoon. "Whenever I hear of you In the world, It Is that you scorn women generally." "No good, true woman," *sahl Mrs. 1 Wlnthrop, with roused spirit. "John ' would scorn no one, Jessica, who is worthy of respect Thee should choose ' thy words more carefully, my dear." j "And judge your guardian by his treatment of you, not of women generally," added John, quietly, rising from the table. [ V.f.TT ?11 .).? ? 1 lUtJ HUC UI1 1 l^Ull UUU Jessica, In her stately height, met levelly her guardian's eyes coolly and lazily?"if we go into society here. Jack, are we not likely to meet this girl? It would not be specially pleasant, I should think?for you!" The flame blazed and flickered and died in John Winthrop's eyes as he j answered her, but no other betraying j sign of emotion could she detect even with those alert eyes. "As I told you, Jessica, you are not j capable of judging for any one," he said, coldly. "There Is no reason why , I should shun Beatrice Field. I have done her no wrong?nor any one. . knowingly. I prefer that this subject Should end here." "Oh, very well. As you say," said Jessica, lazily, with a shrug of her shoulders and a slight curve of scorn on the rose-leaf lips. "Only?I should ' rather like to meet this girl, Jack. She might sprinkle the spice Into my life that I have so long lacked. It does not matter, I am sure, otherwise. The girl is nothing to me!" His lips shut tightly over this Insinuation that the girl might be something to him, but Jessica's face was. .. A. * ' /. \ f* / ;o impassive aiul indolent that he j .arnod away and ieft the room, utter- | Ins ^>5 word of acquiescence or do- I nlaL "But?we will see!" murmured Miss ' Jessica, lounging among the cushions e? their carriage as they drove along the Champ Elysees that afternoon, the pale blue cushions harmonizing with her own pale beauty, so that many eyes were turned upon ner rrorn pass- t iug carriages, sitting so carelessly op- j posite the sweet old Quaker woman | with her placid face; the strong face of the man beside her strangely out of place, as though two fires of ill were set beside some mightly calm. "We can wait, my dear guardian, If so we will learn; and then " "I did not think," John was saying in quiet amusement, as he assisted his i mother and ward to alight at their door, "that my ward was such a charming woman. Of course, being a [ woman, you did not fail to note the , admiration bestowed upon you this afternoon, Jessica. Allow we to congratulate you." "You are kind," she said, languidly, "to compliment me so prettily, Jack. I thank you." j ; But, down in her heart, 6he had learned that It was only this one man whom she cared to please. She could not know, however, though ( she shrewdlv cuessed. how the words of Beatrice Field rankled in John Winthrop's mind, cutting deep into the tisanes of his heart, sorely wounding his soul. Yet even now he would not yield to the memory of Alecia's face and violet eyes and uplifted head as she stood before him pleading for her husband. All these thoughts were come back to him, sitting in his room after the house was quiet. He could not sleep or rest with those even, violet eyes , and that proud, beautiful face, alive with smiling, intruding upon his stern determination to forget her. Every movement, every look, even every fold of her gown, returned to him more and more obstinately as he fought against them. "Well," he exclaimed, "why should I ' so torment myself about her. Shall i I admit that she has power to keep bl'^p from my eyes? I am weary . enough, heaven knows, and 1 have done her no wrong. She shall not haunt me like an unrestful ghost, for some murderous deed! I will sleep, Alecia Graham, in spite of your eyes or smile! You return home to-morrow, I understand, and so will not prnsa mv nath for many days?perhaps never!" And he resolutely went to bed and closed his eyes and slept by very force of will, crowding down his heart. But, strange contradiction of life, if ao he trampled on his heart, calling it absurdity, why was it that he, among many others, haunted the station at St Lazare. when he knew that the one woman who held power to rouse = his soul for his defeat was there to tako the train to Dieppe and so to Liverpool and?home! Strange Imbecility of the human heart, that moth-like, haunts the candle's flame! Strange magnetism of the Juggernaut wheels of fate, drawing in and under the souls to be tried through the mills of life, and ground flne and sifted! But did John Winthrop dream that through the gay crowds and among so many faces one slender figure followed him, and one fair face never deviated frnm Its nnrnnfip. or the brieht eves lose him from among the waiting pasBongers? "Oh, but I could learn to hate you, John Wintlirop!" murmured the slender, watching woman, her eyes singling out his face always among the many. "How I could hate you?because of her!" And her ears, alert, heard, scarcely heeding the words arcund her; but a few out of these remaining in her memory, and her memory was good! "Foolish Dick!" murmured a soft voice. A girl with brown eyes and hair and a charming face was standin<? ivith hpr psrort a little anart from the chatting group upon the platform. "To run away from his beloved art, md away down here from Rome just for me! And it was only last week that you called me a wicked girl because I woi.ldu't " "Well?" There was a spice of per5uasi0n in the man's deep voice. "Because you wouldn't what, Kathryn? The completion of the sentence makes ill the difference in the world!" "Oh, yes," said the girl, lightly, one hand, like a small bird, fluttering upon his arm. "But then you know I simply could not marry you so off-hand, Dick, and stay in Rome away from home?even for you!" "But you know whenever you do m momo Ton'ii have to eive un your aid home anyway, Kathryn; and when I you know thijt I must remain here un- I til the fall I should think " jj "But you needn't think you know!" retorted the wicked voice of Kathryn Franklin. "Besides, I haven't married a you yet, and maybe I never will, Dick a Chester, so don't be such a bear and ? threaten what you will do then?when I am going away, too!" 1 "It's your own fault that you are 1 going away, please remember!" answered the man, half laughingly. "But you know you are to write regularly, and decently long letters, too, , ww a ^ ; < -. v . . Miss Kate, or who knows but I uia decide to break all other ties save ar and swear allegiance to that alont Wouldn't you always regret leaviu me in this way, Kathryu Franklin': "Don't be absurd, Dick!" protestc Ivathryn, calmly, save for a threat c tears in her voice as the hour of d< parture drew near. "While you at in Rome?remember the adage?'Do a the Romans do;' but when you g home to America " 'Why, when I go home to America, finished her lover, "I will do as Amei leans do. The idea is excellent, and will act upon it at once by kissing yo richt here before everybody. Mis Kathryn!" "Don't be ridiculous, Dick!" mui mured the pretty voice; and the lis ening woman was about to turn awa indifferently, when an exclamation i the same voice arrested her atteutioi "Hush! There?look. If that isu John Winthrop I'll?why, I'll stay wit you in Rome, Dick Chester! Ove there?see? Hateful old thing, isn he? How I detest him! What is h here for, I wonder? Jumbled by fat along with us going home? My gooi ness! I hope not! How awkwar that would be, iudced!" "Vvhy would it be awkward?" quei tioned her companion; Hnd the listei er leaned a trifle nearer to catch th words. "And who is John Winthroi Kate Franklin?" (To be continued.) A twentieth of Scotland's area is fo" est land, seven-tenths is mountain, heat and lake and only one-quarter cultivate land. J.H. WEDDII HARD 29 E. 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