Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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=ri- FAQE TWO ~V \ BARNWELL SENTINEL, BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA 3? —k £/7 \ A'E.PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM "the' $as: ht, tmr rytfM >r. a m\jU*ky \ VTHE DOUBLE TBAITOW: STEB MUMMER,” Etc * CHAPTER XV—Continued, ■ < 9 * ■ ‘•It’s wonderful!” Sophy < leV-limit. *Try and bcur the, thread of it ail in ■/ so lmfd to make you understand! Loii- Iko.is waiting for yon. They aro.all waiting at the .Slipper party. You are expected. • '"You must go and tell hoc your ndrpi/ For two nets ,y*m have that you think it was wonderfuti”• been, asked to Tonis y.»:r attention, He rose slowJy to his feet and caught upon The' increasing hrutality of the at her hands roughly,- marquis. Remember tluit.' won’t you?” ‘*S'up|M>slng I\won’t go'7” he witiu* “Not likely to forget it.” Johirre^ piled, “llqw well they all nfft!”. There was a quarter of an hour's Interval bcfoiA the curtain rose again. -Rumors concerning the last act laid been lfoiifijig about foryweeks, and tin* house was almost tense with excite ment a?: rhp curtain went up. The scene was the country chateau ^of the “Marquis tie titty,” who brought a noisy crowd of companions from*-Baris without any. warning. His wife showed signs >i»f dismay at his coining; lie • had broughtwith hjm women whom she declined*^!, receive. The" great scene behveeu her hus band aiid‘ herself took . jdtice in the square hall of the chateau, on the first flnor. Louise renljftrms her intention of leaving the house. Her husband laugh'.*?* at Ik-T.—Her [ewition is hope less." • eWhril can you do?” he mocks. Sim shrugs her shoulders and passes Into her room. The marquis sinks upon a settee, ami presently Is Joined^ by one of the ladles who have .traveled with him from Paris. He talks to her- of the pictures upon the wall. She is Impatient to meef the Marquise de Ju.v. 'Hie marquis" knocks at his wife’s door. Her yoice Is heard clearly, after n Iribment’s puifce. ~ ; "In a few minutes !" she replies. The lYiiirquis resumes his flirtation. His companion becomes’ |nijfnticHt-X* the marquis lias pledged his-word that she should he recei ved by tils wife. An ancient enmity against tin* Marquise dc City prompts her to Insist. - r —' < pered hoticsely. “Supposing—I keep you heiy instead. Sophy'?” Stic swayed for a moment. Some thing Hashed Into her fdee and passed away. She was paler than ever. "Dear John,” she hogged, “pull your self together! Remember that Louise Is waiting for you. It’s Louise you want—mot me. Nothing that she has done, tonight should’ make her any the joss worthy of you anil your love." ; lie strode away Into the* farther room. He reappeared in n moment or two, his hair smoothly brushed, his tie 11 ewl y a rrti ng(*d. •* —- — ■—r—:— "I’ll pome, little, girl,” lie'promised. “Tdon’t know wJiat I’ll say to her, but I’ll come. There can’t be any harm iu thut !” • r : r -• “Of course not,” she answered 'cheer- fully. -■ ’ John,’ ftnphy. She held'out her hand, how-' ever, uhd sm 11erLhp. u f him delightfully. I - “How Itrice of you to come and see ynqr poor, lonely brother!” she sqtd. "We have. (lone our best to Spoil him, I’m afraid he. i« vyry homesick nes. I heipe you’ve coifie to stay and to learn uiFabout Lon- i doljigy If you are. half as nice as li'e- isj^e’n give you such a good tjme!” ’ gv ' j i From his great milght, Stephen JoPked-down upoxv-tlm- glrl^ mdurnmLl “I’ho‘fila kcame^to' an end presently, face a Hi tie austerely. Site clifRJered ajrild a storm oWpplause. The grim away, entirely unabashed. Y. figure in the/ front of the pit remained / “I do hope you’re not shocked at my“yntionk*ss bursting in upon -yonr brother ’like tills! Wo really are great pals, and I live only just across the W'ny. W*e are much less ’formal 'yip’.here, you know, than yfm are In the country. John, I’ve brought you a message from' Louise." face, stem and grave, shd\Ved_Jittle | - Louise dressed herself simply hut “TWpt seems impossible to you?” sh® sign of approval ordlsapproviil, but to carefully. She could conceive of but demanded. •: - . ». John’s "apprehemllng eyes fW critical one reason for Stephen’s presence In. ■ . “Utterly fmposslblpj", ~ • -use was there, the vefiTict f<»re- her house, a ml 1t father amused her'. ftT^ "And nrJqfiiH* " <T<HjiiTed._ He understood as in a flash , was, of course* no friendly visit : He *Fl. ftnr speaking for myself and not ' that Stephe5~Jiad com/thcije to judge had come either to threaten or to | f/irf niy bcotiier,"f Stephen replied.“Men lee more'the• Wotififn~*rhotn his hrotP- [ cajole. Yet what could he do? / What Rite iVim, Who lire fissniled by a certain ble dramatic power, toward the Jiated aml'dre ’ 1,3 She wCnt over the in- mnxfifess, are best left alo^e with It '‘About tonight? She nwldPd. 'mice more the \**0bf}rn"Whom his broth- cajole -otMleslred. , • ' ■ had she to fear? »ne went over tne in- m /The curtain .went-up again amLthe ’ tj'rviejr In her mind. Imagining him That Is .why I-came to you to bargain, I>lay moved on, Vith subtle yet hievlta-f cru^heHl and juhdued by'her superior if I could. Is there jfnything that you subtlety and finesse.- ' tack—anything which vour ,cWn sUo- .. VVith a little smile of coming, tfip^nplt cess and your lover, or lovers, have upon her UpSiSho Ascended the r.tatrs ■ failed to provide for you?" • j -and swept into lier pleasantly warmed jt was useless to tr.v to rise; she and perfumed little draw ing-room: She ,.was powerless i‘n all her'limbs. Side even held out her hand cordially to the dark, grim figure Whose outline against retreating, figure with a sigh. Sophy' / t1(«?Hftinty w i hij.e wall seemed sd lnrrp- drew.him away. * ’pboprinte. V , *~ - “We had better hurry round,” she ! “This Is very nice, of .you lnde>d, Mr. said. "Louise Is nhyays very quick get-* Strangeyvey,” she’began. “I had no idea that you had followed your brother's example and come Jo town.” and silent. He was on<‘of the last to leave, and John watched his ting ready.’ They found her. as a natter of fact,, You’re,the most terrible gopse, she added, as.they wulkcil down the corridor. “Do, pl<-ase» Tose your tragical air. The whole voHd is at Louise’s feet toriight. You mustn’t let her know how':'absurdly you have been feeling'.' Tomorrow you will find t’tmt- evefy paper In London will be acclaim ing her genius." John squared his shoulders. "All the same,” he declared grimly,-, "if I could burn the theater aiid the play, a nd fock up Grail lot for a mouth, tonight, I’d do It!” Tr v *" A ______ CHAPTER XVI. The days- and weeks drifted Into months, and John remained in London. Ills circle of friends and his Interests had widened.^ It was only his rela.- , -TiW—Jikii’Mvps shrugs his shoulders (pms wITll’LdVilSe whTt-b"remained still f\nd knockf more loudly than ever at un «.i 1!in> rcd. ^Always charming to’him, his wife’s 11■ r. She coitieS out dressed for travel and is met by Faraday, who suddenly, appears. "— ~ “Yon as!;ed me wlia't I could dor” she says, pointing to her lover, "Yovi K<*<* now J”; _ , There was a tnonient’s breathless-sb h-nee -flirough the house. The scene In Itself Was a little beyond anything that j ’ the audience had exja ; cted. Sophy, who had been leaning over tjie edge of Hie box', turned itrouu/l - in n*» . little anxiety. Sin* heard the door slam. John had disappeared!’ He left the theater with only his hat III his hand, tnriiiiiLr up his Font hy ln_-- stitict as he~pn*seil through tin* driving rain. All h1s senses s«*»*med -tingling with some namelrss luirror.j The hril- liance of the language, the subtlety of before the theater. Fan you guess what she dared tb suggest?" ' ‘’I TTiiTik l ean,” Joliq replied, smiling. “Say you will, there’s-a deaf,” she begged. .-“I am not playing tonight. .May Enser 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 thfk week. But I had - forgotten,” .she broke' off, -with a' sudden note of disappointment in her. tone'. “There’s ybiVr T»rother. I rausn’t takb you nwny £rum him." —~r ’ “We’ll all - have dinner, together,” John suggested. "You’ll come, of course, Stephen?”. ’• V Stephen shookfTiTs T bbad. “Thank you,’’ he yaid, “I am due at , j lpu knew that I was going supper tonight?” she asked. “()h tjidu’.t I tell you? The prince has asked the unchanged, giving him much of'her time, favoring film, beyond a doubt, more than any of her admirers, there was yet about her something elusive, something wdiieh seemed intended to keep hifu so far as. ■possible at Uriahs length. There was liothlngTnihglblo of w hich lu* could complain, and this-prohajion- ary period w as of his own ^suggestion. bore it grimly, hohllng liiiv pjhice, Whenever it was possible, .by her side w ith dogged per.sist e11ct'i Ttierr oueAva^ ning there was a knock at ills door, and Stephen Sfrange.wey walked in: - Stephen, although he seemed a little' fnTTer ITiHl'gaunler than ever, - though- shadows of the room, perhaps, had pre vented him .from seeing-b 01 ' 0ll ^‘ stretched hand. , 1 * “Mine Is a very short Visit. Miss Mau- e»*1.” he saiil. ,-f‘I had ,no other reason for comipg but to See John and to-pay this call upon you."' - /“l am greatly flattered," she told hirn. “You must please ql.t* down and ’. oUt . i, 0P „niis. “Do- youTfenuw w;liat. make yourself* Comfortable while we y <.u\ire talking about? *Do you kpoUt' talk. See. this is ip.v favbrlte place,’' i' r j i;it i f >j consented to think of your l»y, sld/w'ith the anger and horror that bis words aroused was a sense of some thing almost grotesque, sometlilhg which seemed -to force afr unnafurul laugh froth- her lips., ' “So you want to buy me off?” “I should be gliffd to CcileVe that if was yyithln my power to do so.XI have not Johh’s great fortune, IfuT I hove money, the aeeumuliite^l savings of a lifetime, for which l have np better purpose. There is one more thing, too, to be said.” ' “Ahothe^, charge?”)^ . “Not that,” he told her; “only It 1^) better for you to understand that If you .turn- me from, your house this morning, I shalLsftll -feel the necessity of ■saving niy brother from you." ‘‘Paying him fronj me?”, she ‘ ci- claimed, rising sud(leuly*4ind throwing V* she addqtl, drojiping into a corner of? her lounge. - “W’ilk^vou sit beside me? my hotel. I’m going back to Cumber- j- land tomorrow morning, and my errand is already done.” * "You will do nothing of the sort!” John declared. “Please, be amiable,” Sophy bf'gged “If you won’t come with us, I Shall simply^ run away and leave you with John, ^qu needn’t look at your clothes," she went on. “We can go to u grillroom. John sha’n’t dress, either. I want you Jo tell me all about Cuin- hgrlandr where this brother of yours lives. He doesn’t tell us half enough L” ^ y p ^ renc4 . u t0 Rema|n SUnd . ' Jiihn passed his ,arm through his ; i/Rj.” brother’s and led him away. , . j - “Come and* have a wash, old chap,"TFrench people from His Majesty’s to he sahL J - '. Tln*y dined together at Luigi’s, a curiously assorted trior—Sophy, be- Unctlv ali-en note.. She'was always gay, always amusing, but although she addressed ■ most of her 'remarks to Stephen, iu* m*v<>r once unbent. He ate \ x the situation, seemed. lik*» some evil trail drsn^if .Teross tluit one horrible climax. It was Louise* who had' eorne from- that roo; \ and pointeil -to h'ara- flay! ~TT r ~~ rTr ~J: -••- -j=v= lie i»*a<he(I his rooms—he scancely lnew* how-—ami walked upstairs. There* he threw off s one e>f his dripplng gat^ meats, opened the- window Vide, and stood thype. Fit* looked out o'er the Thuaios; ami tin re was a ivd flare-* before* his eyes. Stephen w-as right, he* tolel -TifinseTTr There wa> nothing \ TrT evil let he* found here, net’Jelng lmt hitter‘elisnppoint- ihetit. riklhingbr.t (!»*-jiaip which deep ens into aaguj-sh. Letter le* remain Tike* Stephe*,* . tin' >\ i eg -inti untfrverl, to draw* nearer to the moiint:iinA;.to find jov in the crops and tlie.-rjiin and the sijnshine, t«* II-{• H "slbnUy to the cry of human be*-!tigs' -is if t«* some voice .frouKan unknown w'.irld. — He*- bXio<f a 1mtb* further from {ho w iruhovV mrM -gay.eel ieit<e the’ t-ouij at a .di’/rty de'pt jiTetcnv... JL* tuul ctit himself rtdrjl't from the pebi e; which and drnilk simply, seldom speakfng-of liimsclf or his ylans, nhd firmly nega tiving all their suggestions for’the re mainder of the evening. . Occasionally in.* glanced at the clock. JoRn became eonseious of n’certain feeling ilf curi osity, which iu n se.nse Sophy shared. * “Yotir brother seems to me like a man with a pvirpost*,” sh«* said, as they ^ISJwHh the entrance hall on their'way out of the restaurant. “Like if prophet with a mission, perhaps I fdiottbl.Nry.” John nodded. In t he little a passage wliere lli^y stood, he and Stephen S4*4*nted .to dwarf the’passers-by. The lie Seemed to bring iiito the - perhaps overw armed atmosphere of John-s ll.t* 1 men, in their evening clothes-and pallid tb* sitting room something of the cold j .fares,' seemed suddenly insignificant. austerity of jiis own domain, had evi dently cornu In no utifrlondly spirit. lie took .both lqs brother’s-hands" in his and gripped theni warmlyl — ,"1 can't-t«dl -you how glad I am to see-yoUi Stephen!” John declared. “It has been tin effort to me tb <-ome,” Steph4*n admitted. “I am one of -tin* "old fashioned St rangeweys. What I feel is pretty well- locked up inside. Tin* last time -y<iu iliid 1 met perhaps 1' spoke too much; so here I am r.V"~~ ' “ "ItV-fim* «H~ yoti.i’ John-deefared.-^4-: riMhember nothing of tiiat day. We will otnd the women like dolls. _ *-—* "For the last time, Stephen;” John saM^JiVba’t you come to a music hall with us?” . "■ ... • f- “I have Tiifule niy plan.>4 -for the ieve- nfng, thank you,’’ Stephen replied, holding out his .hand. “Good: night !” He left them standing there and walked off down the Strand. John, look ing after him, frowned. ,He was .con scious of a. certain foreboding.’ .* “I suppuflfi,!*. Sophy sighed, as- they waited for a taxicab, “we Shall sp<-nd remafuller of tlie evening in-^the ,-en it: I\< uoglit liaye vtiow again _ v* iitjjd TieV'er the joys of 'ijs,esi.rlb*r life. ..It 'whs for had 1 ought soN^ia.Uy l*at* v Ills that In tie*-, clung - Lo-ii se, w in - ' i g; ia,i.v i < * uld i oil: o .oTTr trie iV' Vv.dMTSetr tO for one w Im latrerl. to pay his- shilling b liis 1 *.• 11 f guinea, glorying in her. dis- j honor-; w.qr-o* thiin'g-h trying in- it---find- ing'some ultth.* humor ia tin* Tit tie' ges: tore with'./ I ■ n he he.dgpo(ntc*d 4 «iit|:, a^haiucil.-fo her-K ; \’«*r. * John... J > *i * t. a iittle tuwer from the fceemet ho was • •or h.ad r ^ . It was rd him. i tiim-d w in (inw. A sii< 1 i4 11 (1 VS.'l, i:. it-SS. to'; 111 VI* <T H![<* .i\ ■ (■!' him.. Then . l*.n *(*<l t'ii/tui‘n ro’tMtib His ib b(*t n < j 11 i < ■ !.\1 y i.ipr* peii'aiid- shut.. F'l Jiy wh.a v, ;is . cross in t? t(*w’a tie .ruin strei'm ; :>g ft.'iHq; her "pe l:t eheti;. '' ■ 4* John! ’ 'sh 1 KXr i**d>' "Oh. .Tob \-s \ he . led l.L:; 1 -.icI: to hfs (ih krtehsliy.-Lis -:iie . She held id i r aed hands meet M. Gralllot at supper. I am hur-. rying home to dress.” John handed 'her into her waiting niitoinohiie In sjlenct*. She glanced hito liis face. . e Or, If you prefer, draw up that chair.’ “My preference,” he leplieil; “is. to remain; standing. 4 * ' She raised her eyebrovtfg- Her tone altered. > ‘.‘It must be ns yon wish, of course.” she continued; ‘‘only I have such pleas ant recollections of vour hospitality at ' Beak Hall that I should like. If there was any. possible way in which Leonid return it—” - \' . “Madam.” lie interrupted, "you. must admit that the hospitality of Peak Hall was not willingly offered to you. Save for the force of circumstances, you would never have crossed our ’thresh old.” Y- 'ho sI)ruiri?o(1 Ivor shHni(.|prs.. .ShiE wus adapting her tone and manner to the belligerency of his-attltude. . “Well?” ’ “You want tb know why'! have found my way to’Tondon?” he went <>n. "I came Jo find out a .little more about you.” "About me?' brother as fay husband; there, is hot a man in London who w <mid Hot envy - him? Look at‘met I am beautiful, aui I not? I am a greal artist. I am Lou ise Maiuel, and I have made myself famous 11y iny^bAvp woik and my own genius. - What has yiifir tirollier d<mw in life-to. render him worthy of the sacrifice I should make if I chose to give him my hTrrrrt?"' You laid better go back to CumberlarMl. Jlr. Straffge- .\yoy. You db not see life*as we see It up here L" , A - '“And what about John?" he asked, without moving. "You tempted hlw nwny. Was It from w antonness, .ot do you love him?" • Y “Love him?” "she laughed.. "I hate you bothV YbiV ure bbors—you are p4*opl4* I hiite the moment I ever saw either of you. Take John hark VIth you. Take him- OUJ of niy ilife. There is no place there tor him!" • Stephen, picked up hfs hat from the sofa where it lay. Louise remained perfectlyistlU. her breath coming quick ly, her eyes lit with jinssiop. ^1 ailam.” he said. "L ani .sorry to^ ‘Tp’discover if there was .anything have distressed vout~ Tuft 15ie truth -w- io It it y< “Is anything the matter?” she asked, abou? you,” he proceeded.deliberately, sometimes hurts tlie most callous of "Nofliing!" ’ ‘ “•concerning 'which report had lied. I us. You have he:tr4*-ihe truth from “Tlie_4>riJice would have asked„ybu,kchr not—place my..falth r -in__news|>aper^ ^ n>e .1 will take J4»hn hack to Fumher- !4l. ... i .1 --‘I. i P t - - • ! f i ' * * . l' • » ' mi _ . i m. \ . . without a doubt.” Louise continued, "‘ and gossip. Tjiere was alw ays a < hanc«*> bind with me. if in* will come, but lie -knows Jliat you are not really iliat you might have been an honest wilLnot'—” !tttt*resti*tl in the stage, nmf this party woman. That is why I earnesto L«m : Is.entirely French—they do not speak don. and why 1 went to see your play bast night.” ' 'fRie w tis speechless. It was as if hr w ere speaking to her in sumo ’foreign tongue. Y - _ - a word-of. English. An revorr ! J'Sophy, take carextf hfm. and mind you behave yourselves!” She waved• Ji«*r hand to them both ■and threw herself back, among tiie cushions as the car glided. (»ff< John adopt a chontiibbe view of your j'ro- walked to the corner of the street in gloomy silence, -Then, he r* inr'iiibert*tl "I havc struggj.cil,” ht* Continm <lr“to liis companion, lie stopp<*<l short. “Sophy," he bogged, “don't hold me. to my promise.'T don’t want to take ypu out to'supper tonight,. I am not in the'humor for it." “Don’t be foolish!’" she v replied. “H you stay nlone. yon will only imagine things and lie rid’sefable. »We. needn’t have any supper, unless you like. Let me come anti* stt "Irr-ronF rooms with you. j, v- ■ “No!" he decided, almost roughly. “I am losing mys«>lf. Sophy. I uni losing something of my strength every day. Louise doesn’t help as she might. Don’t stay with me^plgasc. I aih In-ginning to liav&.moiids, ami w hen they - couu* on I w ant to he alone,” she ‘tlrew’a. little, closer to hi in. “Let hie come, please!" she begged. Hie usual fashion!’ “Do you mind?” John asked. xvitti a pathetic.'almbst childllk«* quiver “No,” she‘assented resignedly. ‘‘That at the corner of her lips, play ^ill end by making a driving- He looked down.at her. A smhh-n idiot-df me. If Louise is tired tonight, wave of te.niiefness swept every other though, I warn you that I shall insist thought fr;oin his mind. Ills mental upon anqx'rv" - - ; —■* ——-—; ■ ,■ -it >a I a n,c'(> s>y m ed; - su d d e n ly -restored.-Hi* “it’s * a bargain” John promised.' hailed a passing’taxl nnirhaml If lie ; “Ttvjie. him with ydu!” she -broke Hi lierrelyN "lie will do as, I Fad him—do >o,u hear? If I lift my little linger, he will stav. Ik will be f”who decide, r^” X •' » " i x ' "But you.will not lift .yotir liitle fin- ,gor ” he. int(*rrupled^:rhn!y. ' L , ‘\vhy* shouldn’t I. ju.st to puijisU fession. I kuow -Htat^H^world.changes : vou?“ she demanded, “There are quickly-,iwhile' we, who jirefer to re- i scores of men who fancy themselves In main outside its orbit, of necessity- lose |„ye with tne. If 1 choose. I can keep' touch with its new fdeus and' nrw i them all, their lives hanging “o the thjit ’’ V^ fashions. its So new ideas I + said lo lOYselF that ; hem of my skirt, praying for - a word a there should be no mistake. For that touch. l ean make th«*iu furious mie reason I sat in a theater last nigrht'al most for the first time'in my ljfe. 1 saw you act.” . " .'“^Yelj?” she asked almost defiantly. / He looked down at lmr* Allsploudid. self-assurance seemed .ebbing away. She Lit a .sudden depression of spirit, a sudden strange sense of insignifi cance. V —■ "I have come,” he suld, “if I can. to buy my brother's freedom.” "To buy your brother’s freedom?’’ T^he r< ucated. ip a dazed tone.. day and penitent the next—w retclosl'* aRvqys, perhaps, hut .1 can’keep them therex Why should I not treat yonr- Itrother mMi".same’wayV”. *r- Ile seeipeiL.suddenly to,dilate, ^he wasdvcfcoiue with n senyp of soinp lrrr- erit power in tbe mbpr-som** command ing influeiiee.' „ ‘Because.he declared. "I am the guardian^ of my brother’s happiness. VYhocVer trifles,w itii it shall in the fu ture reckon w ith- me!" M> tirpther is infatuated withyo.q,— ( \oh r tr—rhroati—4tis hnig. loiue tiitgor»i seeimHl suddenly to be drawing'ninr to her. She watched him, fascinated. She was trying to scream. Even after .‘We’tl drive Louise home, add tlieu I’H info it. “~"Whaf 1 a seTnsfi claimed. CHAPTER XVII. Louise'gljinced nt her watch, sat up take you back fo Luigi’s. We haven’t Iii*eh out togeilier fi>r 'some time, .have we?" - \She. looked, up at him With a little gryHace and patted his hand. .“You have iK'gleetdd rue.’’ she said. “.i 'iiilnk all these fine ladies have* thfned your head.” -- . .She drew ;t liltle closer to iu’m and passed*' her apir through Ills, John iotide lin ri-^ji\ i;' iiiov.i-mciif. TTe"w';i-s filjed. with resentment at the sensation •*f pleasure tluit her- fiffoVtioiiaie*-ges- fur«*-gavc> him. ' ’ t . A T.he curtain wa-s-pp and tlu* play in I-re.gr"---s -when thc\ readieibihe box * ^ . ’ * »•. diet John. btidHstk-eti P* 1c the seaspn.-— i he^“'T'H of it all, agidlist w’hiv*h.he so pfuai f»untili .* eiime oyey .inbn—yon «-^n receive -hint anew, lie fet lit to— ug TWini!” lie ex* “Anyhow,- It’s all over now. We’ll go back to Luigi’s to supper, by all means. I am going th make yotr tell me all abont*thnt young man from Bath!” reproachfully in bed. hIVI turned toward Aline, , a "Aline, do you know it is,only eleven* oWdoekV sl|e exclaijne.d. ^. “I am very sorry, mad time..” Uie 1 a f- ter hastened to exfdain. “b'uT there is a'* gcntleinan dolvns’tairs whtL -Wjshes to , n see you. He-says he w ill w ait until; I -thought Stephen declared. “I wish * to sav«* 'him." •The woman’s cqurage. began to ns syrt itself.. She raised her ey< v s to his. “Exactly what do you meanV’ she askctl. calnity. “In what way is aqy- man to he saved from me? If your, brother should care for me,' and I. by ally chance, should happen, io care Tor hirn. in-what respect would That be a state Iron} which ht* Would TV-i J u ire saF vatitm?” . - “You*-nmkc tny tffSk tnor** diflicult,” he observed deliberately. “Does iK amuse you to practi'ce your professlrfii before one so ignorant and so ,unnpprc-‘ chitiye - as myself? -If my brother should ever marry, it is iny'firui iuten-. thin that lib shall marry an honest woman." . '""Y Loiiii-c sat quite still foC-Ynmim-nt.' A flush ,pf- lightning iiadglittered in'; for* her- •-yes.-'an'd>tf1ior curs, w tis the ‘Pfash <>T fbuimeY Her face.Was stub d«-uly *stiajutMi.F She saw nothing but the steialv fqrtdddibg expression of the who, lo*'kyd down at her. X- “it's Louise You. Want^Noj Me.” tn't f«v*r iik* Ivwf.xrtpjre so!ih*id;. ;“yo.u' N Htn-' 4, «;’L Jid .,- really! You don't understand. It's ailTt pfrry. Louise'y.(oHdn t reall.“Y:iM.vthibg like that!” lie shivered. Never tiled . clutched lit-r incuts and drew IL’rc io him.. - u . V “I)*), please. Ifsteu t<» me,” sin b<*gg**d I.****k at 'things Squdrely together, bvet) v hmtty.^“ Wli**re we differ. I’m—” n«Hq;dko otT.lh the ipiihjle «rf his sen- t.once, Tiu* (hior had been suddenly *l*ened, aiid “pi'hy .Gerard’ made a -somewhat impetqims entrance. -I’m absolutely ~ sbdc ■ of. ’ringing; bis (diiirr lj:i(»k against w all and watched ibid .listened, a yet italile sense, of liypnotisihxt'reeplng r his .p Miipirbjy' W hich had come to liini Tn . v Iie.forc indn.-ed liiui to..turn his head, to read in the fares of Hm'atl- diema* ilu* r»*4jection ‘of her genius. .Ib* liad dflefi watebed thds***h>ng Jiii**s of faces, changing, eaTki* 1 its Own Way, under the magic of inV fiTL -. Tonight 3?f* - ' ur of the would THro t*J know. L-.“A—gentlcmnh at this mor-ninh?" Louise yawrled; surd !- . Anyhow. y..u ought better than to wake me np itefon “You ilarC to say tills to me. here in m y o w n, j io use?' V — “Dare? Wily not? Don’t -people tell, L Ci'Tfbr time.’L ^ . . ... . -am Verv sorrv; niadarne.” Aline re- plied. ORhesitated fnr some time, but I 111ougliLymp woft 1 d Jiife to know that the gentleman wns here. It is Mr. Opy- yoit the- truth here in London, then?” How ah- -She; rose a little unsteadily Mq her to know Toot. TiiotToning hirn, tow'iitd the doqr..! the and moving “Ward the hell. Suddenly she^ sank .haek lyt«» her former plac«*. Stephen. Str;uVg>wfy—Mr. John’s 1m* looked beyond. Ue/kneW vetfv well \ brother.” ' “It's all over. LVrnis«-jsTier- John,” she exclaimed. parjJon! T hadn’t the least laid anypne wjfli y<»u.” Y\ "Y<“jelinlr. IU tiui front .row of the pit, sit She stood still Ui surprise, a liitieHifUT head' and sfioulders taller ihifft the ogetlc smile upon her John meh amL-Uf<H«otv-4owigt*4 oygr JhC ka<t?hital forward jhmI w elcomed, he^. j wT'JaletFN^t in front Of tfiein. was I. ••I** Nv ** ' “Take Him With You!” Broke in — Fiercely: breathless ati'J. helpless.- "Winy, do you waste ypttr-lu'eath? in* i .1)5* Find turned aw ity and left h«*r, after asked calmly. “We. arc alone -pere;- fshy Md heartlYis measured tratpp de^ you and I—we know the truth!” . She sat quite still, shlvbrjngr a little. : "Do wo? . Tell morihen, bCcoUse I ‘t)ii>sj^li(*g your fFnit hl^-jsearch laid lu.'-special object. 4 Lqulse. clnspied her with her nm curious—telj ^me - why yog, are so leasf ihvoi yOti Suddenly he gripp«*d the iirniV of: his fingers and sqt thinking. She Was wide* sure of what-you say.".^ > vt ‘ ^ ' " “—" ^ ^ “The world has f it,” replied, “that yon are “he mistress of the -impee of Seyre, I came to London to satisfy myself as to the truth of that report. •It’s a? “I^ t me woitden right; Siqihy;” be docrlaren.' St»q4ie«.. J^ocjLjhan ever, aniong these icelniv brother.-■inav_L?^Xiuapprnj jelf again—Louise MamH.““pTe Mar quise de Huy never lived-except upon “I^ t me int.he<h>co\niy hrother.-may.l? J Jtu«pprbpriiyte surroundings, he seemed those IwKirds. It is simply a w*»nuerru1 rMy . brother Stmiiien- MI: •* - S*q>liy p» represent something almost-patrl- ciceatlon. Any one of the great at- Gerardv" ^' -'■•V— .arcbul; i forbiihiing and^disapproving ^ tre^ea would play .that pa ft and Tghry Stephen rose slowlyrkyi his uluce. .spirit sitting in judgment upon'some him Inhalf an boqr, and get my -bath that *yoq were a woman who was ' preasion? a*orth^ wuatonness,-Ui» ready at once.’! - an honest llfe?” - ^ ' 5 J T awake no^" ^ “He has been here some time al ready. irrndamf*.” Aiine continued. “I did not wislf to disturb you, but 1 thought perhaps, it was better for you t ok now that he?wo> here.” "Quite right, Aline," Louise decided. ‘Go down and_ieU him that I brill see in It—the very greatest* John. Oh, it's, laid down his pipe, and bow^d stiffly to modern and uuw' I>o you believe that any nfau living among that audience last night, coulo' watch the play—although you are a clever actress, madam—and believe scending the stairs, her fingepsFflew fo her throat. ,Slie held heyself tightly,- stnnding there with hertting- heart .and throbbing pulse&. It was not untjl .th© front d(mr had closed that she had the strength to move, to-.throw herself face downward upon -the couch; ♦ . ♦ • ' • - ♦ # • * Lohiseiate a very small luncheon, <Ou|Sr-1flr hut—an unusual thing for^ her—she drank two glasses of^wlne. JukV as she4tad finished^ Sophy Tame in, with Ink-stamped fingers and. a serjous ey V tTO BE^CONTiNUED.)