The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, December 16, 1904, Image 3
T. 7
ete /
>}.ly
yrlflht. 1005, by C. W
picked u;> the paper again
tm t?l r*pHUy. Kit uaiuo wa? lucnImj
am U bu.*1 that the Buuii^e lady
LWtw Im4 been arraotod refuacd to give
qmf >a?. It aeeiuad that the vvcut to
WMfwv* (karck au?l uakrd to tee tlio
for wi;iu year?Uic regisffm
of Mrha??. The sexton took the
taa mm4 akmw*4 tW bejka. Then it
qpmii that tk? rtruneu lady searchdi
tar m fcovr The sextan left the
lHtW| tar a few a i tastes. When lie
MtUiueC be katt thst she had torn u ,
MM Mt mt ?> lw?L W-? *- ? ? -
r-*>- ?- i/uvu. uciiijj luncu uy ;
apprise, She hud tried to eoncotd her j
theH, Hit fhe sexton seised her, re#?- <
Seed Hi* torn page and ended for 08- i
tMntiw. The end of tt w?n thnt th? 1
eimge lady?who was described ^
TtUft ft fore hern air- irns nrresi^.
gad plated In prison, "It >s Lo>& ,
nH flungf breathlessly. r^a
assented Bnwdeey, also paM? 3
1P)e ertflently tried to destroy the evl - i
4krace of yorrr mother's marriage." !
George gnre a cry. "Wnrgrovo," he
2 ?ntA, "tT?n?rove In Essex. It was In ,
v1 fee parish ehnreb that the marriage
tetfk place. And Lola knew?Lola"?
e paused. The eyes ef the twe men
i
CHAFTER XX.
?|T ~vrtn A o'clock when George left
. Bawdsey. Tlie twe had spoken
Tittle of the newspaper parage* pi
whgch Infer wed them ef LolaV
^ \**er name waa no
r/ . i W no doubt In th<
use ef Rew ene mr? >? ...
E, Thntr sW*r gave the year of
keek f -JWe sheet was torn, ami
i |fey \a?ed lo the yeer whei,
j^hirrled?er had been sop
osed K?^i^ffy?Roslnn Lockwood. Ant.
*Ms the explanation of Lola's ab
fVfkM frerg^OTm. She bad not fle<.
fnm Ae of Brendon, bnt had
MM to do . dm nn Injury by destroyRf
Ae evhiiaee of hit parents' marVtag*.
This finally wns tho moaning
0t her wild threat to Dorothy.
Bswdsey wan much upset over the
Rons. He woukl have fled immediately
to Wargrovo, but some special
baufuum kept him in town. Howover.
he purposed to go tho noxt morning by
the first train. But George was going
thcrt very duy. Lola could not have
known that his parents had been mar*
tied at Wargrovo without having seen
Mrs. Jersey's confession wherein the
fact was probably mentioned. Therefore
she must have obtained the copfees
to a tn soino way. How alio achieved
this, George could not conjecture.
Tlion ho thought of Lola's hot Spanish
blood, of tho stiletto?a peculiarly foreign
weapon?and shuddered. It occurred
to him that Lola herself must
have stabbed the woman. t
' Be found that 11 train left Liverpool a
street station for Southend at ten mln- v
utee past 5 and that Wargrovc was (
a ttny rural town which could be reached
fn an honr. Ever quick and expeditious
In his movement^ at the appointed
time he was on his way down 1
IM MKim*L.
ft was a dull journey. It seemed i
thnt the new town of Wargrove was t
the ylaee where the train stopped, but i
I eld Wargrove teas tbroo miles distant, *1
irsfl It was there that the parish
ehurch waa situated. t
As It prored, thero waa no necessity
for George to go there. Lola was *
stopping In tho policeman's houso prior
to her > removal to tho prison at a
Chelmsford. Her attempt at robbery
had been committed on the previous '
day, and Brendon tbougbt sbe wouft, 1
have already been removed. Uov^wFr, *
ho was Informed tbnt there vf jome
delay owing to the illness $tf the t
Chelmsford inspector, and therefore t
Lola would have to remain In War- i
grove for another twelve hours. Breu/
v' don was glad to hear this, as It would i
^) save bhn a 1< "** "'^thanked c
tho po!iceinni\ 'ped and t
was directed b\ sS the house
of his superior officer, which was on j
the outskirts of the town. George i
soon found a semi-detached house with
a notice ou it and on knocking at the e
door explulued his errand to a brisk i
ttttls woman. Sbo pursed up her Hps, t
looked inquisitively at him with bright i
eyeo and called her husband. George
produced a sovereign, but the official, i
although his eyes twinkled, hesitated
. to take the bribe. It was then that
Mrs. Policeman came to Brendou's as- ]
fftstanco.
"Nonsense, Jeremiah," she said i
briskly. "Let the young gentleman ]
see bis yonng lady. She's dying to
haro a sight of him." i
"It's all very well," grumbled Jeremiah.
"But 'tis against the law." t
j, ^ d can be presont at our Interview
like."
mere, Jeremiah, you can't have flie j
gentleman saying fairer than that" j
Here the sharp little woman nudged ]
ker husband's arms. This wus n hint <
tor blm to swallow hla scruples and
take the sovereign. Jeremiah agreed,1 i
and shortly the sovereign was In his I
pocket and he was leading George to ' (
a back npstalrs room.
Before Introducing George to this i
abode It struck Jeremiah that the prls- I
oner had been Inquired for, as "the .
young lady/' He stopped 6rendon at
the door. "Might yon know ber <
name, sir?"
"She Is the most celebrated dancer in ;
m>d hfc. QA&i ih Lola Vefcs," ,
.. v ?
ellow
By FERGUS HUME,
. Author of "The Mystery of a
Iinuaic <jb(M Etc. >
DlUincham Company
said George. "I don't suppose she'll
bo pv.ilu' e i truch for tills. Kile's iu:id
at times."
"CjIi. if s-!mr.u she'll get o.l' lightly.
but them pe. ru> li register to be torn
?It'* bad woik that. IIy father were
r. eexlon." explained .Jeremiah soberly.
"Atul luiturull}' .vou tiiiuJc uiie. Voles
has committed the moot atrocious of
c.'mrs. l*>ut don't sl.ui'.l chattering
here, tuy good follow. I have to return
by lite t) tr;^i."
"1*11 wait outsit." said Jeremiah as
Ire slowly unlocked tire door.
I/ola was Rented by the window starIng
out Into the darkness. On the table
was a small lamp, ami a five burned in
tiie prate. BUtrreo up wnen tne
floor closet! again. "Who Is?who Is?"
plre asked In her rapid way. and came
toward bin;.
"Ixrln." began George, but be pot no
Vurthrr. Khe ran forward and cried
>*t:
"Oh, my dear one, bast thou come in
anger? Trample me, make tne as
earth, beloved, but be not enraged?ah.
no?ah, no!"
"Ix>ln," he unld. taking n chair near
licr, "I Ik?vo come an yonr friead."
"Not in anyer?ah. but yes, in anger."
"I am not I am very sorry."
"Ah, l?nt in your eyes?they sparkle.
\ gee Meos Yards. I d;> try to steal the
hurch booku. You are furiously enaged."
"I?ook ut nn! and see."
But I-oln would not, so George took
er cljin nini ?? " >- ?'r-r raze directly
nto his eye:?. I.ola's were filled with
- !
"Never I I do swear."
ears, but after a time she began to
imile. "Ah, you are not enraged. It
vas for you I did it. I wish my dear
Jeorgo to myself?all?all."
"You know that is impossible."
"But it Is not. I will have you."
"Not at oil;"- said George delibcratey.
"You will marry Bawdsey."
"That pig?cow?horrible and miserible!
No, ali, no!" She sprang to her
'eet. "Never! 1 do swear," and producng
a am;-11 black crucifix from her
Iress sire l i-.>ed it vehemently.
"Now, Loin, I wish you to tell me
he truth."
"Ah, but 1 will. When you arc kindicss
I toil you all."
"Do you know that you have doue a
vrong thing:"
"Pschutt," she said contemptuously.
'I give that old mans knocks ou the
leads, but he is alive. Oh, yes, I did
tot kill him."
* uiut i. uii'uii iu? assault, tuougu
bat is bad enough. But your trying
0 destroy the register of the mariage."
'It is your fault," cried Lola iinpetlously.
"For loves of uiy George I
lid so. I wish you not to uiarry any
>ut ine."
"Wo can talk of that later, Lola,
knswcr me a few questions, and make
10 remarks."
"I will do what you say, my friend,"
mid Lolu, nodding. George thought
lor a moment. "IIow did you learn
;hnt Wargrove was the place where
ny parents were marriedV"
"Ah, you want to know all and then
rick me. I will not tell."
"Then I will explain to you."
"Aha, you cnunots?you know uotlings
at all. Tali! La, la, la, hi."
George spoke sternly. "Lola, I kuow
More than you give me credit for. I
iiave seen the dagger."
This time he struck home, for she
itarted. "What dagger?"
"Tho stiletto you left in Mrs. Jer?ey's
room."
"I did nothings. I was not there."
"Yes, you were. pFor all I know you
niny have killed tho woman."
"But it is foolish you talk, George.
1 did not. She wus frightened?oh,
very much afraid."
"80 ninch that she gave you the confession
you asked for?"
"Ah, yes?yes?yes," cried Lola, then
seeing she had betrayed herself she
began to be alarmed. "Ah, you will
say nothing. I would not tell anys
but my George. He loves me. He
will not see me dead."
"Good heavens, Lola, did you kill
Ihe woman?"
"That fat ladys in black silk? Ah,
no, 1 did not Bat atf wM ?o afraJd
oi t)? toil*."
???M??> ta??cw?W
-4DR. I. M
m den'
Grown and Bridge
Work a Specialty,
"You left lier alive on that night?"
"Why, yea. my George. We part?
oh. such good friends." Loin blew a
kiss from her linger tips. "Bbe quite
pleased, immense!"
"Well. Lola, as you have told so
much, you must to!l me all."
"There is nothing to say." she replied.
turning sullen.
George rose. "Then 1 shall go nwuy,"
ho d*?elare<L "1 came here to l>e your
friend. Ix>la. and to save you from
getting into further trouble. But If
you will not he candid"? lie moved
to the door. I
"All, my heart, do not go. Soul of
my soul, leave me not. 1 will do anyIbings
what yon asl; of iue."
"Then tell ino the whole story of
your visit to Mis. Jersey."
"But you will marry Mees Varxl!"
"1 do that in any case. See here,
I,oIa," he added artfully, "this marriage
register which you wish to destroy
docs not matter now. My grandfather
nas acKnowictigeo ??? ?u hu
heir."
She looked at him with wide eyea
and pale cheeks. "And you will be
milor?you will marry Mees Vard?yon
will?you will"?
"1 will always he your friend, LolaF' |
"You will marry Mees Vnrd?" she
persisted.
"Ixila"?he took her hand?"if we married
wc would never be happy. 1 and
you are different people. Po you wish
to see me happy 7"
"Yes?yes?but It is all so quick, my
dear. Give times?oh, give times till I
become used." She sobbed for a moment,
then dried her eyes and sat down
briskly. "I am ready, my George. You
shall be happy, but you must n?t for.
get poor Lola?ah, no!"
"Of course not," replied George, patting
her hand. "Now tell me the story.
Walt. Was it your mother who tehl
you of my father's death?"
"Yes," assented Loin. "She often
talked of your father."
"I hennl elm wno I? l??? ?'??- - > I
<u avio null BIIII, I
aid George slowly.
Loin shrugged her shapely shoulders. '
"That I know not. My dear mother
was handsome?oh, yes, and dark, nnd
fond of gnyness. She might have loved
?eh?it Is not impossibles."
"Did she ever hint who killed ray lather?"
Lola shook hor head. "No. Never
ild she say nnytlilngs. EIo was found
dead?stabbed"?she made a gesture - .
"that was all?nil!"
Evidently she could tell him nothing,
so George reverted to more immediate
matters. "Ilow about that night? You
knew that I was going to Mrs. Jersey's
on that night?"
"Ah, hut yen. You did tell me." . |
"Then wi-t made yon come also'.'.
Lola pvt ! or linger in her mouth and
looked down. "No, my George. I did
want l!:at confessions of the fat old
lat'.y. to stop you being mllor, and then
I tlvuvht you would marry only poor
Lola." |
' ii )',v did you know about the coni'o.u':"
**
"That i "... man told me."
"Ik:* d <\yV Why did lie tell you?"
"Im.'..iu; i' : ::id bola contemptuously.
"Ho i >,;-c ; : .o : >. I can twist and twist
?v i". id iii.i.'sa rapid motion with
f.e :. crs. "Wo did talk of the death
of your father!. 1 lamented that my
po moii.o did lovers your fathers tin- .
h.ersily. 1 did love you. And I was
11 .. ed l . i ik tli..t your fathers had
Ik :. l dit. : sk IJawdsey who made
,j gave the death??eh, It is, r.o
1 a;d:c I." ::' ?? added, nodding. "lie
couki not s-.y. lad he declares that
I .( ...... ? *
...... .> t?ii hit?en, uui my
fr:<. XI rr.."?
"XI i*h. Ji'iniy. Bawdsey declared
that she knew'?"
Lol.i nodded. "It was so," she as- '
sealed. ".Mrs.?what you call that fat
lauys- she write out all she know
of your father's death and of his marriages.
I say (o myself that 1 would
got that confession and learn where
the marriage was made. Then I would
burn the book that no one might learn.
After I would say to j'ou that I could
tell who killed your futlier If you
made me uindamo your wife."
"That's u very protty ' plot," said
Brendon. "80 far you havo carried It
out. You have tho confession"?
Lola put her hand on her breast. "He
is here," she said, nodding. "I carries
him always?always!"
"Give it to me, Lolu."
Her eyes opened in wide alarm.
"Ah, 110, you will not ask me. I keep
him to myself all."
George saw that tlic moment was
not propitious. But he was determined
to get the confessiou before he
left her. However, he begged her to
continue her story. "LIow did you
know the house V" he asked.
"ii wan tue scurlct windows"?
"I remember. Bawdsey gave you
tbat for guide."
"Bali! Ho knew not I was going,"
said Lola, with a shrug. "I got out of
him the fool rnau all that I did waut.
1 thought 1 would get to the fat ladys
on the uight you were with her, that
1 might have you for helps if she was
enraged."
"It seems to me that you protected
yourself very well."
"With the daggers?oh, yes. I aaid
to myself that if my George did not
come for the fogs, that Mrs.?what
you say? J a racy, oh, yes, would be enraged,
and I would have trouble. 1
took the stiletto to save myself."
"How did you get into the house?"
"Walt, ah, wait! I did not dance all
that Uight. 1 said I was ill, and 1
k
> (
Office Bank Building: J
Union, S. O ?
came arrays. I took tlie daggers and
a cloak, and I went to the square?it is :
not far from my houses"? I t
"No. You just turu the corner of |
the street," said Urendou. "Well?" i
"1 walked by the walls. It was after
10 o'clocks. 1 walk round and
round tlie squares, and I then sec a
red lights. Tlie door open?It was
open, and many people came out of
the bouses. The fat lady was on the
steps, waring her hands?so." Lola
wnved her hand. "A crowd was
around. I came into the crowd, and
when the fat lady was down shaking
with the handshake I aid slip Into the
bouse."
"That was clever of you," said
George, wondering at the dexterity
with which Ix>la had managed to eater
without exciting suspicion. "And
then what did yon do? Did you meet
any one?"
"Ah, but bo. 1 ram Into a place.
There was n room with a Ight, and '
Ibnt 1 dhl go into"?
"Mrs. Jersey's sitting room," marmured
George. "Year*
"I was nfrnhl to be thrown out, my
dear, and I hided behind n curtain of
the window ti>?
1US mi lllUJ Bill? U1U
foiUG in and close the door. She talk- 8
ed to herself of Ix>rd Derrington com- 8
Ing, and did seem enraged at him wwh- '
I ing to come?yon understand?" '
"Yes. What then?" 1
"She took from a box"? 1
"A green box, I/ola?" x
**Yes, n green box?she did take a *
blue envelope, and she looked at a pa- *
per?a white paper she took from the c
euvelo[>e. She laughed, and said that 1
inllor would love to have this. I say 8
to luysflf behind the curtains: "It is the i 1
confessions, 1 will have it.' Then she 1
"did put it in the envelopes and leave it c
en the tables. It was near me. 1
could steal"? 1
"And you did 1" said George iinpn- t
tiently. *
"But no. my George. 1 did try. and- 1
madnme she saw my arm. With n cry 8
she leaped to the doors. I come out 1
and say tliitt 1 wish to talk of the 8
deaths of Monsieur Vanes. Sho turns e
most white, nnd did not cry no more. ' E
Then she ask me what 1 wnnt. I told
madnme I was of Sun Rcnio, nnd did ?
talk of my dear mother, nnd of her love '
for Monsieur Vane. But this pig womnns
insult my mother. I become en- E1
raged, I bring my dagger nnd wave it [ ^
?o." Again Lola made n dramatic ges- j 11
turc. "I say that I kill her. She fall ! *
on her knees nnd hide her face. Then b
I did tako the confessions out of the n
blue envelopes nnd hide It" 8
"That was very clever of you, Lola. e
Did Mrs. Jersey see?" 8
"Ab, but no she did not I take it w
when siyt.Uie,cyca. covered. n
her so afraid, I had the con-1 P
tempt look you. I say, 'There, thore,' ?
and I throw the dagger at her feets.
Then I go to the door and say I would
depart. She beg ine to stop. I did
atop, and we talk of Sail Uciuo and of e
uiy mother. I say that you wore uiy *
love, and that Monsieur Vane was the
father of you"? *
'"Then Mie knew who I w as on that E
night?" ?
"Ah, yes, but alio did. I say yoti ^
wish to sec her the next day. She say, b
'1 will tell him nothings, and now go.
for I huve to sec a great gentlemuns.' v
1 was quite happy." 8
"Did she not miss the confession?" v
"No! 1 said nothing of wanting 0
that. It was In my pocket. Tho blue El
envelope was on the tuble. She never *
thought but what It was within. Then b
she ask me to say nothing to any one f'
about San Rouio, and we part quite h
happy. She allowed me out of the I(
door and closed it again, oh, so softly. P
I saw her no more." tl
"You left tne dagger behind?" ^
"It was on the lloors where 1 threw w
It. I wished to get away with the o
confessions led she should call me b
thieves. 1 did not wait for to take the
dagger. I departed. That is all." d
"Humph!" said George. The story u
seemed likely enough. After letting si
Lola out of the house Mrs. Jersey then a
came to see if ho and Train were in ^
bed. Expecting Lord Derrington and n
knowing from Lola who he was, she ti
no doubt expected George to interrupt I
the interview. llut linding hiin, us p
she thought, in bed, she departed sat- II
is tied. Then she met Margery, and
after locking her In her room went a
down to moot her death. It wus 11 g
wl en all this happened, and Bawdsey. h
in the coat of Lord Derrington, nr- b
ri vcu cioso upon 1^. xocreron, ns n
Lola left Mrs. Jersey alive and Bawd- e
sey found her dead, phe must liuve
been killed in tho interval, and who- v
ever had done this had used the dag- v
ger left by Loin. ti
However, George had learned all he v
wished to know In the meantime, and r
it only remained to get the confession n
from Lola. She refused t<^.give it up. b
Georgo entreated, cajoled, stormed, in- ti
slsted, but she still held out. "No, I a
will not; I will not," she kept eaying. n
Finally he hit on n solution of the c
difficulty. "If you do not give it to me t
it will bo taken from you when you <1
go to prison."
"Ah, but will it?" cried Loin, wide \
eyed with alarm. a
"Certainly, and will probably be pub- g
llshed in the papers. Keep it if you I]
like, Lola, but don't blame mo if you s
get into trouble over it. 1 assure you a
If you keep it they will take it." a
Lola pulled a white- packet from her 'o
breast and ran with it to tho fire, f
"foey will not have It. I burn?I bum.'" f
and she throw the papers on the fire.
I George shot past her, snatched them I
i
>ut before they could catch alight, and
thrust them into liis pocket Lola
turned on him like n tigress, and he
thought she would strike him. She
teemed inclined to do so. Then unexpectedly
she threw up her arms and
poIl into n chair weeping. "It Is the
nd?you love me no more?we part?
ac i?nrt. Tlie confessions will part us,
ill?all. ulas!"
CHAPTEIt XXI.
GEOltGE returned to town with
the confession of Mrs. Jersey
in his pocket. On arriving nt
the Liverpool street station he
vrote a note to Kowlnskl telling him
f Lola's plight and advising him to
ngage counsel for her defense. In an thcr
half hour ho was in his own
ooins.
After making a good meal, for he felt
hti need of food to sustain him, he sat
lown to read tlio manuscript of Mrs.
fereey.
The confession of the wretched wonan
who lind come to so tragic nn end
vas -written on several sheets of foolsnp
loosely pinned together. She wrote
11 a most cold blooded way nnd seemngly
exulting in her wickedness. All
hrough her confession ran a venunous
strain of dendly hatred toward
Seorge's mother, nnd Indeed against
iny woman who paid attention to
i an?. Jenny Ilownnl was not spared,
ind the woman Velcx, "who kept an
>il shop," was mentioned.
"My parents were of humble station,"
tegan Mrs. Jersey abruptly. "I believe
ny mother was a lady's maid. She
unrried my supposed father, who was
i butler. 1 say 'my supposed father,' as
have reason to believe that 1 was the
laughter of a certain Italian count who
ind loved and betrayed my mother. In
ler moments of rage my mother would
aunt my supposed father with this,
>ut when calm she always denied that
here was any truth. When I grew
ild enough to understand she rebuked
ne for usking about the matter. 'You
ire my daughter,' she said abruptly,
and the daughter of Samuel Stokes,
who Is the biggest fool uud the great?t
craven I know.'
"It will be seen that there was no
ove lost bctweeu my parents. My faher,
Stokes?as 1 may call him,
hough I believe the count was my
-eal sire?was always very kind to me
i?u nuiciaeu uie irom my mother's
age. She treated me very cruelly,
ind when fifteen I was glad to go out
is a scullery maid so as to escape her
ersecutiou. Shortly after I took up
Ife on my own account she died In a
It of rlolcnt rage, during which she
roke a blood vessel.
"It is needless to give my early life
a detail. I rose from scullery maid
o housemaid. Then I became parlor
aaid in a suburban villa, where the
rages wore poor and the food was
ad. 1 took charge of children when
ot doing housework and managed to
et on. But I was ambitious. I wlshJ
to get among the servants of the
rlstocracy. A friend of mine who
'as maid to tho Duchess of taught
le her duties, and I procurod a sltuaromlsod
to QO nroeir'Tbr^w.. nn4_gfro
ver, she died, and 1 was thrown uu |
ie world. 1 saw an advertisemeut
jr a lady's maid and got ths situalon.
It was In this way that I beamo
tho servant of that woman whom
hated so deeply.
MSho was called Itosina Lock wood
nd was no better born than myself.
Icr father was a low man who taught |
Ingiug, and slio appeared herself on
lie stage. I never thought she was
eautlful myself.
"At lirst I rather liked Miss Lockrood.
She was kind to mo in hor I
Illy way, and the gentlemen who |
rcre in love with her guve me pleuty
f mouey to deliver uotes uud other
liiugs. There was one geutlemau
'ho was the best of them all?and the
lggcst fool over her blue eyes and
ilr balr. His name was Irelaud, uud
e had plenty of money. Ho came to
>arn siugiug from old Lockwood sillily
to be near her, and proposed three
lilies to my knowledge. But she
rould lmvc nothing to do with him,
rllldl nina fr?r\liol? ?o ,'"'1 ? ???
m.vm omm ivvi.vu, ?n UV UUU UJUUC/ ,
ud she could bnve twisted bim rouud
er linger.
"1 was a handsome girl in tbosc
ays, though 1 say it myself. But if u
ouinn is good looking why shouldn't
be say soV 1 had a perfect figure
nd a complexion like cream and roses,
ly hair wus as black us night, and
iy eyes were sparkling and large. 1
lught myself to read and write, and
learned French. Also 1 learned to
lay the piano and to conduct myself
ike a lady, as I always was.
"1 knew my own value and looked
bout for the gentleman who would
ivo me my rightful position as u
idy. From my Italian father I Inerited
aristocratic tastes, and I was
ot going to remain a low, vulgar
oinmou servant all my life, not me.
"Then be came to the house. Percy
ras his dear name, and his blood was
cry blue. Lord Derrington was bis
ftther, a most aristocratic uoblemun.
rho wns an old brute, from my expeience
of him. But he was of blgh
ank 1 don't deny, and Percy had the
lood of heroes in his veins. Lie came
? take lessons In singing. But after
time I saw that he was In love with
ay mistress. It was her arts thnt
aptured him, else he would have
urned froiu her to me. But he never
id.
"IIow handsome and fascinating
vns my hero Percy Vnne! Pair hair
nd blue eyes and the figure of a life
nardsman?just the kind of man 1
Iked. lie was kind to me?for her
ake, I suppose?nnd gave me money
nd presents. She said she loved him.
nd used to make me sick with talking
f him. I let her think I was her dear
rlend, as If she had known my true
eellngs she would have sent me nwny.
"Lord Dcrrington was angry with
>ercy for. loving my mistress, and 1
V
I Qon't wouder at It, a low singing: worn*
I an. Perry bad some money of bis
own. Inherited from bis mother, and
( be proposed an elopement. He said
that Lord Derrington could not leare
the estates away from him and that
some day he would come In for the
title. She never lived to be Lady Derrington.
I was glad of that.
"Well, they eloped. After singing at
concert in St. Jumcs' nail he met licr
outside and took her to Liverpool street
station. 1 was waiting there with the
luggage. We went down to u place
called Wargrove, in Essex, and the
very next day they were married in the
church of that parish. I was furious,
but what could 1 do? Had I told Ix>rd
Derrington lie might have stopped the
marriage, bnt Percy would never hav?
forgiven mc, and I did not wish to lose
sight of him. As Mrs. Vane's maid I
had chances of seeing him <Ltily and
of basking In the light of his eyes. LI
was weak of me, but I loved him
dearly that 1 would have douc anything
simply to be In his presence. Itut I
wish now that I had prevented the
marriage. Since I could not get him,
I didn't see why she should bear off
theorize.
"Afterward we went to Paris, and
from that place Percy wrote to tell liia
grandfather that he was married. I
know he did not mention the place, for
the letter was given to me to pout,
and 1 opened It. I never gave It a
thought at the moment, but afterward
Percy's mistake In not telling where
the marriage had taken place did me
, a lot of good. 1 should not now bo
i writing in this house but for that
, lucky omission. Lor^l Derrington
| would have nothing to do with liia
son, and there was trouble with Mr.
Lock wood.
"I lived with the two of them duxing
their married life. A sou was born,
and she died. 1 was glad when she
died, and 1 was sorry she left the boy.
Percy was wrapped up In the child and
gave him to me to nurse. Mrs. V&no
was buried In Pere la Cbuise, uud thou
Percy, with myself and the baby, wont
to Monte Carlo. He gambled there In
order to forget his grief, though I
don't see what he hud to moan over,
seeing what a silly fool his late wife
was. Percy lost money and wroto to
' his father, who decllneil tn
Then he went to Italy and wandered
. about. Now that ho was I'reo I hoped
| to marry him. When not nursing that
horrid child I devoted myself to study
so as to bo worthy of the tlmo when
Porcy would marry me. I knew that
the future Lady Dorrington would hold
a high rank, and I qualified mysolf to
fill the position gracefully. I did work.
I learned arithmetic ami French like a
native. I got an old artist to teach mo
to paint in water colors, and I bought
a book which taught tho manners of
good society. Percy saw tho change hi
me and congratulated me on the Improvement
which had taken pince In
mo since leaving England.
"As to that child, I should have liked
to drown it or to have given it to gypsies.
As Lady Derrington I did net
wish to be troubled with her brat. B#nursed
him. Hut naa I gut na or tfce
child?and 1 thought of a thousand
safe ways I could have douo so?I
should only have been sent away.
"The cud of it cuine in Milan. We
were stopping at the Hotel de Till#,
and there was a waiter who fell la
love with me. He wue an English bey
called George Rates, a horrid, scrubby,
red haired, nasty, pale faced creator#,
who worried me to death. Besides, he
was younger than I was. and I wished
for a husband to protect mo. I should
have had to look ufter George Rates,
whereas Percy in the days to coiue
would look after mc. Besides I felt
that It was an Impertinence for a low
waiter to expect me to marry him, me.
who had done so much to Improve myself
nud who looked forward to taking
proud rank among the British aristocracy.
"At first 1 laughed at him. hut bs
became such a nuisance that I told him
plainly that I would have nothing to
do with him. He then accused me of
^mlnrv In lnvn r>-% m??af a%? T ??
knowledged It proudly. Why should I
not? A woman should glory In her
love. I did. I told George Rates that
I worshiped the very ground Percy
walked on. I gave my passionate feelings
full vent and bore him to the
ground under the storm of my Indignation.
lie told the other servants, and
they Insulted me, especially the English
ones, as there were two or three lu
the hotel. I was persecuted, but I bore
all for his dear sake. Then It came to
his cars. Percy heard what I had said
to George Rates. He called mo In. IIo
accused me of making him ridiculous,
of being out of my mind, of n thousand
and one cruel things. I lost my head.
I told him how I loved him. ( knelt
at his feet. I implored that he would
reward my love?my long, long sufferings.
Ho laughed In my tearful face.
At that moment I hated him, bnt not
for long. My life was bound up la
bis. When he dismissed me I thought
that my heart was broken.
(TO US CON TIN UKD.]
_ ,j? When m iHrl mm*.
ries a roan to get
riil of him she usually
achieves her
object.
The meanest man
in the world is any
rich inan who' does
not marry and give
some woman* * a
'r chance to reduse
his surplus.
A latchkey is the .guilty accomplice
In many a midnight carousal.
It Is no evidence that a girl Is a
good match because she flames up easily.
V