HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1914-6-11, Page 2The
Wedding Eve
Or, Married to a Fairy.
CHAPTER. XV.—(Contlnued),
The principal ballet: did not eotne on
uniil ten, and for Lilitb'e sake I ;regret-
ted 1.111s. At haltapast nine 1 Iled to
touch her oral to remind her of the
flight of titne, and I found her flushed
and radiant, with shining (..4108 and
Parted lips. gasing rapturously upon a
gentleman in sPangles, who Was balan-
cing three plates, a box. or cigars, a bot -
Ile, and a walking -stick on the end of
his 0111n.
"Isn't he wonderful?. she whispered..
"Very. laut, Lillth, dear, you must
come away now. It'e httlf-poet nine."
$he Shot a half -frightened glanee
"It's all right.. she murmured. "The
"—elate last train's gone., ytal know."
started frotn my seat.
"You told me, you assured me again
and again, that there was a ten o'clock
train to Eiristol on Thursdaysa'
"I said se—but there tent Please
dnn't be croes, You, Can't think how
much I wanted to staY,"
"Then you tow me a. deliberate false-
hood?"
I StipPOSe I looked very severe, for
sbe grew extremely nate, and Mid her
hand timidly on my arm.
"Please don't be angry.," she wills-
Pered. "I am enjoying myself so much,
and I dla so want a holiday. You see,
IC ant not a little girl any more, to be
alwaYS at achool. And --and I did so
want to be a little longer with you!"
lhe last argument told, as I suppose
she guessed it would, She was watch-
ing my face, e.ncl I suppose she saw
some change in it, for she withdrew her
fingers frorn my arm, and said quite
ioyously:
"And now wd can wait for the ballet,
can't we? wouldn't miss it for the
world!"
'What was. to be done with such a
girl?
As slie,herself had said. she was no
longer a child; nor could she be scolded
and punished as one. She was a young
woman, and as I realized thia, glancing
at her, the tremendous responsibility I
had undertaken with regard to her came
upon.me for the first time in its full
force and meaning.
In a quixotic' impelse I had under-
taken ,the guardianship of this young
creature, of whose early training. as-
sociations, and familY Characteristics I
knew hardly anything that was not
wholly bad. Her beauty. her innocende,
and her helplessness had appealed tO
me irresistibly. and the course I had
taken towco•d her seemed the only (JOS-
sib's one And yet what good bad I
done her? tilith cluoted menu French
With a very fair accent, and her English,
though slipshod, was passable. But
apart frOm theSe details, an@ some ex-
travagant tastes she appeared, somehow
1.6 have developed, she was Just the
same fascinating little vagrant who
had danced before me in the sunset
light at the "Bose and Crown" ratber
mote than a yeat ago.
It seemed absurd to keep her at
school; and yet what in the world nais
I to do with her when she came out?
Her alsingenuouseess on the subject nf
the time of the trnin was truly start-
ling: bat, try as I might. I could not
be very greatly shocked by it. It was
of no use expecting' conventional notiops
of clecoruth from Ude little Bohemian.
She wanted. to be happy. and she grasp-
ed at the chance even if it involved a.
, considerable amoupt Of Janninea 1`1111.e
401114 veil,' well nagg the night at INIrd.
aacipton's., aml On the following day I
maselt see her into the Bristol
train. Still, I felt it due to my position
guardien to remonstrate with her
over her alarming disregard of veracity.
and presently I observed coldly:
"a, presume you were also telling a
falsehood when you said yott had sent
a telegram to Mrs. Morland?'
Lilith nodded.
"I said it to prevent you from sena-
ingatenother," she answered simply. "But
Please dont speak 0.0 coldly to me. I've
had rather—ratber a hard time of it
lately, and now I'm enjoying myself so
It seems too bad to Snail it by
being cold and nasty to me. Presently
you will be married, and Lady Margaret
won't let you see me aby more. So you
mey as well be Mee to me nOW."
"I hope I shall see you again, and
very often,"
"You haven't been very anxious about
it elate now, have vou? And I was so
miserable when I first got to Horland
House!, I spent all my time for -the first
two months looking out of the window
for you, hoping you'd come."
Ikry heart smote' me at her word.%
"I was away," I said, ,nuickly, "paint-
ing, out of England—
•"0b, I know all about it," she said,
Interrupting me. "You were in the
yacht that rich young Istay yott are
going to marry gave you. And • you
have named it after hew Still, she
might have iet you come and see me
'just at first, It would have rnada a
great difference to me."
I could not say one word to defend
. myself against her soft -Voiced re -
often ana how passionately 7 had long-
ed lo see her, or how constantly her
image had danced between rue ,and
work. flitting Bite some newly risen Ve-
hos between my vision and the waves
I tried 10 paint. Luckily, Lilith's
thoughts seldom remained long ab-
sorbed with one subject, and Very soon
the gaily colored ballet enchained her
utterly, to „the exclusion of :111 remem-
brance of my eine of omission: and I
was left to watch the exquialte curves
„cif her profile as, with chin thrust a, lit-
tle 'forward, elle drank in the moving
pleteres betore her,
When it was all over. she was one et
the last reluctently to leave her seat.
"Oh, dear! I wish it seas going ta
hegin all over again!" she eighed, as I
drew her hand . through my arm and
b4040 My way through the crOwd in
match of a hansoin cab. "That Is the
werst of nice thIngs—theY Pass so
linickly one has hardly thee to know
onr ,is enjoying them.'"
'A philosopher already at seeenteeni
WhY, Lunb, YOu are beginning early!"
"18 it being a philoeopher to thavic
Monty things last too. :Alert a time!
Well, anyhow, I have had e, lOvely day,
thanke to you, dear Mr, Hervey. .And
DOW We are going to have anOtlier ban-
, acne, end I do love hansoms! I would
Inte to live in them. You can't think
how sleepy I am, though. I shall never
keep awake until we reach Battereea."
She spOke truly eneugh. Before We
had been driven out of' the aquare hee
head arooped again. ...Chen sbe loon her
bat off, and leaned her yellow head
anaitiet the boot of the cab. '
"it's rather uncomfOrtable," she pre-
sently Murmured sleepily, "I woncler
if you'd be, very.nntelt offended if I rest-
ed 111Y.bead On yoer shoulder? I ehoula
. be trench move comfortable.", .
I simald have been ;Other more or
lest.: than a Manaf X had resisted such'
an appeal, , slipPed my 11.0111 811011 her
WHAM., and With another deeP Sigh line
a thad enild, 14110 nestled her ,hltad. down
'11 000 my sheutdela and hi a. very tew
seconds was fast °select),
Beneath Lilith's soft cheek my heart
was beating toad and fast, I suppoee
710 man cart see for the fleet tithe un.
in01,011 the beet) of the woman he levels
reating on ins breftet, 1,1 littag aba01
tanst. and confidence in me appealed te
all .111at was best Mame, .While at the
Siting thee it C01114 110 1 fall to sting thy
"nity to note the Way lh vehleh ehe
ignored my love, atid treated me as
thotigh Wore eighty instead of tight-
antatweetn.'
Herateed, ae it. droarted fOrwerd more
heaVily, Made nant0' within My breast
Poeket rtmtle. 1 .t1.08 Iviadge'S
(Melted latter and this reMinder of iny
litineees existence served 10 1.017se in
a 'MOS Unreasonable ead tuljust
patiertlie itgehiei, hen
WhY Madge. allte bet greed
a duke, Or any Other of Hie still -de -Dared
,nettrig'idibtat 'be Whom she Was 'Au',
rolinded, and Icavcc.me In peaao rallek
MO ^Wear thin rittio trno nower? Ily
Matra/11g Midge, while with evfley fibre
'Of itlyabtaay I lot.04° LI 1 1 111, 0110Uld I 'not
be W01'11114' 0 011131 0/50ng against ell
Ihreit of ifs—against Mangil and 1,111th
and Myself? And Weald 001 Madge,
straightened a bit. And 'tlood-niallt,
Mrs, Jueltson,' she seals; '11111.1 hare Yoa
locked up for the night?' 'Not nte,
miss,' I says, 'for lnY, Illishand, being on
night -LIMY 011 the rallway. lets Id msel
in at tire in the meriting% Then I Went
to bed. sir, hut iny room Was to
hers, and, before I got off to Siecn.
111011ght 1 heard an odd sort of creithing
en the stairs. I veiled out and out no
answer. I hen 1 put ray head eta of ille
window. anti sew sonlelanly on the side-
'walk before can house 11111 1 a cab and
doed• was too dark for nie to see W110
J1.1 1.1111 1 11 and. (101 Ve away \TO' fast. In"
-it was, but I got a sort of presentiment.
and 1 slips somothIng tual knocks at
MY Young Itttly's bedroom door. There
•
once married to me. speedily alee0ver
that my love was given whully to cut -
other .woman? Wbat itappinees could
come, or ;melt a union?
the moment, when the nueetioll
flashed across my brain we were being'
driven down Northumberlaud Avenue,
Past tee great, new hotels, Oppoeite
one of these our driver mune to an un-
exeected standstill, owing to the sud-
den drawing up of tthother hansom be-
ts lot t cat. 1 )1 te
were three young men in evening' dress,
tenting ono laughing pretty loudly, Our
cab was stopped so suddenly and so
neer the other that the lights o.0 the
lattei• flashed full Amen our faces—L.1 1-
ith's and mine—and, to my intense an-
noyance, I perceived that one of the
three men in the other conveyance had
recognized Me and was laughingly
Pointing me Mat 40 his companion:a
The man was Charles Brookton. ars ad-
Mirer of Madge's between 10110111 and
myself there existed a strong dislike
whieh was. perhaps, partly the result of
Jealousy. but chiefly that. of antagonis-
tic tastes and characters. Brookton
Was Witty, cynical and dissipated. Ile
Was ill chronic need of money; but I
really believe he WaS nearly as ntueh in
love with Madge as with her money.
.And now lie had eertalnly seen me, and
would record the fact to alialge; had
'seen me, too, in a hansom cab with a
girl's fair head resting on my shoulder.
The cabs parted company. The mis-
chief was dime now. There Was no
undoing it, and thinks would be in no
WaV intproved by waking I
In 1.0111 w 1
fore the door of Mrs. Jackson's house
in Battersea. and then I gently stroked
Lill -that bale to arouse her.
"Lilith, dear, wake up! We are at
Mrss Jackson's house."
At the sound of nty voice slte moved
her head yawned, and, still half asleep,
etretched one arm up so that It lay
aoross my neck. But this was one point
beyond my guardianly self-coetrol.
Snatchinr, her hand to my- lips, I kisseil
It passionately, and pressed my face for
one brief second against her soft, flush-
ed cheek.
In an Instant she bad started up, ful-
ly awake, and laughing rather nervous-
ly.
"Whaa I declare I have been right
off!' she exclaimed. "I do hope I didn't
tire you? You will take me out to -mor -
tow, too, won't you, before I am packed
back to Bristol? Good slight. dear lin
Hervey. rve had a. most lovely dea.
So drove Mane to my lonely studio,
letting myself in with my ratch-key, for
Wrenshaw did not expect me, and had
gone to bed. And I drew out the deep
armchair into whieh Lilith had curled
herself when she first visited the stu-
dio, and took from my desk Nicholas
Wray's sketch of her and aalaclin the
cat asleep in it.
Far into the night I sat and thought
of her. with throbbing brain, and burn-
ing eyes, until, so strong tvas the fancY
and so great my longing for her, 1 could
earnest see her grey -blue eyes shining
ne tom the at c cornets t
1.00111. and feel the air shaken by her
rustling skirts as she danced between
me and the waning lamplight. At last,
to exorcise her witchlike presence, I rose
from my ehalr, stretched myself. drew
from my pocket Madge's uneven letter,
•
•
lips in reading the chronicle of Madge's
faeltionable conquests..
VerY, very far away my future wife
aeelnen Se. 1115 III athogg.aold. tours be -
Tore trte dittOi ea I Nattily 'tried to tradd
on paper the features of that other one
—the 1.111 • cl A d • • till
some few hours later, 1511011 after a few
hours' litful sleep and troubled dreams,
I got up, dressed. end asceeded again
to my studio, to find Lilith in posses-
sion. petting Saanitn, and teasing 'Wren-
shaw. who, with a sternly clisanproving
face, was laying the breakfast table.
"I tell you, you must really lay for
two," she was saying. as I paused just
outside the door. "Mr. Hervey has in-
vited me to breakfast, and, as it's nine
o'clock, Ian hungry. And it's no good
Yew frowning at me now. for rin grown
up, and don't mind a bit!"
. entered at that moment, and the
Man turned to appeal to me.
"Shall I lay tor one or two, sir?"
"Two," I answered curtly.
"What did I tett you?" Lilith finked
11 Ins, In triumph, as, with a backward
look of extreme disgust, Wrenshaw left
Then she Came to me, and held out
her small right band in greeting, laugh-
ing etel blushing a little.
lou see, I am much better aehaved
than I used te be," she said proudly. "/
don't cell your servant 'Mr. Wrennhawa
and I don't hug youl"
"You may do the latter if you 151811
to."
"But clon't. I know better now,"
"If you knew very much better, my
dear child. you would have avalted at -
Mrs. Jackson's for me to fetch you,
Young ladies do not come unchaperoned
to artists' , studios. I don't wonder
Wrenshaw was surprised."
"Why, you axe, my chaperon!" she
exclaimed, with wide-open eyes, "And
I'm not a youn lady I'm onl a lit-
tle. marsh -bred gitmat at, the best."
• Just at this point there came a loud
single'knock at the front door, whereat
Lillth turned nest red and then pale.
s t at od ous Mrs. Jackson, she
murmured apprehensively,
And, sure enough, Wrenshaw's tan
a feW seconds later beraided his ap-
pearance with the news that his sister,
airs. Jackson, from 13attersea, humbly
begged a moment's private conversation,
as she had something most particular
to tell me.
CHAPTER NW.
As seen as Wrenshaw had left the
room to inform his sister that I would
see her In the hall below, Isilith sptang
from her seat, which faced mine at the
breakfastatable, and approached me in
evident exciteMent,
"Don't believe a word she says!" she
whispered, "I can't bear that Mrs.
jacason. She's a regular old eat. She
hates Ine and suspects rne, and Watches
me just because I am pretty. Promise
YOU 11,011'1 listen to her tales about me,"
"I must see her 310W that I have pro.
711100d.'
"Why should non? Send her about her
business. She's only come to try and
make misehief,"
. "You forget tbat her brother has
been In my service, and that of My fa—
ther before me, Joe over thirty veart. I
can't treat it relative of him badly,"
'Well, then, if you 'will listen," site
pleaded, Clasping her hands round my
arm, epromise me at least that You
wo»'t belleVe a word else says, You
don't know wbat awful stories She.
makes ' up 0110114 pe01/10," •
"I promise at least to 'tell yeti evern
word that paSsee between us. W1 1 1
that tontent you? Let me gal now; dear.
I moat. see the women, sines I saki I
would,"
Very reluctantly she withdrew her de-
taining clean,. and at myclast view of
her 010 Was standing cillsoonSetletely In
the middle of the room, with a look of
fear in bee eyes,
I (Mit that my mind mlsgave me as1
deseencled the stairs to where Mrs..7ack-
eon, a Solid, tidily dressed, 'motherly
100141 170 Sort of woman. was seated
ing ber rne on. a Chair in the hall.
alle rose at my. approach, She was a
little led in the filen and very deter--
minecalooking, but civil eta collected
manner,
"0 shouldn't be doing my duty, sir,"
elm began, "Ithewing, and re:meeting
Yelle family as I clo, if T. didn't Meet
te yeel What happened 1004 1110114, Tt
g001.1 agathet rne to eee 111011ey and kind-
bese Waeted 011 Worthless and ungrate-
ful people, 010; nnel E think I only.right
yea eholad khow the tenth,"
The blend rushed to rny face but I
kept my tompets nral %sited ner celdlY
H01..10,111 beretle
•"Ins abeut the wanut 11erson You left
nt nouno at riair.onar, moron rant
niant.,01r;! silo Proceeded, "T naked 1104
if.'elleati nave. any sunner„und she Moe
ehe woe Me Heel fol.' anything' but to
go right off to bed. SO, aS T had rOofii
mule, Net Went, tip with 'her and
kW taulliT.Yn(40.'uta.nduflte7tansL..1.0,143(oedn'iligV11:1
11 ht4V. en able, ieen ludaeh at] 11110 a1,801,1,;(,),i1,sL) 1„1.1 ['nu !,1,,c1.,,c1
;again, there was 114) notice 11114011,
!anti downstairs I went to the hall, when.
wlutt 0.10011,1 I find, but the front dear
!left ajar. and the evraper etuelc betweeu
; tit° 14 et,'"81 1 tist TsitTyt. liCsuiL• rinic°s9 a tulle).
I %my they'd had htn•glars in this ve03'
; road only a mouth ago. So I Just blows
'eta 1117 eandle and gets behind the door
(111141 Wa IR. And at close on one ()clock
I hears •a cab rattling down the street,
land etopping suddenly a Iittle Way UP.
!Then rem 00 1101.11 Yillg footstep's, and my
lady sneaks up the steps, lifts mit the
Seratier, and—finds herself ln any arms.
"Yes. sir: there site was, this beauti-
ful allee 1 illtl n a 11 1 he • bat on
!but 110 gloves, anti us frightened as
'could be when I caught her so nicely.
'Who IR It1" She saY0.• 0.11'01' a pant. ' 1 VS
, me' Mrs. Jactivon, your Miallatlea 1 say%
I 'Nice gelngs1-011, I MUM HaY. for 00,mg
111.41,0' to go off alone at twelve o'clock at
. night ill 0011."1. only went to Pad-
; clington Station after my luggage,' .saYs
sbe, 'A very likely etory,' says I, 'We
I Shari see what Mr. Hervey will think ot
lit when I tell him to-mnrrowa 9,4r.
:Hervey!' she cries out, 'Oh, you would-
n't tell binta And there in the hall she
"almost went clown on her knees to me
tO beg and prey me not 10 let you knovv.
' And it was 'moo Mrs. Jackeon,' and
, 'Dear Mrs, ittekson.. goodnees knows
!what she wasn't going to ao for me if
only 1'd help her to deceive you, And
she empties her pocIcet and pulls out a
few shillings, and peesees them laPon
me. for the children.' as, site says, and
she'd give me any amount more the next
day if I'd promise not to tell you. But
T let her money fall to the floor, • and.
says I. I knoty my duty,' says, 'and
I'm going to do It And now up you go
10 your roorn. miss, and you give me the
key and I locks vou in. And if you was
the Queen of England I wouldn't have
You 1» my house another night! And
then she creeps un -stairs before me, my-
ing and sobbing, but very quiet and obe-
dient; and she goes to her room, and I
loclae the door. and opens it at eight
o'clock this morning. .And I'm sure, sir,
after this that you'll understand when
7 say that not even for you could I
lodge the young person another night.
I'd do a great deal for you, Mr. Hervey,
a very great deal; but I've got n. young
family growing up. and all of them old
enough to take notice, end my A.nna
Mateo turned ten ancl—"
"I quite understand, alrs. Jackson.
But I was not going to ask you to ac-
commodate Miss Saxon another night,
She returns to school to -clay. I will
speak to her about these tiresome
schoolgirl pranks of hers. Meanthne,
will you tell me what I OW0 00u. On her
account?"
"arhoolgirl pranks!" ejaculated the
WOrthy Mrs. Jackson, falling back a
step in extreme disgust at the small
effeet her bombshell appeared to have
created. "Well, of all the--"
"I will give It to you in change," I
said, "Jr you will tell me the amount;
and am very much obliged tO you for
your care of Mies Saxon.
She seemed 1 110110501 to dilate upon the
subject of Lilith's delinquencies; but
sate'. a glance at me she was shrewd
enough to realize that I was not to be
imposea upon, she contented hersele
tvith naming a moderate sum for L11-
eapenses, having received which,
to my infinite relief, she took leave of
aly calm and apparent indifference to
the startling nature ot Mrs, Jackson s
disclosures were wholly aSSUMed. In
reality, I WEIS perplexed, distressed, and
astonished beyond measure. I Mal not.
the heart. to face Lilith hnmediately;
but I walked stupidly" up and down the
hall, and in and out Of the two ground -
floor rooms, revolving lily 1111 114 What
1 should say to her.
It was it 'malt be, scene mad frealc on
the part of the child, disgusted by airs.
aacksotes vulgar etarionity and altYing'
ways. Yet, why should she have been
510 fearful leet 1 shoulcl hear of her es-
,capatle? And why. only a few minutes
ago. luta the cOlor left her face at the
mere Idea that I should hear alrs. Jack-
sen's Story? Why had she implored me
not to see the woman? Why—oh, Heav-
en, It was terrible it was sacrilegious
to suspect tbat inniteent, blue-eyed child
of aught Mat schoolgirl folly!
And here another horrid doubt assail-
ed me. Would site, wheu I taxed hey
with last night's flight even tell me
the truth? Already she had lied to Ille
on more than one occasion, and over
trifling matters. Could I, therefore,
hope to coax the truth front her?
A sense of the absurdtty of mY Posi-
tion, too, assailed roe. How ceuld eight -
and -twenty lecture seventeen? Had I
hatl to do with a lad, words would have
come easily enough, and strong words,
too; but with a girl, and a girl whoin I
passionately loved, it was a very differ-
ent matter. So much hung upon ber an-
swer—almost, Indeed my belief .in wo-
manhood. 2,Iy. eorehead grew damp with
the intensity of my anxiey and grief.
Had there only been a. woman within
reaeh 10 Whona I could have transferred
the duty of hringin Lilith to book, it
would have been an nlinite relief to me.
A woman would at least know what to
say. and of that I had no iclect.
At last, after what seemed a long in -
ten al of woreying thought, I went slow-
ly upstairs to the studie and 'opened the
door, There was the culprit, in her
snowy muslin dress, curled in the big
armchair, with Saladin in her lap, the.
sun stracing through the slanting north
winaow upon her yellow head. Her
hair Was apparently not to her lilting,
anti she WaS engaged in plaiting it. iip
Neal 11Oolc'e\ds a child again, and this help -
it fell about her ehOulders
ed me to the tone r ;Should take With re-
gard to her,
1* drew a chair unJuSt in front of hero,
and began, muell in the tone one adopts
totearde a refractory child;
"What la all this I hear faom Mrs.
Jachson •about ybur putting the. scraper
in the door, and going off for a han-
Com drive last night at twelve o'clock,
and nevee returning till one? Where in
the world did you g0 to?"
She Mut been changing color and look-
ing thoroughly frightened when first
began; but as I contintlea sneaking her
face cleared.
"E will tell yeti the teeth." she ex-
claimed, in a voice of sudden decision,
raising her' head and throwing the hair
back out of her eyes. "I—I came to the
Stl''`Id'io°U.. pante hene?"
she gave ma a long look which I did
not noderetand. Then she lowered her
eyes and drew a quick breath. •
"Yee," she answered, in a verY 100e
tone "1 came here"
yOu had itiSt Ported, froal me•
Surely yen 111iflet want to see me again
sO :soon? Ana did you knock or eing? T
Was sitting Inn I must have heard you,"
'Vol" ansWered slowly, Witb ber
eyes fixed upon Sttladin's ruffle, with
which her fingere played. T. didn't dare
to, I felt dull. 110104.1\1ra 2aakson's
house, Ike driving in hansome; and.
of cotirsa kneW no one in London but
you, and had nowhere else to gel and 1
wasn't sleepsa and I wanted to be eatte
a friend, so I arove 10 the• rettallo,"
"06 1 ? 1.1 t ti
night? Did you eat out?"
"Yes, and T Walked about a bit, aro
I 101c1 the man to drive home the longest
Way. ea. I didn't Want to go to bad,
That'S all. But didn't Want YOU' to
know Wee so Silly."
alY ilectet beat faster with a 40Y which
T eotild hardly eeprese. The thOeght..0
tido little, loeely, lonely ereature actual-
ly driving to the house where was, and
Wandering lipaancl clown In trent of it, to
be tette ber only reload. in Landon,
touched me deeply.
But it. luthooved me to be very steen
about so mad. a prank, fold petteettied
Its well I could to lecture her on' her
nduet.
't()"Thittic hete Y'61.1 ,frinnterted nom aara,
,Tnaltstor" I laid 'ant ' 1 1 b
WI 11 telt about you, Girls tan't be too
careft11,—.00610 are so ready, to say an.
Ithal things,. eseeclully W11511 the girle
aro ate pretty as you."
"I am pretty. tun I not?" she radii,
smillug at me with 11;111)1,1 blue eyeS
through a tangle of sort 1101 r.
I am glad that a'renshaw entered at
thet moment whit some fresh tom foe
teldell he Pretended to 111 nit had rung,
Otherwise I must. certainly have ltiHsed
her, for my Stock of selfseontroi was
tepidly evaporating, and the story of
er pH...anode bad made me more 111 1000
with her 4111111 eVer.
1111. L. loth ow seemed to (11 01 110 tals, for
he would keep pa
prvtuncling to dutart'citliga utbIclUyt, tahned"(11,01'12
rangn' things. while 1.111th and 1 were
iimsbitig breakfast, -going' ..0000 the
length at last of talcinn ,Alatigeat Met
letter. I hatl left op the mantel-
pieee, and obsequionsly olferieg, it to
"n:must have dropped out of your coat
14(101(:)1:(•11c1.:c1 stike" inha0n8isaille'itClni.(111a,1 e0u1d bay'
But I knew toy own clanger as well
30 he did, mid Wolt resolved as have no
more tete-a-tetes with my bewitching
and irresponsible protege.
3.1.%.01,1ti ostii,,t,tis., ib,irme atitcgt tat isiti tztstilowv e,t; Jut
ftiet that from. her own account elle ap-
peared to be almost destitute of any
wardrobe hut .What site WaS • actually
wearing, and laying up in my ONVII 2111 114
a Yery unfavorable reckoning agatnet
Sara Staahope Morlancns stewartIshin.
For my own special delight 1 drove
Unfit to one of the best photographer's
In the West lend, and here We slielit
fully two hours and a half, making the
child kurn bee head this tvay afid that,
take her hair down mut put it up (wait),
smile, look serious, lie eurled on a
couch, eit upright on a chair, strike 0
40110111g attitmde and rest hee cheek
against a cushion with closed eye% as
though asleep.
'Whatevee happened,. I was resolvea at
least to possess plenty of pictures which
would recall to me my little mat•sh
fairy, and in one study In particular I
wa.0 most careful to arrange the light
so that, as site stood with spelling face
and loosened hails and•Ohe foot pointed
as though beginning to dance, the ef-
fect might resemble that of the sunlit
vision tipOn which I had first feasteel
my eyes at Lythinge.
Lilith was a perfect model, and enjOY-
ea the peeing thoroughly, To look
sweetly pretty in various attitudes, with
several men gravely conaidaring her,
realized one of .her notions of happiness.
"Shouldn't I have made a capital ar-
tiat's model?" she asked me more than
once as with light touches, ?Very one
of which sent the blood tingling to mY
finger-tips, 1 arranged her hair, or mov-
ed her head or hand so that it should be
well in focus.
The photographer and his assistant
were actually eathusiastie,
"I have really never taken studies of
a. more beautiful subjeet," the former
confided to me before I left.
Far from being tired after her experi-
ence in the studio, Lilith almost bound-
ed along Regent Street by my side.
"Wouldn't it be lovely if life °Mild be
always like this?" she observed :settees -
1Y. "Going about and spending money,
and having nice things, and being ad-
mired?"
"With Me for companion?"
"Of course. You are always so nice
to me."
"Would you really think it lovely to
be always with me?"
"I think so because It Is irnpoesible,"
she answered. arerting her eyes as they
met my gaze. "All very nice things in
life are impossible, aren't they?"
I did not answer. Had she been an
experienced old hand instead_ of a
sehoolgirl, she could not more skilfully
parry all the attempts at lova-making
Into which I every now and then slip-
ped.
After lunching together, Lilith ac-
companied me quite meekly to a, tele-
graph °glee, and stood beside me while
I despatched a message in her name to
Mrs. alorland,
"Expect 7110 by the four -thirty train.
"Lilith Saxon,'
"Of course, she will be surprised at
getting a telegram from you in London,
when she thinks you are at Weston,' 1
hsasi0c1"08"bbus.t tyypous isnautzt, explain things tO
"I think I can make her understand,"
Lilith returned.
Something in ber tone made me look
at her sharply. Her eyelids were lower-
ed, and an odd, ahnost a sly, smite WaS
Playing about the corners of her mouth,
"I have rather lost confidence in the
management of Morland House." I said.
"It is clear to me that I must look after
you more closely In future.
She koked up in evident alarm.
"011 don't think that!" she exclaimed.
"I am sure you are doing airs. Morland
an injustice. You have no idea how
kind she is—just like 0 11101 her to me,
And she dOesn't at all like being inter-
fered with—she hates surprise visits
and that sort of thing. It argues Want ,
of confidence, she says. .And I, think
eh le 1 t 1 't s"
"She has no right to let you g0 about
shabby aud in boots down at the heel."
"It was 511 my fault. And that re-
minds me, Mr. Hervey. I have some-
thing I very, very much want to .. ask
you. Bet I am afraid you may be an-
graa Ana I wouldn't vex you for any-
tehulkirnpegrils.e..° Site was dulte Pale, and her
ice shook. T looked at her in
lips trembled.
"Why, what in the world Is the mat-
ter with yom.child?" I exclaimed, "'You
know quite well that you have no reas-
on to be afraid of me, and that I will
do anything in my power for you."
"I have got In debt," she faltered,
"In debt?" repeated. in grant sur-
prise. "To whom, and hOW much?"
"To—to severaJ of my schoolfellows
—I will never borrow again—I have
been quite miserable about it. It is—
thirty pounds!"
"Thirty pounds!" I repeated, with a
low whistle of astonisliment "How in
the worla did you manage to spend
thirty feeunds?"
"It was at cards." she answei•ed,
seeming to gain confidence 11.8 she 1210-
ceeded. "One of the girls is an Ameri-
ic&nd 1114:cillethnVtelrentt? 11.)1V7erel
in our becb•oorns. Of esters% Mrs. Mors
land knew nothing about it; but the
others were rich, and play,ed fm money,
and of 'course, I ought to haVe
remembered that I haven't any money
but what you in your kindness give me,
13ut T got led aWay, and I kept on toe-
ing night after night as I went on, in
the hepe of getting it back. And the
girie don't knOw about you, 01 they
would tease me dreadfully, Mrs. Misr -
land told me not to tell them; and they
thInk I have rich relatives in London";
and when they knOW I have been to Lon-
don, they will expect me to have got
eeflievrlef' Ire: :se"
e , AV , very gravely.
,,Tiut, 1,41ith clear, if pay this and re-
member, I a111 very. very far frorn. be-
ing a rich man—you muat give me your
wmojcsl of honor never to garrible any
Will 'yeti no this?".
"Oh, I swear It on my Solemn Woed1",
she said hurriedly, eviclenly nmeh ro-
lievetl, "I've been quite miserable 'about
It, and shOUldirt think of touching a,
card again. .And .you will let fne have
the thirty pounds, wen't s •
I wrote 'her out a, che While we
were having a cup of tea by the station,
and with it gave her a, long exhortation,
to which she listened with the gieatest
gentleneas 'and submission, buL without
I feat', paying any vela, °lose atentioa
to 1110
A -kow minutes later T ;Acted 'Upon the
Matto] t11 while the Bristol train Molt
from ine a (lower -faced girl, who smiled.
and. kissed her hand gany front the ear
witildU0,was. certainly aorne five-end-fOrty
pounds the poorer for her visit to Lon-
don; but at the Innment of starting ebe
had thrust ber head Mit of' her comport -
Mont and 1140 glYen me a long, Mgt, un-
aslved-for kiss upon my cheek,
"ClomW/Y, dear Mr. TIervey! I shall
never 'forget yoth• kindness 'lever!"
'Then the train had 'taken bet, from
me, before T had even time ta make a
Moll of myself. by telling her I conld die
for her,
CHAPTER XVII.
The next fortnight WWI tinfroult one
to live through, / canto to -,1.0ten
eevceal renstme, I wanted to choose.
paints and canvases, AS Well as clothes
tO last me' daring my' rioxt lohg eatottil)
and t thin particulerly wanted IA) get
tiOn10 StudieS Of ar) old nmelel Whe Woe
filaitalatie for elltiegs there being tis Viks
beeeSeal'y fit mar next picture,
Sug, :r
does make the
bread and butter
taste good r
T is when you spread
it out on bread or
pancakes, fruit or
pen -ridge, that you notice most the sweetness and perfect
purity of REDPATH Extra Granulated Sugar. Buy it in the
2 and 5-1. Sealed Cartons, or in the 10, 20, 50 or 100.1.
Cloth Bags, and you'll get the genuine trgaggt, absolutely
clean, juit as it left the refinery. 83
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Spohn Medic's' Co.. Chemists and Bacteriologists, 13.)shena..d.U.S.A
It happened to be an exceptionally fine
and sunny autumn, and, as I have sa,id
before, I particularly love London out
of eeason. But I very soon found I was
too meat in love to put my heart in my
work as I used to do. aly first moment
of real happiness came with the arrival
of Lilith's photograph% for as a corre-
spondent elle was hopeless. Not one
word had I heard from her since we
parted at Paddington," though 1 bad
written her a long, long letter of grand-
fatherly advice, just for the pleasure of
talking to her.
But the photographs were really like
her. Fifteen big proofs, which, regar -
less of Wrenshaw, I stuck all about the
walls of my studio, after giving strenu-
ous orders that no one 'was to be, ad-
mitted, and that I was "out of town"
to everybody.
I stuck them up, T eay; and then
leaned back in the armchair—her arm-
ehttir, against , the thrice -blessed
cushions of wbicli her fair head had
nestled—and, filling a pipe, I let my de-
lighted eyes range from one portrait le
another, and return to one large, smit-
ing head helcl in nty hand,
So absorbed did I become, and 030 lost
In the study of the lovely curves or her
slim form and the radiant youth of her
exquisite face, that, half closing my
eyes, I could almost see her befme me,
ifiLlityin.g the air with sunshine and laugh-
ter, and stirring my heart to blissful
"LIU I hi" I murmured, under my
breath, half dreaming in an ecstasy of
love. "Lilith—Lilith!"
A wainan's laugh sounded close be -
and me. My chair was turned with its
back to the door, and some one had en-
tered the r00211. But it Was 1101 Lilitins
laugh. This was a fuller, Metier voice,
and even before I tut•necl my bead I
became sensible of that exotic fragrance
of perfumed hair, perfumed face -pow-
der, and perfumed clothes which hung
about my fiance, Lady Margaret Lori-
mer,
1 started from my chair and faced her,
slipping Lilith's picture within the
pocket of my painting -coat.
Madge did not appear to notice the
action. She W011 exquisitely areacsed 111
a sort of traveling wrap of tan-coloved
silk, with many dainty capes, and a big
straw bat of the same shade, and she
held out both hands towtted me.
I took them mechanically. / Could
not.find it 111 me to pretend to welcome
her with any show of pleaSUre. The
sight or her inspieed in me nothing but
seneations of regret, defiance, and irri-
tation. But for this brilliant, fashion-
ably. dressed. artilicial-loolcing woman
of the world, with her money, her dia-
mends, and her trenchant wit, I could.
take my lovely childlike Lilith to nty
heart; and this thought helped to make
me constrained and self-conScious as
lightly Idesed the scented end I/mitered
cheek Madge proffered to me.
"You did not expect me," she saki,
sinking gracefully into the armchair I
bad jinn- vacated. .
I made an instinctive movement to
prevent her from taking it. T could not
bear to see her just where I always pic-
Cured Lilith, though, esthetically, I was
forced to admit that she made a most
attractive picture of the Tissot order,
.with her abundant hair tinted 0. ruddy
chestnut, whieh WAS the moat poptAar
Shade at Homburg that year, and curled
and frizzed to' perfeotitm, offering -
piquant contrast to her bright skin,
which no powder seemed able to spoil,
and to those claakest of hazel eyes of
abe''')8r.'ou didn't expect to see me," she 08 -
abated. "Clearly. you weren't thinking
of me. Are you very busy?"
"Very. As I wrote 111 my last letter,
I am doing some studies from old Rig -
gins, the model whom Nature clearly
intended for a taking. I expect him this
morning 111 half an hour's time."
laer gaze roamed about tne room, As
It rested on Lilith's mbotographs—a doz-
en large panehaand,,two heads of cabin-
et size, besidee the one I had thrust in-
to my pocket—I felt the blood rise 'to
my 0118014, Madge made no remark just
then, but turned again .on me
'My mind is so much.set on yeur giv-
ing a one-man show in Bond ntreet Gala
tory next spring," she amid "1,1 would
de you all the good 1 11 the world Some
t that work you showed me on the
yacht when papa, coal I Were at Cowes
was renny very bettutiftil. During the
last year, Adrian, your painting has
gained a quality you never showed be-
fore,"
She was looking hard at me as she
spoke.
"You paint," sbe enntinued slowly, "as
if you felt the bealay of things more
than you. psed to,S
st groWihg older." ' 'said. "A
painter ehould'underetand nature 0 1 1 1t10
bettee every year if, he is worth cola -
thing, But,. lairulge have you 001118 all
the way from Hombarg Us tell me this?
And is 111y allele With SIM? And your
motho? Aral wheel. did you, arrive. In
h?mi'Se,l,porning. Only Henriette
wt°.:Zele mused. Her eyes roved,..eound
the ratan again, knew it wag ceming.
she eose, and, walking strainht'to IA 1-
Ith.s photogranhe. examined 1110111 olden..
Crew, 'Then, standing before them, With
her back turned te me. she remarked in
clear. level tones which betrayed no
etn41101anits,vhvateervyeivaretty girl 1 is 06., s
200001 ?"
(To be continued.)
Minister (ealling on inmate of
prison)---Iterneinber, Mr, Kenney.,
that stone walls do not a .prisori
'make, nor iron bars & 'cage. Keit-
ney—Well, they've got me hypno.
tizod then; that's all,"
ownite, come right into the
110115e. 1 don't want you to play
•wit,h that little boy • any more,'
"All rig1-4, mother, I've just won
his last rouble, anyhow."'
THE Imun oF BOEHARA.
Ins Annual Savings A mount, to
More than $8,000,000.
•The largest private hoard in the
world is probably that owned by
tho Anmer of I3olchara, the Russian
vaasal State in Central Asia. Ac-
cording to the Turkesstanskiye
Kraj the Ameer possesses in his
stronghold vault 315 feet long, 45
feet wide and 20 feet high, com-'
pletely tilled with gold bats and
coined gold.
Some years ago the Arneet had
another vault built to hold his sav-
ings, and the new storehouse is 11010
also almost full. There is tit the
Bokharan court an enormous cash
book, which has served for geneoa-
tions and in which all revenues. and
expenditures are supposed to be' put
clown, but also for generations it
has never been checked with the
"cash in hand."
Grafting is the easiest thing in
the world at Bokhara. The Ameer's
officials draw no salary. They are
appointed on the understanding
that they must keep themselves on
what they can make out of their
various offices. There is. no budget,
and We largest permanent charge
on the Ameer's income' is one of
SI`5,000 annually for a local hospi-
tal. Then there is a small contribu-
tion toward the upkeep of the Rus-
sian pollee in the protectorate and
the maintenance of the Bokharan
"army," which has shrunk to a
raere bodyguard.
Tho Ameer's annual savings, it is
calculated, amount to more than
88,000,000 a year. He is by tradi-
tional usage compelled to send
every ye.ar number of valuable
"presents" to the Russian authori-
ties at Samarkand and Tashkent.
These presents consist of carpets,
silks, and the like, which are imme.
diately 'sold by the recipients to na-
tive traders front whom. the Ameer
as regularly buys them hack at
fixed prices, to be stored np and to
serve again as "presents" .the fol-
lowing year.
THE 'CITY OF MEXICO.
Points About the Capital of Distressed
Country.
Mexico City is 7,415 feet above sea
level, and by rail 264 miles northwest
of Vera Cruz. With a, wet, iindrained
sub -soil, and many thousands Of -In-
dians and half-breeds, living in orowd.
ed quarters, the death rate has been
notoriously Iiigh-46 to 66 per thou-
sand, though drainage works, under-
ground Severs, and sanitation have
tended to improve these conditions.
The city is laid out with almost on.
broken regularitY. The name bolfoc•iac
street changes with almost every
acoording to Old Spanish custom. The
Paseo de la Reform% the finest avenue
in the city, is a. broad boulevard al-
most three miles king. There ayere
(1908) 323 governinent gehools in the
city, inclocling 13 professional and
technical schools, ,and nearly 200. pri.
vete' schols; EL Geographical Society,
en Association of Engineers and
Architects, and a Society of Natural
History, also a Natior.al Library dedl-
cated in 1,692 of upwards of 226,000
volumes. There are over 150 menu-
factuatiog establishments, Including
ircwmt-aany:r141in.ggoosdlitipl. "T1 .haviet 6 x00.4
job get'awity •from him 'becatise he
harbored -the delusion that no other
man Wile smart enough to get his
place.
gasson-----.02sess
Vor nursing- mothers
Na-Dra-Co Laxatives
offer the important advant-
age that they do not disturb
the rest of the systeiu or
affect the child. •
250, a hex, at yoor
Drunist's,
National Drag end Chemical Co.
oi cimmia,Lintited. 175
.(1,1a0IVV. 0 vouvta-a-e.-ala‘b (5,
1,3.+-14 '0`0,11%.4.2.,,e,"0.0:a.10-11t,e010.00.-iours
To Produce Wit oiCHOMe Milk,.
Healthy milk is that is praetiral-
ly free from all foreign matter,
whether in liquid or solid form 0.
free from all injurious bacteria and
drawn frtan the udders af a healthY
cow. Not milk that 14 amde cican
by' straining through ,•everal thick-
nesses of strainer eloth. It is 11.11
possible to prcduee clean milk ex-
bept where extreme methods ar0
tined to Iceep it clean and it is with-
in.Lhe reach of every dairyman to
produce a clean and wholesome
product. It is a hopeless task to
produce wholesome, clean milk
where CoAVS are allowed to lie in
their own filth..
thc
-larm
The Old Deese.
If you can afford to do so, shoot
your old.borse when he gets too old
to work, 'then bury him, If you can-
not afford to do this, try to sell him
to someone who will give him good
care for the little serviee he is still
able to perform. If he is put up at
auction lie may fall into the hands
of -some ignorant or unprincipled
person who will try to drive him to
do the work of a younger and high-
er priced animal, A mare that took
her owner 30 miles over a rough
eonntry road in two hours and ten
minutes, to the bedside of his dy-
ing mother, never recovered from
the grilling, and was put up at
auction and sold for the pitiful
price of seven dollars. After such
faithful service she should have
been tenderly cared for the rest of
her life.
Dairy Pow's Rations.
Since it is important that a cow
should have enough feed to satisfy
the appetite the proportion of
coarse feed to grain must be ad-
justed to her actual needs. Rough-
age, in &general way, should be fed
according to her size, allowing two
pounds of hay per hundred -weight
when it is the only roughage used.
When silage is fed, the general rule
may be to feed one pound of hay
and three pounds of silage per hun-
dred -weight and the balance of the
'nitric -its needed should be provid-
ed in concentrates, except that
when roots are fed they will take
the place cif a part of the grain at
the rate of ten pounds of roots for
one pound of grain. These direc-
tions are only general, as in prac-
tice it ovill be found that spare,
big -bodied cows will take relatively'
more roughage.
Hens Need Chian Nests. .
During the summer season neets
should be examined once a week,
at least, and if dirty or lousy they
ought to be cleaned at once.. Burn
the old eontenti of the boxes and
pat in fresh material. In order to
avoid broken eggs, an abundance
of nesting inaterial must be kept in
the boxes at all times. In otder
to facilitate the cleaning of build-
ing and nests, the latter should be
so arranged that they can easily be
removed for cleaning and disinfect-
ing. If they are nailed fast to the
walls of the building the -work of
cleaning probably will be neglect-
ed,
. Dairy Helps.
Cheap land and cheap cows will
breed cheap dairymen.
Close cropping of pastures is very
unprofitable,
A good dairy COW must be intelli-
gent, courageous a.ncl gentle. ,
Great lung capacity is eesential
to high production.
Poor food means suffering for the
oow and financial' lose to her own-
er.
A box stall should be part of the
ettolwrniatbiluib.e3e!T every well -regulated
It is more pleasant as well as
much More cleanly to milk clean*
dry teats with clean, dry hands.
Solite Things Alfalfa Will Do.
Altalfa enriches the ground,
Al falfa is a drought resieter.
Alfalfa it the best soil doctor,
Alfalfa helds 'humus to the soil,
Alfalfa increases the milk flow.
Alfalfa is high in feeding value.
Alfalfa balances the cora tatka.
Not in the Pie.
`thicken pie!" the customer ex-
claimed, ''Clitcken pie • Nl'hy,
there's mit a pieee of chinken
it, and never was." "That's right,
sir, There ie no thicken in - t.
"Then why do you ib chicken
pie 4" "That' s all right. 'There
don't, lmve to be chicken in tt,chick-
' en pie. The.re's no dog a, dog
biscuit, is 'there 1 And there's lot
!college in College podding."
1
'Fastest steamship Afloat.
Tbe fastest steamship in the world
is the new Russian torpedo destroyer
Novik, wbiali on her recent trial trip
reached a mean speed of 37 knots
over measured mile and it maximem
of 37.0 knots, Oh a continnoes ran
for six houra silo made it mean speent
of 06,2 knota and 36,8 during the last
three hours. Her boilers were fired
exclusively with liquid fuol. No smoke
issued from her etacks, 3110 is a
terbiao-propolled vessel,