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The Brussels Post, 1891-1-9, Page 2AN' GELY, DE A'IIBILLING ST0111 O' ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE. ONAPTER, ,XVIII, rolnnc a TO inc esoli r. "The darkest day, Live till, tomorrow will have passed away." Little one,' said Madame Wol- enski to Ethel one morning about three weeks after Major Dennis's death, 'you are very restless.' 'Oh 1 Helene, so restless,' Ethel cried. 'I can't settle down to do anything.' 'No, but.I will tell you what you ought to do, You ebould take a little journey. You are excited and nervous and you are growing fanci- ful. For all those ailments, there is uothiug, nothing like a little ebange. '�I, o -I don't want to go away,' Ethel replied,; decidedly. 'fetter than moping here,' Madame suggested. 513ut I can't' go away. I have no eni,to go with. 1 am so aloneyou know. I might go...home . to The Cuffs ; but I don't want to go there for long time, and my mother sny�.d:she ;oryiinot leave my father if shewonid.: 1 -I -don't Dare about going away with my mother. No• -I'am bettor off Here, dear Hel ,4.itit I wll; go _wail? .you if,yo i like, dear child, said Madame kind- ry, Wil at d you shy to it little tr n he, t ft;. titfHeet'p to oneltnt siot}tt'p pety plf+oas;.ii England Torquay or Bourne- mottt'lr 3t , �>t �eiioi}1'd like it with ,you, degi• Hoe gpe-lion. liind yoyi.are `to me,' Ethel cried.wtth.a beret ,of feeling, 'but -but please doii't'.ask m0 to go away" just yet -not just yet' 'Very well -it- must be as .you Iike,' returned Madame. She sinned as she stroked the girl's hand with her firm white fingers. She understood so well.all that was in her mind. 'But by and by, when all has come right, you will then go with me, eh ? I am quite olds to be year friend, little one, but I am very young in my heart.' Ethel looked up in surprise. 'Why Helene, dear, why should you say that 2 You are not old, what uoneenee. It is only your hair that is white, that is all. And it is such pretty white hair too, all short and curling. It would be like a baby's head if it were not white. lliadame,paseedher hand care. Iessly through her snowy curie, whish were,..ae Ethel had truly said', like a baby's except for their lack in color. 'I am not very young, little one,' She said. 'S'',orty.five last .birthday .-forty.five-that is getting on. But my hair has been ae white as this fur ten years past, and more or less white siuce before I was thirty,' 'And were you fair before, or dark 9' asked Ethel. 'I was fair, always -but my eyes are dark of aurae,' Madame ans. wered. 'Just at first I did not like my hair when it was changing oolor, For a little time it looked quite daik ; but when it got all white, 1 became used to it and now I prefer it -it looks more or less distinguished, and it suits any color I choose to wear in my garments. Now with red hair, such as many of your Lnglisl.t and Scotch women have, it is very difficult to dress web. You must not wear any form of red or pink -although most red, haired Indies do. I met a lady at a party about a month ago,' she went on, 'the wife of a very rich stock- broker, Mr. Abingdon. She was pointed out to me as being very rich and very clever in all relations to life. 1 looked at her well, but I came to the conclusion at last that ohs might be rich, but would never, never be clever.' 'Anil why 2' Ethel enquired; greatly interested. 'Weal,' . Madame replied In her delicate, judictal loud of way. 'She was a little spare notnan, about ray age'or more, with a hard, impudent little face,. with round oyes, a nose. whiob Nature had not quite finished off enough at the end, a continual grin, and a dimple on one side of it which 1 fancy Nature had never set there, But her redeeming -and most distinctive feature was to mass of wonderful deep rod hair, a deep, deep red like that which Ellen Terry wore es Lady Macbeth. With this ehe- wore tt gown of bright toss pink, and her complexion was put ,en to match it, The effect was striking but hard and common and brazen. I happened afterwards to bestanding behind Ler--and when I saw that the bank of her coiffure was of a nice ordinary light brown, I thought the woman a foal 1' she ended, as if the fate of Mrs. Alfred Abiugden was• staled from that mote:"ut. Ethel broke•out lcaug.hin,•g at the description. 'I wonder who'slle it?. T never heerd;of her.' 'Oh 1 her husband is something in the Otty-she is only a lith woman,' said the other a little con. tetnptuously. 'I was so struck with her hair that the people I was with told me a long, long story about her giving a ball the night her greatest friend was buried, and. afterwards turning the cold shoulder to her friend's only child, who was left badly off,. But there, what puzzles me is that filen and women of age, who know their world, should ex- pect anything from a woman with a false little face, a perpetual grin, and a nose as if A had been chopped off short at the end.' . 'But everybody cannot read faces,' Ethel cried.. 'More the pity for them,' returned Madame .prompt ty.. Web, a few days after this, Ethel was sitting one, afternoon, in her littl'e,bondgir, when the floor opened and,Jpdge peered in, a visitor. 'Major Pottinger,' he said ru his most butler -like voice-whioh1 i y the','we, lie oould pat' on very web upon occasion. • Ethel rose from her chair in. some trepti-dation, for her nerves were not 10,t}111 o#ent1y t044`o410o rspeiva unknown vieitore•Wtt)i,;peeteekpaltnr 'meas. Major P,ottiu .er, •how:ever leaving biudQfered inn iillfe'tnr"oom, eh.Qttoutlib',.liae'pr,, pdd hand, tier with his taw, hrge:yelloand, very soot eitplained, himself: •"'law 9Gow de do er hope yoi%r 1?ef'ler-qr er-ittyf ly sorry great,f�,iend o,f•poor Depnls'e-er --; er-always . greet chums er er- —' and then he Stood tugging fiercely at his 'tliot'istaelle, find deck' ing hie head' ,rapidly in, a aeries of little nods, as if he, was for the momentwrapt in a mental contem plation of the dead ltfajor's good qualities and virtues. Ethel sank back into her chair again, gazing at her overwhelming visitor with absolute awe. Sbe had never heard her 'husband speak of this great friend at all -and really, poor little woman, she began to feel ae if she had so little part or lot with Ooemo Dennis's actual life, that is amounted practically, to nothing at all. 'It is very kind of you to come and see me,' she mur• mired. Major Pottinger shook himself to- gether shot out linen again and found himself a seat, ''Not at all - not at all ; awr ly sorry, I m sire- er-er-wish I could have done anything to be of--er-er nee to, you at the time.Er-=Roestrevor, however, told me that you had, your own people about yon, and of course, one never likes to intrude.' 'And.you know Lord Roestrevor ?' Ethel asked_ '.Er -yes -intimately, great iiiend of mine, most intimate in fact.' 'Oh 1 yes -really -I know him very web too,' she caught at some common acquaintance like a drown• ing man catcchee at a, straw, for she had not the smallest idea otherwise how ahs should find anything about which to talk to this formidable vie - far. Well, half an hour went by, the festive Pottinger showed no signs of taking himself away -on the con- trary he shouted and bawled his remarks and his informatiau at poor Ethel mote profueely than ever and then finding the width of the little room inconvenient for friendly con- versation he gradually jerked his chair across the space between them till he had placed himself within a yard or so of her knee, He gave ber all his views on the superiority of Viennah and Berlin to the city in which they were at that moment, he ran over such a list of duchesses who were all his most intimate' frieude that Ethel began to feel pos- itively faint and dazed, and finally just as he was telling her that he had promised to go next week to spend Ohrietman with the Duchess of Blankehire, :the door opened again and Judge announced -'Lord Boatmen' Now when Lard Rosstrevor saw who Ethel's visitor was -Judge had told him that a gentleman was tbero-and when he saw also how near to her the Pottinger was sit. ting, I mast say that his face grew as black as a ;thundercloud that is just on the point of bursting. It was not a little comfort to him to notice that Ethel got up with un- mistakeable air of relief, as well as of joy, at sexing him. Then Major Pottinger also jumped up, with hie great yellow, gloved hand outstret- ched and n 'Hello, Rosetrevor- dear boy, I-er-didn't know you were in town! --he bawled. 'Oddly enough ,tars. Dennis and 1 were just talking about you--ar-Win 1' In answer to this Lord Rosette tor made no actual reply, but lie 1 H1 . kill li SS2LS Y0S1' looked tha'ggher mlinisteigiltlin the" difi4no 804 the b't of eyes, thor1i',lba�vu him the tnob et frigid , u'rnsa4 uu A t vias, letuitteo�t. nod poseilfie, `tile Poi 'f eithjite. mins he lite , 'How d6'2' he said ourtly. time to look at Ethel, who, poor But the Prttin;or did not mind, girl, was 01] in a nervous tremor nota ltit bless you,. lie was• need with .the delight of fleeing lin to .Oat Bloc of thing and novae etgaii . troubled himself to notice the light's And somehow it learned to her and shades of other folks' manners, that the old familiar Jack had come He sat down again and prepared to back again, net fiord Roestrevor at take up the canverektion precisely all, but the old Jack Trevor 'whom where the entrance of the last Domer she had loved all her life, .11e stood had interrupted it, Ethel was it before her there holding her hands despair-Rosstrevor was furious. in !tie and looking straight down in. However after a quarter of an to the clear depths of her lovely hour of ibis kind of thing, a happy eyes -and they were lovely eyes, in thought was born in Boestrevor's spite of the tears they had shed and indignant mind. No sooner thought of the nerves which had gone in the of than put into use. strain of her girlhood'a training and ,'By the bye, Mrs. Deunis, you the hopeless disappointments of her promised to take ate to call on married lite. Madame -Madame—' 'Well 2' he asked with a tende r 'Wolenski,' suggested Ethel. half smile at her, 'web 2' 'Yes -Madame Wolenski.;Well 'Well, Jack -do you want to call you promised to take me to call on on Madame Wolenski 2' her, today, did you not 2' `No,' he answered promptly, 'let 'Oh 1 yes -I shall be very pleas • up sit down and 'talk -why I, have ed,' ahesaid, her .heart;. full of ad. net seen ,you ,for a fortnight, more miration for his ready wit: than a fortnight.' He looked at his watch. 'I am 'Why did you stay so long 2' she rather pressed for tithe to. ay. If aekod. I: had Omen you would have .visit- 'Willy? Well, for one thing, there ors I would have •put it off till 'to- was a; great deal; to do, for another, morrow --I was not Bare that you I -I thought it beet.' were redeiving.'. ,'Yee ?' she said. She spoke in a A hint so, ,broad. 'as this even, one of" enquiry, not noticing that Major Pottinger could not ignore- some of the shadows had fallen over 'Qh 1 don't wait,for me,' he ' said his eyes again. cheerfully -'or shall I` go apo, . Mrs, ,'Well I didn't' want to set people Dennis 2 I should. Pike awfly, to talking -you see, Ethel, the eyes of kbow Madame Wolenski-I hear the whole world are upou us dust she's an egtraordidttry hlever'wom now, 'and the less there is to talk an=,gotte a ivoniqnttil.Itdolv.' ';:about,'the bettor by fit; fort: you fn er4ato'reinyiteTi'44stJrgi'or`eheart ;eyery way. You haven•t, been so seemed to turn to water within him .very.lonely, .have yon 2' die, asked, He 'knew that -Ethel' was not 'well ills heart .Suddenlyfilled to over. uatd to` 4hej'yvp�ta'�Qf':.ilio %� fi b,n Mitring with compunction for°. fret Woriid and` was not erre: Adv.yvglild hating come back sooner hilts have.quickness enough to, as•he•put looked; so slight and .frail, Mirth a 1q in' life own'tbougtits, ',Rieke 'the: 'mere child in her crape laden ger- bille' off.' , �, Mena and with that• etarap-of white But Ethel was desperate. She filmy stuff upon' her golden head, had, been enduring the .Pottinger's that he felt ,he had been cruel to edifying oonversa'ion fur three 'stay away s5 long. quiirtere of an hour, ae:we all know 'Yes, I have been very lonely.' "Necessity is the another of inven- she said, then corrected herself, 'or tion." So then she turned around I should have been if it had not to her unwelcome visitor and said been for dear Helene upstairs.' with a little air of dignity which was 'Helene,' be echoed, not u nder- admirable-'Well, I'am afraid I standing, cannot offer to take you to cell on 'Yes, Madame Wolenski,' she Madame Wolenski-I have not said. 'I can't tell you bow good and known her very long and I should tender and considerate she has been netlike to take so great a liberty to me in every way, Jack, in every with her. You see elle expects Lord way. I don't know what I sh onid Roestrevor-in his case it is differ- have done without her,' en t.' 'My poor little girl,' he murmured. 'Oh 1 never, mind -never mind- 'You don't know what it is, Jack, eome other time when I come back to wake up in the morning and find from the Duchess's. Er -by the -oh I I feel sometimes as if I should bye, what did you say your day never, never get over it. Do you was 2' and he shot out of his ticket• know, I envy Judge, his calmquiet - pocket prepared to write down the nervesnothing seems to affect_ him, information for which be asked. , and'yet,he .ie not.stupid ; I have. T do not have a day,' said Ethel • never known any tservant eo little gravely. 'No' -in great surprise-' stupid as Judge ie, But he hes such 'then I will take my chance. (rood• nerves and I envy him.' bye-er-er. By. by, Bosstrevor, 'And I see they have, returned an dear boy.' open verdict,' he said -they seethed But Boestrevor had turned to as if they oould not keep away from the fire and did not design to reply. the subject of the murder. Isla. Dennis saw him out of the 'Yes,' he answered. room, running back eagerly to He took hold of her band. 'Ethel, ring the bells for Judge. 'Oh 1 I waut to ask you eomething,' he Jack' -she cried -'who is that said. dreadful man 2 Is be really a great 'Yes 2' friend of yours 2' 'Has it never occurred to you that 'A friend of mino-the brute 1'-- eomebody must have murdered your echoed Jack in disgust. • husband 2' 'Why, yes, Jack, of course some- body must have done it,' she an. swored wonderingly. 'inc OLD JACK! 'But how did that person manage to do it 2 My child, 1 don't think you are right to withhold that infor- mation about Valerie.' '.But it is too late now-' 'Web, practically too late- at least it would make a lot of talk and bring Rosstrevor answered -'lie wante to dsscredit on everyone of ne who keep np the appearance of a man knew, on you most of all. lint of feshion, and as everybody be gets Valerie did it.' to know shunts him sooner or '1 don't think so.' later, be keeps up the supply in 'But why? You know that she this way. That is, be shoves him. had the most deadly hatred for poor self in everywhere, with or without Donnie, and that, surely, was reason invitation, with or without weloome. enough.' Did he oome here on the score of 'Yes, I know -but I don't see how being au intimate friend of mine 2' it was posaible for her to get at him. 'Ohl no. He said he was a great You see, Jaolc, this house is never friend of Oosmo's-quite groat left day or night to chance. You chime with him, to use his own can't, try as you will, come in or go worde. I never heard Cosmo even out without notioa--anti at that hour speak of him,' she added. it is especially difficult. That night 'Oh 1 1 daresay the Meier knew the ovening clerk -there are two, him to nod to in the Club,' said you know, who take the whole of Boestrevor carelessly. 'But he was the waking day between them -- not a friend of hie ram quite euro, never left the bureau, he swore to it. But it's just like his impudence He distinctly remembered everybody coming to call 013 you like that, If, who came in or went out and named I wore you, Ethel, I should tell them, as you may recollect. A lady Judge not to let him again -you'll on the 6ih floor had had a small never have him off the doorstep, if dinner•party, all of well•known you don't,' • people, and two of them -both men '1 certainly will tall Judge,' Ethel unknown to Cosmo and both men cried indignantly, of position -left together after Cosmo If they had only known, those Dame in. But they did not have to two, that the Pottinger at that very pane our door at all, though they moment was standing just along the must Have passed within a yard or street talking to a chance acquain- two of it, that is to say they came tango 1 'An 1 I've been eating an along the wide corridor opposite to hour with poor Dennis'e little this and went down thestain that widow-er-or-' he teas saying-- Cosmo had just come up. Web, 'Oh 1 swept little woman, and very nobody elect went out and only 000 pretty too. Terribly out tip. Oh, man name in after two o'elook. So, terribly-er-•--er. Tale, old chap.' ae I know'yalerie was not'and could not be in the building -for every (Continued oft Page 3.) �r CHAPTER XXIX. "Love asks faith, and faith asks farm. gess." lack,' paid Mrs. Dennie -'why did that man come and call upon me 2' 'Oh 1 the brute calls everywhere,' However perhaps it was at welt for Lord Bosstrovor peace of mind oda Holiday Sale Scarf! er �� o' DRESS GOODS. 300 Yards Tweeds Effects at 8c., regular price 12ic.; 500 Yards Nice Soft Wool Dress Goods at 10e.; regular price 160. ; 400 Yards Very Fine Dress Gonda at. i3?,c-, regular price 25e. ; 200 Yards Heavy Bordered Drees Goods at 23c., worth 400. ; lire Are 'r' I' a O going to offer Every PatternDress in our store at exactly'Half 'Nice. NO RESERVE. 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