The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-08-23


was too keen-witted herself not to perceive
this, but the incredicahle love of coquetry
and mischief that turks in every bosom for
bodc her to change her tactics.
The end Of it was desperate quarrel be-
tween Constance and Theresa, and Con
stances hasty departure from shrublands in
a rage. On her part, Theresa vowed that
she would never have that dsceitful girl in
her house again"
"All right" Ernest had said; "ifyou don't
care about it, don't"
But Theresa's jealousy, once aroused, was
not to be quieted by any such pretences as
these, 1t was all very well for Ernest t.
say so, but his saying so did not deceive her
Having once thrown her influences over
Ernest, Constance she knew would not be
satisfied to resign her power so easily. She
didn't doubt but that Constance would in
some way or other contrive to see him, and
this mornings paper had given her a clue
to the means she adopted.
every WE'LL Theresa, too, would be at
Victoria at twelve noon."
The carriage had just returned from TAX
ing Ernest to the station; it should also
convey her to the next train for London.
She would have sufficient time to reach the
trysting place by uoon.
Victoria station, however, is rather wide,
open place, and not adapted for concealment.
How should she SO disguise herself that she
might witness the meeting unobserved
Then she remembered that her Aunt Blake,
who had been widow for couple Of years,
had left behind her a widows cap, bonnet
and veil, taking the opportunity of a visit
to her neice to resume the ordinary costume
Of womankind.
Bonnets are not formidable things now-a-
days, and Theresa put her aunts weeds
with blucl, Grape shawl, into a travelling
bag. She put on black dress with a white
shawl, over it, and her usual travelling bon
net, that she might not give rise to surmise
at her sudden assumption Of mourning, and
then started of,
The clock showed Just five minutes to
twelve, when she arrived at Victoria. She
hurried off to the ladies' waiting room,
donned her bonnet, cap, shawl, and veil,
and came out upon the platform demure
widow.
Sure enough, Ernest was there, walking
4 up and down. She gave a kind ofguilty
start as he passed her, and he looked rather
hard at the young widow with the nice trim
figure.
go" she thought, "this is the way you
look at the yonng women when / am not
byT
The next turn she took she started as she
saw approaching her from the opposite side
of the platform the double Of herself. Black
dress, black Grape shawl, widows cap bon
net and everything She thought at the
first moment there was 4 mirror opposite
her, and that she saw her own image. But
it was not so. The lady threw up her veil,
and revealed the features OF Constance
Brown. 1t was only for a moment, and
then she drew her veil over her face, and,
making slight gesture, as it seemed ofcau-
ton, she made her way to the booking office,
went up to the porter, and asked in a clear,
loud voice, when the train started for Brigh-
ton.
Theresa glided into the office by the op-
poste door. The pretended widow was wait
ing her turn at the ticket office. With the
quicKness of thought, Theresa ran up to the
barrier. A genial looking old man was taxi
ing his ticket.
"Mght ask you, sir, to get me ticket
to Brighton? p
"Most certainly, madame" said the old
gentleman.
She graspcd the ticket and hurried on to
the departure platform, giving as she went
the same signal with her hand that she had
seen her double make just before.
Yes. he had recognized the signal and fol-
! lowed her.
The train was just due to start, and she
hastily jumped into first class caTrage' A
gentleman jumped in after her.
"Faithless fellow" she thought.
"Constance," said tremulous voice at
her aide-"dcarest Constance"
"You wretchv' cried Theresa, suddenly
unveiling.
But the effect was not just what she an
ticipated. It was not her husband at alli
It was, rather, Captain Potter, late of the
Plungers.
It is now necessary to revert to the pro-
ceedings Of Mr.. Black, TO account for his
presence on the scene.
Ernest had intended to take the newspa-
per up to town with him, having been in
terested in an article he had not time to
/ finish.
But having, with his customary careless
ness, left it behind him, he bought another
at the station, and then the advertisement
caught his eye-"Constanc to Ernest" Yes,
| he knew what it meant.
Ernest Black and Ernest Potter had been
| schoolfellows and cronies in early days. but
their friendship had long since decayed,
Potter was reckless speudthirit, who had
been obliged to leave the Plungers and sell
/ his commission, swamped win lnhuhera
BILE debts. He had been an old friend of the
Browns, too, and Constance had formerly
been infatuated with himi but her father,
who was very violent, self-~illed old fell
low. swore that she should never marry
such a scamp.
Constance had a nice little fortune of her
own. and she had just come of age, so that
if she persisted in throwing herself and her
fortune away, there was no help for it,
Still, Ernest thought it was his duty TO stop
it if he could. He hattered himself that he
had some influence over Constance, and II
he couldn't put an end to the affair alto
gether. he might ye prevail upon her To
have all of her money clrcfully ued up
Tnc advertisement mtaut an eiopemenl
Erpe., Thought IA cdndestue maras',
anI ,he slcrdte ur a g.rl'siuure toa worth-
less scamp. lie wol.l be there to- ami ave
her IL he could.
Al oh evruls. he found himself on the