The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-26
TWO WOMEN! /!
A STORY OF ADVENTURE.
LOVE AND DARING.
CESKINE BOYD,
AUTHOR OF
TEE STOLEN CHILD" "DRIvEN FROM
AVAE." "PARIsIAN DEpE0.
TIVE" &C., &c
CHAPTER XII.
THEY MEET.

{ 'S'pci hdu IlilN'u uIS nhfU WIN amir
able talent. He had gained the intruduc.
ton he had wished for, and well knew tina,
taking tea at Lady Paulinc's really mean!
nlGying at card and that when Lady
Pauline herself took hand for half IN
hour, there was large amount of consid.
Grafton shown her, and she rarely rose
from the table a loser.
Her aunt, Lady Grallcigh, was always
present.
Upon the evening following the inter-
view between Lady Pauline and Detectiv
Webber. her laGyship's drawing-roons ii
Curzon Street began to fill early.
Her lady friends were the first to arrive.
and it must be admitted that these ladies',
many of whom were charming, had chieGy
that independent air which is the result #
delying the prejudices of society.
II was not before eleven o'clock that
Lady PaulIne's rooms began to ill thickly.
1t was past eleven when Austin Sivory
entered the house. This was his first ar,
pearance in public since the affair at the
Ipolice-court. The ladies present received
him and spoke to him with far more friend
ly feeling than did the men; for talk ns we
may, we never can look upon q man after
he has been suspected of crime, and has
had to Skirmish with the police, as we lid
before this catastrophe fell upon him.
The men present did not avoid Austin
Sivory but their manners were marked by
restraint.
Webber and Margaret were the last
guests to arrive. The lateness of the visit
was an especial piece of management on
the part Of the detective, who, despite his
conviction in the strength Of Margaret's
determination, was afraid that perhaps,
ut the supreme moment, when she stood
face to face with the man she believed to
be her lovers murderer, she would fail,
| He argued that the later they arrived, the
| less possibility there would occur of their
| being remarked.
He was right. When they arrived,
everybody was 30 engaged that little no.
tlec was taken of them, and they reached
the very centre Of the company before any
one especially noticed that strange faces
were present.
Those who were playing bad quite
enough to do to look after their cards.
Never had Margaret's innocent eyes
fallen on such scene as that which met
her view.
Grave and eager, Margaret sat upon
sofa, watching and waiting She was, to
a certain extent, in shadow, and therefore
could more easily see than be seen. This
was more especially the case, that a ire
screen stood, by accident, before her seat,
and hid her from the general view.
Her eyes were fixed upon Austin Slvorv,
who was standing near one OF the card
tables, looking on only.
She had seen him but once, and then
under the most unfavorable of cIrcum-
stances. Now she studied his features,
bis every looh and movement. SHE saw
tho difference between the man before a
magistrate, and the same man at his ease
in drawing-room. And assuledly the
difference was very natural.
Defending his liberty, fighting for his
honor, be had put guard upon his face
mask which had hidden the natural
play of his features. His very safety de-
pended upon nero gesture-a sudden
start-a flush Of color over the face. But
in Lady Pauline's drawing-rooms it was
different. He did not dream of supposing
that he was watched, however slightly.
Nobody could warn him that the espiOn-
age to which he was subjected before the
magistrate was as nothing compared with
the watchfulness which was now concen-
tratcd upon him.
Tie fact which at once and strongly i'm
pressed itself upon Margaret's mind in re-
latiOn to Austin Sivory's 'scOuntenance, was
the profound melancholy of its express
sion.
This man." she thought, "is either suf-
fering from some deep grief, is the victim
of q terrible despair, or he is tortured by
some horrible remorse."
Austin Sivory appeared TO be deeply abb
sorbed in the play upon the table before
him. He was looking on, rattling the gold
in lis pocket. lie seemed as though de-
liberating whether he should OF should
not play.
Suddenly he efelthimself smartly touched
upon the shoulder.
1t was Weber. who had been greedily
watching tho man lie already looked upon
as his prey.
81 beg your pardon, sir" he said, in
half foreign accent, "but SEQ you are in
terested in this business, and yet are not
playing. ] am stranger in London, and
do not understand this game, Will you
play for me--or rather. with meW
Eyes, if you like" replied Sivory, speak
ing coldly
"Many thanks. Then ! will take seat,
and put myself entirely in your hands. l
shalnot look ridiculous, hopei"
mo; you cannot look ridiculous while
you have money.
Tho detective laughed stupidity, and
said. sis that so?"
'Yes; sit down"
"But," continued the detective, II have
q lady with me. May she join usf She is
my sister"
Where is she"
There, in the corner, seated on the sofa.
She knows no one here, and is so timid
che is almost afraid to speak"
For the first time in their lives, Margar-
ct Mayter aud Austin Sivory looked at
each other.
She bore the glance he directed towards
her with apparent calmness, albeit her
emotion was very great.
Webber saw that it was necessary to
compel Margaret to force herself to speak |
to Austin Sivory. He walked towards her,
almost pulled her from her seat, and pre-
sented her-"My sister Margherita."
1--WE know nobody in London" he con-
tinued, looking at Sivory; "and Lady ,
Pauline has boen very kind to take us up, |
and recognize us in this fashion. If we
had not come here, we should have been
quite alone at our lodgings We have
come to England because my sister wishes
to come out as q singer-not that she has
any need TO make living. But perhaps
am troubling you, sir, with my talk, and
you have promised to teach me this Eng