The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-01-04

expense"
Here Lady Pauline smiled. Respecta-
BILE as she was, she never objected to
learn that any new friends she made
were rich.
Presently her ladyship remarked, "Iiet
us see l have sort of quiet party this
evening. Will you make onep"
"But how can leave my sister Mar
gherlta aloneY"
" Bring her with you"
How very kind you are, my lady. 1
will present my sister to you this even
ing"
g 1 shall be delighted to see her. Your
sister will, perhaps, sing little, while
the gentlemen take hand of cards, for
/ allow my visitors to NEEDLE with
cards. am quite at a loss to under
stand why we ladies should expect men
to sit about talking and dawdling
throughout an entire evening. Cards
do them no harm, and allow half a
dozen packs in my drawing-room. 1
am afraid you find me very eccentric"
"On the contrary, my lady, L find
you very kind"
But 1 permit no gambling, Mr..
Varli. A few sovereigns-perhaps
even guinea points, but nothing beyond
that. You quite understand me, do you
not ?"
"Oh, quite"
"Then, now L must ask you to run
away, for have some visits to make,
and deal of work to get through. We
shall see you and Miss Varli in the
evening. You will find us tea.drinking
about eight and we shall be quite eager
for your arrival"
"Good morning"
Webber behaved as much like a gen.
tleman as he could, and took his leave
at once.
Reaching his carriage, and as the
horses heads were turned, he thought,
don't know what to make of my
lady, but I'm quite sure of this-that
Austin Sivory will be brought face to
face this evening with Margaret Mayter.
Let him but love her, and she will CLEAN
the secret from him-will learn how he
killed Forbes. And then-we will de-
nOunce him |"
Webber had played his part with ad-
mirable talent He had gained the
introduction he had wished for, and
we'll knew that taking tea at Lady
Pauline's really meant playing at cards;
and that when Lady Pauline herself
took a hand for half an hour, there was
large amount of consideration shown
her, and she rarely rose from the table
a loser.
Her aunt, Lady Gralleigh, was al
ways present.
Upon the evening following the in
terview between Lady Pauline and De-
tective Webber, her ladyship's drawing
rooms in 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 charm
ing, had chiefly that independent air
which is the result of defying the preju-
dices of society.
1t was not before eleven o'clock that
Lady Pauline's rooms began to fill thick
ly. 1t was past eleven when Austin
Sivory entered the house. This was his
first appearance in public since the affair
at the police court. The ladies present
received him and spoke to him with far
more friendly feeling than did the men; !;
for talk as we may, we never can look
upon man after he has been suspected
of crime, and has had to skirmish with
the police, as we did before this catas-
trophe 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 latepess of the
visit was an especial piece of manage
ment on the part of the detective, who,
despite his conviction in the strength OF
Margaret's determination, was afraid
that perhaps at the supreme moment,
when she stood face to face with the
man she believed to be her lovers mur.
derer, she would fail. He argued that
the later they arrived, the less possibility
there would occur of their being remark
ed.
He was right. When then arrived
everybody was SO engaged that little
notice was taken of them, and they
reached the very centre of the company
before any one especially noticed tina
strange faces were present.
Those who were nlaYinp had omit