Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02

your face. BY Joye This last excla-
nation was to himself, ss he distinctly
caught Che profile OF the smoker.
Anastasia followed his gaze and turned
CHASTITY pale. Osmund Questin's face,
his clean-cut aquiline profile, his marked
eyebrows. his crisp moustache, some
shades lighter than his hair-worn tri-
fle longer than formerly-even the heavy
intaglio ring on tho hand now raised to
his cigar--all we're before her. The beat
ing of her heart almost choked her; she
was afraid her companion might hear her
aobbing breath and see that she trembled
from head to foot She must get the
/ better of the icy pain somehow. Love
the heartlessness OF his last letter had
killed that-but, oh heanguish? There
had even been limited reproach to her
for not having broken off the engage
nent before she writhed as she thought
OF il. "Anyhow / deceived myself IN
nv blindness, she thought bitterly. II
see now in his face what ought TO have
seen before-cold seIf-seeking. He must
have altered gradually, for no one could
now be attracted by the look OF good
ness fancied could see.
"You know that man ?" she asked
young Sherrief.
$50 far that once he tried his fortunes
on the stage at Manchester in the com
panv with which | was acting. His
name is Questin pretty good on the
stage. no good off, 1 imagine. He seems
pretty happy now. Come back from the
road TO ruin by the looks OF HIM, with
/ the heavy father reconciled.
No doubt the old gentleman with red
face snd double eyeglasses, who was
speaking emphaticelly at that moment,
WAS Mr.. Questin, senior.
Cant 90 on, 1 tell you. What ]
want 10 know is what does it mean? |
know, | know, it's all trick to get my
consent to your marrying that little
hussy."
Anastasia made a strong effort and
rose.
1--WE do not want to be taken into
family condolences. she said, with face
30 pale and strained that Dick Sherrieh
was startled. But it was not so easy to
extrica:e themselves all at once from the
second row OF seats in which they were,
for other persons had come in after
them. Tasla dreaded TO hear Osmund'
voice in answer, and her own head was
swimming. her ears throbbing 80 that
when he spoke the words were partly
muifed, yet she could not help listening
with passionate eagerness. Perhaps
something he said might make his con-
duct appear less black. If so, it might
save a shred Of her torn self-respect
81 told you, my dear father, that !
regretted extremely having been such o
fool as to allow that young lady to stand
between you and me. | was mistaken
in her. / have good reasons to know
that You were right and l was wrong,
and the affair is wholly at an end"
lie happened to turn as Anastssia
passed out to knock off the end of his
cigar. The ash touched her dress he
begged pardon, lifted his hat, and
looked her in the face. For an Instant
such instants are comprehensive-their
eyes met, each gazing into the other S.
The pause on Anastasia's part was per.
ceptible to her companion.
''Mr. Sherrieff," she said, al fee
rather giddy, I think-shall we find an
other seat ? cannot walk just at this
moment.
That something was more than little
wrong he did not doubt; he quietly
steered her to a chair out of the lamp
light, and waited for further orders. She
remained profoundly silent, in that still
silence suggestive of strong underwork
ings.
viii you answer me aquestion upor
your honor, Mr.. Sherrieff?" she asked a
length.
81 WILL" he answered, 81 am sure
you will not put an impossible one.
"No-just this. Have you observed
ANYTHING about me which would lesC
you to doubt my perfect sanity Am
like person who could be the subjec
of a hallucinstion-or anything tempo
rary Of that kind 2"
" If that is all, / can honestly assure
you, Miss Gsrnhsm. that | feel the ut
most confidence In your clearness o.
mind-it was just that that struck me il
you at once"
She heaved q deep sigh. "Thanl
you. Now tell me all you remembe
about that-Mr. Questin, please 1t Is o
great importance to me"
REALLY, l hardly exchanged two
words with him, though l was IN com
pany with him, more or less, for three
weeks. but we did not play in the same
piece, and did not fancy him particu
larry, to say the truth.
"Shoud you have considered him I
good kind of man, one who would proba
bly, interest himself i'll philanthropi
work? Or at all scientific-who hs
studied medicine for the sake OF being
useful 2"
Sherrieff looked unfeignedly astonish
ed. "Why, no rather the reverse 0
all that-an idler pure ct simple, or onl,
laboring for his own ends"
"And yet" she said, II knew Mr.
Ouestinis son for more than four year
well, for two years very well, and tina
was the sort of man he was.
Dick looked embarrassed. al dar'
cav you thought 80 Miss Garnham
Some men are such awful liars-I meaI
humbugs-where women are concerned
But really perhaps you might hav'
idealized him without being aware of it
you know"
Yes" she answered, cit is possible
and human nature is Inconsistent
know that. And yet, Mr.. Sherrief, vii
YOU be SO kind ns TO take me as close t.
that man as possible; and may ask yol
as a favor to find out for me where he i
stopping? 1t is of Unreasonable i'm
portance."
81 am quite at your service-if yol
want to know more will find out. "
"Whatever you can" she said ear
nestly. cannot tell you why, but late
on"
"Never mind-I have faith in you
and you shall see by my acquittance o
this trust how far you can depend upol
me. 1t is pact"
They went back and seated themselye
where Anastasia could best observe tn
Questins-fsther and son.
"Next to the stage, give ME bit o
detective work." Dick said 70 himself
He really had faith that he was not be
ing made use of to crafty some hysteri
cal freak-Auastasia' face and name
were his warrant against that.