Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29

heart was full OF pride in her. He would
have had his wife behave exactly ~ she
had behaved. IL the thing could have
happened to his wife. But thon there
was that dit" Such things had never
happened to the Ladies Macdonald.
Yet the general feeling was with Mary,
though the Druiits, her dear friends,
might sheer. Thanks to her courage the
Deans dignity had come through the
ordeal almost unscathed. The inter.
loper. whom some of the "young uns
had begun to draw" was left to her.
self and presently withdrew.
BY that time the Dean and Mary were
at home. She had kept her face turned
from him during tho drive and they
had not exchanged q word. But when
they stood in their sitting-room they
looked at one another.
"Papa," Mary said, her voice break
ing and the tears rising to her eyes,
"what is this 7? Whatever does II
mean 2"
"My dear, be answered. with humility
wonderful for him, 81 know no more
than you do"
"But-but You gee what it is doing y
she cried piteously.
He couId only nod and she went to
her room and cried her eyes out.
The Dean took her words, and rightly,
for an appeal. But be was as bull in a
net. He felt himself entangled and re-
sented the fim,y web which foilsd him,
vet he did not SEQ how TO free himself.
n 10 might have had recourse to the law,
but he did not know how it could help
him. He might have explained matters
to Andy Macdonald, but the Major had
not spoken and the Dean was proud.
he might have fed before the enemy and
left Malta, but if he did this he must
give up sill hopo of the attachment be.
tween his daughter and Macdonald
coming to happy issue. And that be
could net face, for already he feared that
her cheeks were losing their roundness.
He saw that she was apt to be thought
full when they were alone, however
proudly she might have queened it in
the Strada Reale few minutes before.
Or she was overgay--so gay that he was
not deceived for a moment Or she
avoided his eyes, and at this bis heart
grew hot and no longed to fall upon
Andy Macdonald.
But this was impracticable. The man
had not committed himself. And be-
sides, to give him black eye might not
be the best way to rub out the dark
stains that were gathering Under
Mary's.
Would anything do any good -? That
was the question. Gradually the Dean
came to think that one thing only would,
the removal even now of the cause OF the
mischief. The woman in black was still
in the hotel. Since the fracas at the
Gymkhana the Youngs had taken their
meals in their own room, but again and
again, in the halls or on the stairs, the
Dean had seen her and been made to
shudder by her jeering laugh or some
wild word thrown after him. The poi
son she distilled made the place loath-
some to him.
There was but one way then. He
could not justify himself, and it was
dangerous but fate provided him with
the opportunity, and he let himself be
tempted.
1t happened some days after the
sports. he was strolling disconsolately
among the rocks, g,iantltnl DlutatUs a6
lilo, and was near the Sliema battery. a
tolerably solitary spot, when he met the
woman alone. She was close to the
waters edge, and he went to her and
spoke without preface. Madam" he
said, looking sternly at her, while, she
first started, and then snirked at him,
81 an aware that you are only here to
annoy me"
"No, no; to regain your affection,
brother" she said in a mincing way that
sorely tempted him to strike her,.
"Well, you do annoy me-" he an
swered dispsssionately. 81 do not know
what your motive may be, but | presume
it is connected with money. Well, money
you shall have. 1 am prepared to give
you hundred pounds if you will take
yourself off tomorrow.
The proposition was an abrupt one,
and her face changed surprisingly. But
he read in it none of the triumph for
which be looked, only fear and suspicion.
at is trap" the woman said, looking
up at him with her beady eyes. at is q
trapl" But as she said this second
time her fingers began to clutch one
another greedily.
81 do not wish to entrap you, rejoin-
ed the Dean, "and / have no witnesses.
However, those are my terms. If you
refuse them / shall myself leave to-mor-
row. That is all
81 an not extorting money" she said,
asserting it sullenly, after long pause.
"You will remember that. have asked
for notkiny."
~ shall not prosecute you," he re-
joined dryly, "if you keep out OF my
way in future. "
81 will promise to do that she an
swered briskly, "and glad. There /
will take it. she continued, after q mo-
mentary hesitation, closing her lips
tightly as if she knew Of some risk and
were prepared to run it. "When will
you pay me-"
The Dean paused to think. "To-mor-
row ut noon." he answered, "and here.
But only after have seen your luggage
in the hall and learned that you have
given up your room"
"Rightl" she said, shortly, and
nodded and went away at once.
Fright? hope it is not all wrong"
ho groansd, as ne went his way to the
Slisma landing-place, by another road.
and even then, seeing her on the steam
ferry, had to take a rowing boat to cross
the quarantine harbor, or go in her com
pany.
Still no tried to assume the old aplomb
now, assuring himself that his troubles
were over. But he could not quite CON-
pass it. he was not broken to subter-
fuges and intrigues. Essentially an
honest man, he failed to combine them
with his natural dignity. When he stole
away next daY-half an hour late--to the
rendezvous he had the air OF whipped
dean.
He came upon his accomplice before
he reached the shore, at the corner OF
some gardens close to the battery. The
woman was returning in anger, thinking
that he had deceived her. but her face
cleared on seeing him. "Well." said
she roughly. shave Won got il 2" She