Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-07

Moreton, ''that she hasn't rejected me,
because havn't asked her. don't for
one moment suppose that asking her
would have been any use: but / can't
ask her now. Things have happened
which make that impossible"
you don't say so. Would it be very
indiscreet toinquire what things?"
"Oh, it won't be indscreet; nothing
that you could say to me would be indis-
Greet. Only, unfortunately, | couldn't
reply. | have got into mess which l
am bound TO keep secret; all can tell
you is that, although l am as innocent
rs n baby, | am not free TO confess to
you-to confess to any woman, mean
how love her"
That is very sad and very mysterl-
GUS" observed Lady Belvoir gravely.
And will you never be free again?"
Moreton shrugged his shoulders.
practically never" he answered. Il
shall be free in six months, but what is
the good of being free in six months?
She will have forgotten all about me by
that time. Besides, don't believe she
ever cared for me-
Lady Belvoir kept her countenance
admirably, though her suppressed mer-
riment was great.
at is difficult TO believe that you can
be in love with woman whom you so
thoroughly distruSt," she observed; her
memory may not be so short as you sup
pose. But of course l can give You no
advice if you decline TO take me into
your confidence. | may be wronging
you: yet it does sound to me very much
as though you wanted TO avoid propos-
ing to her. You say you are as inno-
cent as a baby-which may or may not
be the case, but it doesn't exactly ac-
cord with the reputation that you bear
nevertheless, you mustn't open your
lips foranother six months or n year?
All this is very ineXplcable to me-"
Il knew il would be, sighed More
ton: but can't help it. / would give
all | poSSeSS-that isn't much, TO be sure
to be able to speak more openly to
you; but the thing can't be done. In
all my life have only loved one wOm-
AM
oh" interjected Lady Belvoir.
t.. YOU lduSll, Oub ~ = u uNs uli
the same Only one woman; the others
were mere passing fancieS. Well. |
hope she knows it, though she can't
hear it from me-"
Not even when the six months are
up? But perhaps that will be long
enough delay to cure you. | remember"
continued Lady Belvoir artleSSly.
Lord GuiSe once saying TO me that if
man could be kept for six months from
proposing he would never propose at
all. That would be Il most desirable
state of things from his point of view"
Il know it would-cOnfound him.
gtowled Moreton.
But why confound him? 1t isn't he
who prohibits you from speaking, sup
pose? You would hardly obey him if
he did. Well, since you are so very UNI
communicative, I'm afraid there isn't
much that can do for you, and of
course, not knowing the woman'S name,
l can't judge of what your chances
might be with her. Still, if silent SYM
pathy is any comfort to you, you can
come to me for il as often as Won want
it,"
Moreton replied by gently rcproach-
full look. lie knew that Lady Belyoir
was so well acquainted with the name
of the unnamed one as he was. And had
he not Just stated that he must be sever
ed from her for six months by a cruel
fate? However. he felt that he could
not conScientiouSly 90 any farther than
he had already gone, so he said:
You are awfully kind; but shan't
be able TO come TO you for sympathy if
I'm in Australia, you see
you will return from Australia, and
on your arrival you will find me aS SYM
pathetic as ever. BY the way. DO you
hold especially to Australia? If not you
might offer yourself as travelling COM
uanion to Mr. Thorold, who is about to
start for Japan and California"
"Oh, Thorold is going to Japan. is
hep" said Moreton. and then he glanced
half queStioningly at his informant.
who preserved an impressive demeanor.
Well, it really would not do TO hesitate
and hint any longer. Fearing lest he
should be led to betray what he had no
right to betray, Morcton got up hastily
and made his adieux. He did not say
that he would be back in England by
the beginning of the next year, but he
allowed it to be inferred that that was
probable, and he venturcd to express a
hope that he would not be entirely for
gotten during his absence. Lady Bel
voir replied demurely that she never for
got her friends, and when she took his
hand she gave il very slight pressure,
which he thought himself justified in
returning.
No sooner had he departed than Lady
Belvoir made a gesture of triumph.
Il will be even with GuiSe for this
she muttered. The whole thing is as
clear as crystal. He foreSaw what was
likely TO happen To these men, and he
made them swear by their gods that
they wouldn't engage themselves TO me
until after a separation of six months.
OF course he was sharp enough 10 make
the prohibition general. Schneider said
no particular LADY, and Dorothy Leslie
has evidently been knocked over by u
shot which wasn't aimed at her; but
there isn't much doubt as to who was
intended to be the victim OF this diabol-
ical plot. Very well. my dear Guise
since you choose to defy me we will
fight it out"
CHAPTER y.
TIE CHIEF CONSPIEAToE IN DANGER.
IN