The Forrest City times., 1890-07-12

I asked; and, Madame assenting with cheerful nod, l turned the pages eagerly. and presently. with a shock of surprise and such keen pang of remorse as almost took Try breath away, came upon Estclle Gerrard's beautiful face. Madame, peeping over my shoulder, laughed and said
 "'You are like the rest of the world, monsieur = lingering over that fatal face and forgetting what you seek.
 s' Is not this Miss Egerton?' l ask cd, looking up quickly; and Madame Ledru shook her head.
 My faith, no! This is Estelle" She turned the leaf and showed the portrait Of thin sharp-faccd girl, whose only claim to beauty lay in the large melancholy eyes. But, oddly unlike as those two were, they were close friends
 ''l turned the page again. Estelle Egcrton could wait; l must hear more of tho woman who had taken her name and place.
 And this then
 This has no business here said Madame, with pcremptory has c. This was girl as headstrong and wicked as the poor Estelle was patient and good She gave me more trouble than all the other pupils put together. But how brilliant, how beautiful she was born for no common fate
 "And her fa,e--you know 1t. Madame P
 ''l know #, as you know 1t, as all the world does, monsieur. She went upon the stage--after marrying an Italian musician, the manager of the theatre in which she first appeared. Ma foi, if he bought her with a price he must soon have been sorry for his bargain She was beautiful and sue cess; she turned all heads, and per haps her own, He. loving her madIy grew jealous, first Of the public, then of one man. With reason or not how should know ?--he shot the man, ard tried to shoot his wife, She gave the evidence that sent him to the galleys, and never dared to show her face upon the stage again. My faith "a splendid spoiled life wonderful woman l cannot. as you may believe, quote Ida Ner,uni as prize-pupil, monsieur; but neither can part with her portrait.
 '.But you will lend me that of Miss Egerton perhaps p asked; and Madame with smiling readiness grant ed my request.
 "Armed with this proof of her de- ception, came back to England and confronted the woman who had so cruelty traded upon your uncle's weak ness, Madame Ledru is right. Irene she is a wonderful woman. strong. self-controlled, and keen -witted, arm ed at all points. She was taken abacS for just one mo ment, then seemed at once to realize the strength and weak ness of her position, and broke into a curious ringing laugh.
 ..So you have actually found me out and tracked me down. Mir. Richard Martineau P she said You are too clever for Ludleigh And, though l must pay the price for 1t, your clever ness is almost relief. I was quite ashamed of wasting my talents on that good, wearisome, mournful Archie and the dunderheads here.
 ..She laughed again, walked on a little more quickly, saying with a shrug of her graceful shoulders .'We had better return to the house. You will want to tell Mir. Gerard at once. Poor old man, he will be glad to break his letters has found ou, enough to make him hate me already lies that have told, something of my siage.life-no matter what = Come, then, and make him happy let him know that l am not his vie not the child of his old love" Where is that child2'I asked, fix ing my eyes upon hers. for this was the one point that puzzled me still. How came you in her place, and with her letter to Mir. Gerrard? 1? "She did not shrink from my scruti- ny; but in the clear moonlight l saw Ter beautiful face grow suddenly grave. '' She is dead. she answered slow ly. I found her in Paris. dying. and noursed her ,o the last. She died in my arms. knowing nothing of the darker side of my life, believing her old schoolfellow to be as innocently unhappy and lonely us herself. and leaving mo her little all IL was little | enough--a few poor dresses and bits of jewelry-her mothers. she told mo
 and the letter that her mother had penned with her dying hand to the forsaken lover of her youth ''I never delivered it - was too proud"' the girl cried. almost n, the last. ..But they say this Mr Ger rard Is good man perhaps for my mothers sake he will help my only friend"
 ''There was some feeling in this un- masked adventures, Irene. or else her acting was superb, for her eyes grew dim with tears; but the next mo- ment she said with impatient scorn-
 q 'Bah--you know the rest Why should l make long story Of itp 1 was weary of myself and my old name, the public that once adored had hisscd me from the stage. Why should not turn my back on Ina Nertuni. and her stained past and her husband in the galleys. and begin a new life in Estelle Egerton's names did it, and 1 am not sorry--the game was worth tho candle while it lasted. But the game Is over, the candle burned out. and must show that l can lose, as well us win. with a good grace
 Il did not answer; 1 was wondering how should carry through my diiii. cult task-what should say or dc next-when she suddenly helped me with suggestion.
 suppose you spare me little while. Mir. Martineau? You are grea, enough to be merciful here. Does ! Irene Gerard know my storyp'