Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-01-01

were expected III EDufS street tilis AT
ernoon, and l am 50 extraordinarily
clever that can guess what errand
took You there"
'.You are very clever" he replied: bat
ike other clever people you sometimes
make a bad shot. | went to Ebury
street to say goo1-by. Tile fact is that
have made up my mind to take trip
round the world. and suppose | shall
hardly be back before the beginning Of
next year
Dear me-" said Lady Belvoir. And
what do you mean by that, pray:
oh, don't know: nothing in particu-
lar. want tn see Bombay and Calcutta
and Yokohama and-and all the other
horrid places that people talk about"
"You look as if YOU did. And Won
der why you wanted to begin by seeing
me, and wonder what you think can
do for YOU, and wonder whether Dor
othy has refused you or whether you
only concluded for some insufficient rea-
son or other that she would refuse Won
if you asked her:
"Wen. she hasn't refused me, and |
haven't asked her. and I'm sure | don't
know what the consequences of my ask
ing would have been said Percy. laugh
ing a little AS to what you can do
for NE. l think that if YOU were very
good naiured aud kind you might give
me a general invitation to stay with you
in WeStmoreland when ! return from
this aboninable trip.
Consider yourself generally, not TO
say particularly. invited" answered
Lady Belvoir: might bewildered
friend inquire once more what you mean
by starting off on trip which you call
ab0minable:
This was a very natural and eXcusa-
BILE question: but of course it was not in
Percy's power to make any reply to it.
After moment of hesitation he said:
L have reasons, but l am afraid l
can't tell you anything about them, ex-
cept that they aren't discreditable or
dishonorable reasons
gone is reheved to hear that" OBJ
served Lady Belvoir, with a twinkle in
her eye. t'One has acquired quite
against ones villa certain knowledge
of the ways of men which leads one to
distrust even the best behaved of them.
However. my faith in you knows no
bounds; so that I am willing to take
your word for it that You are going
away because you think you ought to
see Yokohama. The only thing is, do
you really imagine that Dorothy Leslie
is the kind of girl to wait meekly until
you come back, and to drop a curtsy
when you are graciously pleased to offer
her your hand and what remains of
your heart:''
''Ah. that's just it! You knew, Sybi1,
you have treated me rather badly,
haven't you:"
80 You have always said, and you
are one of those people who are always
right. How can make amends? Shall
we renew our engagement
No, thank you: shouldn't like that;
nor would you. But although you GER
tainly did treat me badly don't believe
you are altogether heartless, Sybil."
This is indeed gross flattery" ex-
claimed Lady Belvoir. What can he
be going to ask for?
Not for any very enormous favor.
What was thinking was this: You may
feel that you owe me a good turn, and it
wouldn't give you great deal of trouble
to write to me once or twice while am
away. And couldn't you, perhaps, just
put in word for me sometimes, when
You saw your opportunity? Owing to
circumstances WHICH can't at present
explain it will be Impossible for me to
say word for myself"
Il see. am to hold the fort for you.
and am to keep on repeating, He will
return; know him we'll But what if
you don't return, my good friend? What
if you meet with some enchanting Great
ure on board one of the many steamers
in which you will have to take a passage
and forget the poor maid of Westmore-
land?'
You know l shall not do that
DO /? If l do it's all know about
your mysterious disappearance. Now.
look here, Percy, as told you before, 1
have childlike faith in you: may say
that You are the only perfectly honest
man whom have ever known. But if
| undertake this job it must be upon the
distinct understanding that 1 am to be
enlightened eventually as to the whole
meaning of it. 1 rather think that can
smell rat: still I am not sure, and
must be made sure, or l shall die of
baffied curiosity
1T will give me the greatest possible
pleasure" answered Percy gratefully,
''to tell you all about it as soon as am
at liberty to do so. And do you think.
Sybil-candidly now-do you think that
there is any hope of my being pardoned:
1 don't mind confessing to you that
went rather farther than ought to have
done, and know Mrs. Leslie is furious
with me. One can't blaine her
''Oh, you goose!' exclaimed Lady Bel
voir, laughing, what signifies Mrs. Les
lies fury? Don't you understand that
if you want to be pardoned by woman
all you have to do is to make her love
your After that she will pardon any
thing and everything. More fool she.
no doubt; but we are made like that"
care you made like that?' asked Percy
wonderingly.
Would you mind going away now?
am about to hold an interesting and af-
fecting interview with friend of yours
who has been gnawing his nails with i'm
patience in my boudoir for the last hale
',~--~
ETo Bu CONTINUED