The morning call., 1891-03-31
RFFIES LODGBR.
CHAPTER ILCoNcLUpED.

The next day Paul Lucas was
alone through the park. lie hau pu' he
Gently returned to England and ms thouEIlS
were full of girl whom he hau 4oFeu O0-
fore he went away. uho
81 don't think he was worthy Oh hel, no
said to himself, "but it was natural .llat sue
shonld like him best He had that sort OIL
way with him. l was always So co Oh
edly cross. no wonder she hated me-
He was walking briskly, for his disap-
rointment had not injured his health, and
he had prosuered in the world since, which
made it easier to bear his trouble without
dependency. He did not notice at first
thai he was gradually oyertaking young
girl, who walked slowly, as II she telt tIreq l;
Something in the way she carried herseli
at last attracted lis attention, ana started
him into further observation. III was ike
her certainly. the girl he had been thinking
of. hut where was the old easy movement,
the graceful action, the sprlngy hghtness OF
his memories
had a blister on her foot. In the old days
walking tour in the mountains had Dllstered
her foot once, and then she limped, but now
she was so used to blisterS that she had
learnt to walk tenderly, without lmplng
And then her boots were Old; they were
worn out of shape at the heel. and no woman
can walk properly on crooked boots. She
kept her pretty figure and she held herSelI
well, but her dress was very ShaODy; her
Jacket, like her boots, had worn out OF shape
and vas not in the present fashion, ana her
bonnet had suffered from exposure TO the
weather What was there in this poverty
stricken, detected girl to remind Paul Lucas
of dainty Effie Bruce? Ellie Bruce, with the
pretty feet always cased in perfect shoes
with the lovely shape always clad In the
materials that fitted and became 1t best
IL. -; Cd 1aalf to mr.
crowned with sunny hair and perfect mi Lin :
cry? Yet lie moved little faster, and felt
lis heart begin TO beat. Then she turned TO
look at him and he knew her face, which
was thinner, sadder. but not so much altered
as the rest of her.
"Effiep he cried.
"Oh, Mr.. Lucas"
There was distress, almost despair, IN her
tone. She was hunted down at last, and
could keep her miserable secret no more
But he heard only the words she mad used
Il beg your PARDON" he said, " forgot
that l was not Paul any more. l ought tC
! have said Mrs. Cliff"
She stood still and looked at him then
| her face pale with anger or some other emo
NO" she said; certainly not. By nc
| means-that."
Not thai" he said. his voice trembling a
little: you cannot De still-Effie Bruce"
"Nha else should l e?' she asked an
| grily. Then she remembered her own fool
lshnesS and began to walk rapidly.
''Eftie you must speak TO me. want to
understand. Why Should You run away? Ii
is no use-I shall 20 with you"
This reminded her that by running away
! she would only take him where she leaSt
wanted him 10 see her 20. She stood still
and looked at him.
That would be cruel, indeed, she said.
And why?"
| Because l don't want to see you ever
again"
"N0; how could be? You don't know
why. Oh let me 20 away.
IL never deserved that you should treat
me like this. l cannot bear to know nothing
more of you, to lose sight OF you, without
understanding. You look i'll; you look
Poor. Yes, and you are sorry Tor me
but you need not be. am quite well, and
l have everything l want"
Il have always thought Of you as happy,
and he hesitated again; he was bung-
ling a good deal, but he was too absorbed to
feel it.
Prosperous? No, l have not prospered
exactly, but l have all l want; and l have
always bten-happy quite happy" 1t was
| all she could Go to keep tile tears out of
her voice, but she was determined to say no
| less.
How must have vexed you, and how
you must hate me-" he said, mortified as
! well as amazed at her manner; for the old
quarrel need not surely have made SO bitter
! a meeting rs this!
Eyes, you vexed me terribly, and have
hated you ever since. Now will you let HE
! gO?"
He let her 60, and stood watching her.
! She took the first turning that she came to.
! going far out Of her way to avoid further
encounters; then she was so tired that she
had to take train to carry her back to heI
| destination.
| Size cried herself to sleep again that night
keeping her sObs subdued that he might no
hear them in the room underneath; and she
said to herself many times over:
He is sorry for me, he is sorry for me
but he. never loved me at all: l must e
away from here. or he will find out the
truth. Oh, Paul, Paul, once you nearly
loved Ire, and now ! might have been YOU
wife. If only l could see you more, lest
should tell you all the truth"
And he thought as he smoked his solitary
cigar. 81 wonder why wasn't to know
where she lived? 1t can never be that tina
rascal Tilted herr
In the darkness of the night Effie awoke
there was sound of voices in her ears anC
a suffocating sensation in Ter throat. In
moment she understood the meaning Of it
for the room WAS full Of smoke. Sumo on,
was knocking at her door also, and calling t
her, and she knew that il was Paul Lucas.
Its all right, sir, she heard Sarah
voice say, I'm wake her and bring he
down"
There's no time to lose; the flames may
catch the staircase directly, just under
meath" and he struck at the door again.
"H you'll 90 down, sir, and be trying tC
| keep it back till the engine comes, Pll see
that she comes down." said Sarah, who
thought she understood the reason Of Etfie'
silence.
i can't leave your mistress to suffOcate
up there, woman. for she may be suffocat
ing at this mlnute-Or surely she would
answer US" Sarah was a stranger to him
and her conduct seemed inexplicable. The
fire, which he had discovered, had originated
III little StCTe-rOOm under the staircase
where a small supply of oil was kept among
other materials. Perhaps this woman, who
seemed TO manage the whole house herself
had set fire to il for her own purposes, anC
had intended that her mistress-some help
| less old lady-shOuld perish above.
''rO tell you the truth, sir, don't believe
she'll ever come out, not as long as you IT
here. If you will but leave her to meW sale
| Sarah, in despair.
Leave her to you'll ! don't even know
that she hears us. If she doesn't answer a
once | will break the door down. 1t isn't
time for manners and CEREMONY"
Ellie had been dressing herself quickly
and quietly. Her hands were trembling and
her heart was beating. She did not want
to answer Paul; she did not want to open
the door aud meet him. But now she musl
do something. The smoke had made her
throat sore; perhaps her voice would be
hoarse aud he would not recognize it,
Il hear you," she answered. Il will BIZ
ready in moment. You can 90 down"
Paul stood as if thunderstruck. He turned
TO Sarah and stared ut her.
'Who is in that roomP" he said. mis-.
Bruce?"
who else2" said Sarah. "She'n neve,
forgive me. l told you to go away"
And you want me to leave her there
10 down and save yourself. The staircas,
has burst into fame; you can't pass il
another moment"
He thrust Sarah toward the stairs will
one hand, and then, turning to the door be
fore him, he struck 1t heavily with his Est
his intention was evident now; he was pre-
pared to break it open.
"Waitl" said Effie; II will unlock it." Fl,
heard the key turn; he grasped the handle
and then she stood before him
She had dressed rapidly and at tht
last moment had drawn On an old blue
dressing gown; her hair was about hel
shoulders; her eyes bright with terror
and excitement. She looked as far re-