The Forrest City times., 1891-05-29
THE HAUNTED CHAMBER.
BY 1.-THE DUCHESS"
Author of "Nonica," "Nona Scullv,"
 'Phylis," etc.. etc.
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNTINUED.

| joins in her triumph, picks up the bou- | Quet and presents 1t to her. As he does so the audience again be-
 comes aware that she receives it from him in spirit that suggests detesta- tion of the one that hands it, and that ] her smile withers as she does so, and her great eyes lose their happy light of
 a moment before.
 | Sir Adrian sees all this too, but per l suades himself that she is now acting | another part-the part shown him by Mrs. Talbot. His eyes are blinded by l jealousy; he can not see the purity and | truth reflected in hers; he misconstrues | the pained expression that of late has | saddened her face.
 For the last few days, ever since her
 momentouS interview with Arthur
 Dynecourt in the gallery, she has been timid and reserved with Sir Adrian, and has endeavored to avoid his socie- | ty. She is oppressed with the thought } that he has read her secret love for him | and seeks, by an assumed coldness of l demeanor and a studied avoidance of | him, to induce him to believe himself | mistaken.
 But Sir Adrian is only rendered more | miserable by this avoidance, in the | thought that probably Mrs. Talbot has told Florence of his discovery of her | attachment to Arthur, and that she | dreadS his taxing her with her duplici | ty, and so makes strenuous efforts to | keep herself apart from him. They | have already drifted so far apart that 1 tonight, when the play has come to an | end, and Florence has retired from the | dressingroom, Sir Adrian does not 1 dream of approaching her to offer the
 congratulations on her success that he | e,1,A I,. in,
 happier hour
 l Florence, feeling lonely and de-
 pressed, having listlessly submitted to
 her maids guidance and changed her | stage gown for a pale blue ball-dreSs of | satin and pearls-as dancing is to sue- 1 ceed the earlier amusement of the | evening-goes silently downstairs, but, | instead of pursuing her way to the ball. room, where dancing has already com
 menced, she turns aside, and, entering
 a small, dimly lighted antechamber, 1 sinks Wearlly upon a satln-covered 1 lounge.
 1 From a distance the sweet strains of
 a German waltz comes to her ears. | There is deep sadness and melancholy
 Ill the music that attunes itself to her 1 own sorrowful reflections. Presently
 the tears steal down her cheeks. She | feels lonely and neglected, and, bury 1 ing her head in the cushions of the | lounge. sobs aloud
 She does not hear the hasty approach 1 of footsteps until they stop close beside l her, and voice that makes her pulse | throb madly says, in deep agitation "Florence-Miss Delmaine-what has | happened? What has occurred to dis | tress your"
 | Sir Adrian is bending over her, evi- fsa,, tlxri Itst h, d. | btarts, he places his arm round her and
 raises her to a sitting posture; this he | does SO gently that, as she remembers | all she has heard, and his cousins as- suranee that he has almost pledged himself to another, her tears flow atresh. By supreme effort, however, she controls herself, and says, i'll a faint voice.
 Il am very foolish; it was the heat, I suppose, or the nervousness of acting before so many strangers, that has up-
 set me. It is over now. I beg you will
 not remember it. Sir Adrian, or speak of it to any one"
 All this time she has not allowed her
 self to glance even ill his direction,
 so fearful is she of further betraying
 themental agony she is enduring.
 "Is it likely I should speak of itl' re-
 turns Sir Adrian responsibility. "No;
 anything connected with you shall be
 sacred to me. But-pardon mel still
 think you are in grief, and, believe me,
 in spite of everything, l would deem it 8 privilege to be allowed to befriend YOU in any way"
 -lt IS impossible" murmurs Flor
 ence, in stifled tone.
 You mean you, will not accept my
 help'-sadly. "So be it then. I have
 no right, know, to establish myself as
 your champion. There are others, no
 doubt, whose happiness lies in the fact
 that they may render you service
 when. it is in their power. do not
 complain, however. Nay, I would even
 ask you to look upon me at least as
 friend"
 T shall always regard you as
 friend" Florence responds in low
 voice. Tt would be impossible to me
 to look upon you in any other light"
 Thank you for that" says Adrian
 quickly. Though our lives must of
 necessity be much apart, it will still be
 comfort to me to know that at least,
 wherever you may be, you will think of
 me as a friend"
 'Ah," thinks Florence, with a bitter
 pang, "he is now trying to let me know how absurd was my former idea that AlV AAiSHt ptiudHS lCalu lO lpNt llltI
 This thought is almost insupportable.
 Her pride rising in arms, she subdues all remaining traces of her late emo-
 tlon, and, turning suddenly, confronts him. Her face is quite colorless, but | she can not altogether hide from him the sadness that still desolates her eyes.
 You are right" she agrees. "In the | future our lives will indeed be far dis tant from each other, so far apart that
 the. very tie of friendship will readily
 be forgotten by us both" Florence, do not say that!" he en- treats, believing in his turn that she alludes to her coming marriage with
 his cousin. "And-and-do not be an- | gry with me; but would ask you to consider long and earnestly before talk | ing the step you have in view. Re- member it is a bond that once sealed | can never be cancelled"
 "A bondl 1 do not follow you," ex- claims Florence bewildered "Ah, you will not trust me; you will
 not confide in mel"
 q have nothing to confde," persists Florence. still deeply puzzled. Well, let it rest so,r returns Adrian, now greatly wounded at her deter mined reserve, as he deems it. He calls to mind all Mrs. Talbot had said about her slyness, and feels disheartened. At least he has not deserved distrust at her hands. Promise me-" he entreats at last, that, if ever you are in danger, you will accept my help.' "I promise" she replies faintly. Then trying to rally her dropping spirits, she continues, with an attempt at smile, Tell me that you will accept mine should you be in any danger. Remem- Der the mouse once reScued the llOnin