Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-01-08
.Ana will Won never be free again:'

'.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 ha. > forgotten all about me by
that tine. Besides, / don't believe she
| ever cared for me-"
Lady Belvoir kept her countenance ad-
mirably. though her suppressed merri-
ment was great.
1T is difficult to believe that you can
be i'll love with ii woman whom you so
| thoroughly distrust," she observed; cher
memory may not be SO short as yon 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 if does sound to me very much
Lsas though you wanted 70 avoid propos-
| ing to her. You say you are as innocent
| as baby-which may or may not be the
case. but it doesn't exactly accord with
| the reputation that you bear-neverthe-
| less. You mustn't open your lips for an
other six months. Why six months
| rather than three months or year: All
| this is very iuexplicable to me.
II knew it would be" sighed More
| ton. but can't help it. | would give
| all possess-that isn't much, to be sure
to he able to speak more openly to
you; bnt the thing can't be done. In
| all NV life have only loved one wom-
| an
OH. interiected Lady Belvoir.
| Yes. You may laugh. but it's true, all
| the same. Only one woman: the Others
We're mere passing fancies. Well, hope
| she knows ii, 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 Belyoir altiessly. Lord
Guise once saying to me that if man
could be kept for six months from pro-
| posing he would never propose at all.
| That would be most desirable state of
| things from his point of view
Il know it wol,ld-confound him."
| grow1ed 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 uncom-
| municative. I'm afraid there isn't much
| that | can do fer you, and of course,
not knowing the woman's name, l can't t
| judge of what your chances might be
with her. Still, if silent sympathy is
any comfort to you, you can come to
me for il as often as you want it.
Moreton responded by gently re-
| proachful look He knew that Lady Bel
voir was as we'll acquainted with the
name of the unnamed one as he was.
And had he not just stated that be must
be severed from her for six months by a
cruel fate? However, he felt that he
could not conscientiously go 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
panion to Mr. Thorold, who is about to
start for Japan and California"
''Oh, Thorold Is going to Japan, is he?''
|
questioningly at his informant, who pre-
served an impassive deneanor.
| 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, Moreton got up hastily
and made his adieux. He did not say
that he would be backin England by the
beginning of the next year, but he al
lowed it to be inferred that that was
probable. and he yentured 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 it very slight pressure
which he thought himself justified in re.
turning.
No sooner had he departed than Lady
Belvoir made a gesture of triumph.
Il will be even with Grise 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 INT
until after separation of six months
Of course he was sharp enough to make
the prohibition general. Schneider said
no particular LADY, and Dorothy Leslie
) has evidently been knocked over by 8
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 viii
| | fight it OUT