, 1891-08-06

non. Dfsmay ~overpowsred her; she re-
fused to listen. Mot tonight, not to-
night, " she cried incoherently. She could
not bring pain into this perfect hour.
She moved away slightly, with flushed
face and tear dimmed eyes. Lady
Katharine saw the gesture, and, think
ing her work was done, stepped forward
unnoticed.
minutesl l want to introduce you to
some people"
Marina gladly suffered herself to be
led away. They met Sir Denis.
my dancer
mo; Lady Katharine wants me-"
THE next, them
Yes, the next"
A backward look and glad smile as
they moved on into a small boudoir.
Lady Katharine fastened the door. Then
she drew the child to her.
marina, | want to speak to you
quietly. You are very young, dear; your
ignorance of the worlds ways is pretty.
You hardly seem to understand the rules
of society"
Marina glanced up wonderingly.
You have nc mother, dear, and must
not quarrel with me for giving a word
of warning. Really, my child, 1 must
ask you to be more careful, and not
dance quite 80 often with Sir Denis"
sis that alp laughed Marina softly;
81 thought l must have done something
very dreadful"
But she drew apart while speaking.
and shivered slightly.
Il have not been with him more thai
usual, have r"
But this is so public; and. my dear,
he is a terrible flirt."
Eyes"
Then Lady Katharine lost her temper.
Don't stand there so calmly and think
you can carry On as you like, and make
a fool of UGH a man as Arthur Heath
cote with IMMUNITY. BAIL you little
fool; you have been played with like a
doll, as many another has beer before
you. Ask your gay lover when he last
saw his wife. Badly as he treats her,
h may claim a little respect, and it is
not decent to see you flirting publicly
like this with him. I tell you he is a
married man."
81 know it."
Not a tremor, not a movement sug-
gusted the agony of the child standing
with head erect, facing her foe, and act
ing the lie SO bravely that her listener
was foiled. She had meant to crush
this beautiful little being to the earth;
and, behold the blow seemed to have
glanced harmlessly aside.
"You knew it? And are you not
ashamed-you, who pretend to be so in
nocent, SO far above the vanities of life?"
Pardon, Lady Katharine. How often
lave you not tried to instill into me some
of the worlds righteous doctrines? And
is it not one of its first articles of belief
that marriage opens the golden gate to
Irritation? You yourself-would you be
SO very angry if some n were to firt
just a little with a married woman"
The shot told, but Marina only no
ticed it with a sort of pity. She used
her weapons of self defense with a heavy
heart; she longed for escape-for death;
but her voice never faltered.
1T is different altogether" cried Kath-
arine wrathfully. "a married woman
may do as she likes; but for a young
girl to lead a man on SO disgracefully is
abominablet"
I'VE nave only been amusing zach
other, Lady Katharine. There is no
harm done" said Marina, with a little
laugh. Besides, | have only forestalled
my privileges slightly. l shall very soon
be married to Mr. Heathcote, and then.
you see, l can do as 1 like"
The elder woman caught her by the
arm in a frenzy of rage. at is falsel
You are lying to m You have refused
him?'
"No, | have accepted him." smiled
Marina. "And now l really must run
away, for he and Sir Denis will be ex-
pecting me and your guests will be look
ing for you"
She escaped, but her task was not
quite over. A look and a very few words
sealed her fate, and Heathcote could
scarcely believe in his happiness.
Then, unable to bear more, she rushed
blindly out into the night, down to the
surging, sobbing sea, out to the cold,
kind breath of heaven. There Denis
found her, his little sea maiden, whom
the north wind had kissed so long ago.
To him she could o lie; to him the
whole story was laid bare.
Swear to me, Denis, as you love
me-or, rather, as ] thought you loved
me-
al do love you. You are the one pure
love Of my life." And he spoke the
truth.
"Swear to me she shall never know.
She tricked me SO cruelty. Oh, Denis!
do not let her triumph altogether"
81 promise"
Poor little butterfly, all the gold dust
was brushed from its pretty wings, all
the sunlight gone.
They looked over the waste of waters.
"Slumber song, love song" she muir
mured-''and now the death song, too"
Lady Katharine, as often as she meets
society's favorite, Arthur Heathcote's
beautiful young wife, feels a dumb rage
and shame possess her, for she knows
only too well which has tri%umphed.-
London World.
Taking Down n Vain Young Man.
On opa occasion ~ Ia ooi5 a yoip ,pJ