The Forrest City times., 1891-05-15

| AL thlS MrS. lGlDOt can not repreS5
 start; she grows a little pale, and then | tries to hide her confusion by a smile. | But the smile is forced, and Arthur
 heart as easily as if it were an open
 book.
 "I don't suppose Adrian cares for her." he goes on quietly. At least"- | here he drops his eyes" 1 believe.
 with little judicious management, his thoughts might have been easily divert
 ed into another channel" | "You think sop asks Mrs. Talbot
 faintly, tritling with her fan. q can
 not say I have noticed that his atten-
 tions to her have been in any way par
 ot as yet" agrees Dynecourt, study
 ing her attentively; "and if I might be open with you," he adds. breaking off | abruptly and assuming an air of anx-
 1ety-"we might perhaps mutually help
 each other"
 Help each other?"
 Dear Mrs. Talbot" says Dynecourt
 softly, "has it never occurred to you
 how safe 2 thing it would be for my
 cousin Sir Adrian to marry sensible
 woman-a woman who understands
 the world and it's ways-a woman l young and beautiful certainly, but yet
 conversant with the conrendnces of so- ciety? Such 8 woman would rescue Ad-
 rian from the shoals and ouicksands
 that surround him in the form of mer-
 cenary friends and scheming mothers.
 Such woman might surely be found. | Nay, I think l myself could put my
 hand upon her, if dared, at this mo | ment"
 Mrs. Talbot trembles slightly, and
 blnshes a good deal, but says nothing.
 He is my nearest of kin" goes on
 Dynecourt, in the same low impassive
 voice. Naturally I am interested in
 him, and my interest on this point is
 surely without motive; as, were he
 never to marry. were he to leave no
 heir, were he to die sonic sudden death" | --here remarkable change overspreads
 his features-"I should inherit all the
 land you see around you, and the title l besides.'
 Mrs. Talbot is still silent She mere- | ly bows her head in assent. Then, you see, 1 mean kindly to- ward him when I suggest that he | should marry some one calculated to sustain his rank in the world.". contin- ued Dynecourt. As I have said be- fore. know one who would fill the po- sition charmingly, if she would deign l to do so."
 And who?" faters Dora Talbot ner- | vously.
 May I say to whom alludeT he | murmurs. Mrs. Talbot, pardon me if
 l have been impertinent in thinking of | you as that woman."
 X little fiickering smile adorns Dora's | lips for moment, then. suddenly re- | membering that smiles do not become her, she relapses into her former calm. You fiatter me" she says sweetly. | "l never flatter," he responds, with
 telling emphasis. But, can see you
 arc not angry, and so am emboldened
 to say plainly, 1 would gladly see you gether abhorrent to your" No. Oh, mol"
 Tt is perhaps-pardon me if go too l far-eyen agreeable to you?" Mir. Dynecourt," says Mrs. Talbot, | suddenly glancing at him and laying her jeweled fingers on his arm, Il win | confess to you that am tired of being | alone-dependent on myself, as it were | thrown on my own judgment for the I answering of every question that arises. would gladly acknowledge n | superior head. would have some one help me now and then with word of | advice; in short, 1 would have hus-
 band. And'-here she lays her fan 1 against her lips and glances archly at him-"I confess too that like Sir Ad- rian as-well--as we'll as any man 1 l know"
 | He is very fortunate man"-grave- | ly, T would he knew his happiness :" l Not for worlds says Mrs. Talbot, 1 with well-feigned alarm. You could
 not even hint to him such thing as
 as--" She stops, confused. | T shall hint nothing-do nothing, | except what you wish. Ah, Mrs. Tal-
 bot"-with heavy sigh--"you arc su-
 premely happyl l envy youl With your
 fascinations and"- insinuatingly "a why you should not claim as your own
 the man whom you-well, let us say,
 like; while I-"
 l If can befriend you in any way"
 interrupts Dora quickly, command 1 me-"
 1 Shc is indeed quitc dazzled by the picture he has pair ed before her eyes. Can it beE-is it-possible, that Sir Ad- rian may some day be hersY Apart 1 from his wealth, she regards him with l very tender feelings, and of late she
 has been rendered at times absolutely | miserable by the thought that he had l fallen victim to the charms of Flor ence.
 | Now if, by means of this man, her | rival can be kept out of Adrian's way, l all may yet bc well, and her hoct may
 be brought to her feet before her visit
 comes to an end.
 l Of Arthur Dynecourt's infatuation
 for Florence she is fully aware, and is right in deeming that part of his admi-
 ration for the beautiful girl has grown
 out of his knowledge of her money
 bags. Stih, she argues to herself. his
 love is true and faithful, despite his
 knowledge of her dot, and he will i'll all
 probability make her as good husband as she is likely to find.
 May command youy" asks Arthur,
 in his softest tones. You know my
 secret, l believe. Ever since that
 last meeting at Brighton. when my
 heart Overcamo me and made me show
 my sentiments openly and in your pres ence, you have been aware of the hope less passion that IS consuming me I may be mad, but l still think that, with opportunities and time, 1 might
 mako myself at least tolerated by Miss Delmaine. Win you help mo in this
 matterr Will you give mo tho chance l of pleading my cause with her alonep
 By so doing'-with meaning smile | you will also give my cousin the happy
 chance of seeing you alone" 1 Dora only too we'll understood his in-
 ainuation. Latterly Sir Adrian and Florence have boon almost inseparable. To now meet with ono whose interest
 1t Is to keep them asunder h very
 pleasant to her.
 tone.
 linen try to induce Miss Dclmaine | tSN rwes ka nkun al t<>