The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-06


II am glad you have kept soft place
for me in your heart" he said.
"And always shall have" she answered.
''In spite of the new lover"
The new love does not necessarily de-
stroy the old affection" she said prettily.
Then l may count on you, Zillah 2"
10 help your"
Surely" she answered, az have been
thinking of nothing else all the night
through. Yes; you can count on me Al
BERT
Il always thought You were a little
brick, " he said. And our alliance is I'M
disturbed?'
Certainly. Old friends as we are. my
good fortune ought to influence yours"
She spoke in the blandest voice-put on
her sweetest manner. She was so sweet,
indeed that he took her in his arms and
kissed her-she heroicalIy suppressing the
loathing that stole over her like ice. and
conquering the inclination that she had to
strike him in the face with her clenched
fist
Then the door bell rang again and Mr.,
Mainyarlng was announced.
Her complaisance, her promise. her pro-
LESSONS OF affection and good comrade-
ship had worked as it was meant thew
should. Mr.. Chesterton made himself
purely delightful to the lover, in whose
purse he hoped 10 dip his own fingers be-
fore long. Kind. respectful, somewhat
protecting to Zillah Harcourt, he posed as
her observation-disclosures who had known
her for SO many years now as TO give him
the prescriptive right to care for her He
charmed Josh Mainwaring, and would
have charmed more astute man-would
have lulled TO sleep the fears and doubts
of more suspicious person. He played
his part to perfection, and Zillah was
pleased with herself in that she had been
clever enough TO lead him to this most
satisfactory state of mind. With this lit
tie packet inside her waistband she now
felt safe.
The tea was brought in, and the pretty
hostess busted herself about the cups.
They were talking of India and the seen
cry about Simla, both Mr. Chesterton and
she discussing various points of view with
out so much as a glance, 4 flush. 10 show
how intimately connected with their Joint
lives were these places these scenes
Then said Zillah TO Josh Mainwaring.
You know that beautiful photograph,
Joshua, hanging on the wall there in The
inner drawing-room? Take Mr.. Chester
ton TO see it,
Both men got up from their places. and
went across into the inner room. where the
curtains over the archway concealed them
from her and her from them. Swift as a
flash she drew out the little packet from
Its hlding-piace and emptied its contents
into one OF the cups, then crushed the
paper into her pocket, and poured out the
tea.
In loud, clear. steady voice she called
out 10 her old friend and potential execu-
TONER, DO you remember that view, Mt.
Chesterton?"
Perfectly" he answered. coming back
through the curtained archwav lust as she
was putting the sugar into his cup OF tea.
y strange expression was on his face.
4
sense menacing, with curiouslv evan
escent touch OF tenderness. all born of the
memories which that photograph had
called forth.
Then the two men took their places .t
the little table and drank the tea which
oman had prepared for them. And when
Albert Chesterton had drained his TO the
last permissible drop, she smiled with her
pret;iest, most enhancing smile. right into
ms face, as she asked him would he have
any more2
You will come to the function of
course she said 10 Albert, looking at
her lover while she spoke .Yesta-iav
fortnight You viii come. will YOU not -,
y hope So chimed in honest Josh.
Nv tn all the pleasure in life" an
SSwered Albert. without afectation, and
1t will give me pleasure, and can an.
sWeF Tor Mr.. Mainwaring, said Zillah.
woman was real brick if there ever was
one, ana how much she must have once
loved him 10 have kept such warm memo
rIes even 10 this day
hecldedly the salmon and charunagne
We're bad They must have been. for he
lett queer enough 10 justify any amount of
suspicion respecting feeding grounds and
brands But 1t is only passing indispo-
s!uoh' ana he would soon be quite well
again. lie wished he had not drunk so
much OF that champagne, 1t seemed an
FiEht, but It could not have been. His
head ached, his pulse was high. his skin
ieIt drawn and dry. He had strange
olinress IN his eyes. and felt as if be wee
IN for an attack Of fever Perhaps il was
thiS dreaded influenza. 1t would be a vile
nuisance Il it were.
Thinking these things and inwa-ily fun-
~; Albert Chesterton dressed himself
Wih as much bad humor as belongs 10 the
sFeFSge man Of pleasure and activity " hen