The record-union., 1892-08-27

see you: DO say yes. 1t is quite time
you paid your respects to them.''
For an instant he hesitated. Her hand
lay In his-the sunlight played over her
hair, turning its rich brown tints to gold,
and her eyes looked lovelier than ever
with that soft pleading III their dark-biue
depths. Stuart Maulrever dropped the
hand he held. The look had vanq uished
him.
YES" he said. 81 will come"
CHAPTER III.
"What is love worth pray?
Worth tear.''-Swinburne.
After that Gay Stuart MauIrever and
Cora TreSillian were almost always to-
gether They drifted into that frank,
careless intimacy into which people do
drlfC who suit each other and like each
other too well to think of consequences.
Jack Standish had been right when he
sad Cora had made hero of Maulrever
IN her childish days, and that fact in a
measure accounted for her prediction in
his favor now.
1t is refreshing to find some one who
can talk sense she would say if Jack
Yeutured to hint that Maulrever monopo-
hzed all her attention, and her cousin
TOOK himself and his wounded amour
propre to another shrine. He was very
fond Of Cora, but he did not relish her
total indifference to his by no means
small attractions. He thought some
times he would give his aunt a hint,
remonstrance would only incense her
daughter and bring about the very mis-
chief he wished to avoid. He was very
uncomfortable altogether, and grew
so uncertain in his moods and
temper that Cora began to notice the
change and rallied him mischievously on
its cause. She never for one moment
q / n = For. To
never limited at their wishes, and Jack
himself had always felt sure that when he
felt inclined he had only ''to ask and to
have" Perhaps this fear that had come
to him of late had done him good-had
aroused some genuine feeling on his part
in place of that serene indifference with
which he had looked to the future that
was to link his cousins fate to his.
Inany case he was seriously aggrieved,
and the change soon made itself known
to Stuart Maulrever. He had always
liked the young fellow, and he knew that
Cora had been destined for him. He did
not consider Jack worthy Of her, but
then, as he told himself with lazy
Shrug of his handsome shoulders, he
knew no one else who was. and. after all,
if woman's life was safe and placid. it
was infinitely better for her than if she
INDUCED in romantic fancies.
He began to allude to Cora's future as a
thing assured, and to praise jacks good
qualities, and she listened to him with a
strange pain at her heart and wondered
sometimes what he meant.
y = x
Cora and Colonel Maulrever sat to-
gether at morning concert in Park
Lane, given by some wealthy dilettante,
who culled talent from all known
sources to charm crowd as needless and
as tickle as herself.
Cora glanced at the programme which
Maulrever had just handed her. "Mrs
Vivian ~ she cried. "Oh, l am so glad
she is to sing She has such a beautiful
voice, and IS such a charming woman,
too; | was introduced to her a few weeks
ago. Now you may expect treat, criti-
Cal as you are"
Il suppose she will be very much like
other singers" murmured Maulrever
lazily, land 1 have heard so many"
And as he spoke he glanced at Coras
face, thinking it looked somewhat more
delicate of late. She was dressed all in
soft creamy Indian silk, with trimmings
Of lace, and at her throat nestled pale
yellow rose. The sweeping feathers of
her hat rested on the gold brown hair,
and shaded her face a little as she looked
at her programme.
Bending thus, she did not see the
woman who swept across the platform
and stood facing the critical eyes of the
aristocratic crowd, nor did she see the
sudden pallor which crept over Stuart
Maulrever's bronzed face, but she heard
his startled eXclamation-looked up, and
saw, and understood.
Usually SO calm and impassive, now
Stuart Maulrever literally trembled as
the sweet rich notes of that voice rang
over the room, waking in him memories
so sweet and bitter, he could have groaned
aloud as he heard.
He sat on, torgetful of his companion.
of time, place, surroundings. The past
held him in its spell, and every note of
the clear, pathetic voice was like q throb
of pain in his breast.
There was intense silence throughout
the room. The song was simple enough.
Perhaps that was one reason of it's charm
that and the sweet, sad face of the
singer, in her simple white dress, and
with cluster of white flowers in her
hands.
Never during the song had Stuart
Maulrever looked at the singer-never
had Cora Tressillian looked at him. But
she was conscious to her very heart that
he was suffering; that this woman held it
in her power to move and touch him as
never she had done or could do.
A strange, cold, blank feeling crept
over her-a sense of shame, of pity. of
sorrow, new to her young. bright life.
and from which she shrank, as all Young
and happy things shrink, in terror and in
pain.
A sense of passionate resentment stole
over her as the song concluded and the
singer left the platform, only to be re-
called again and again.
What was this woman to him? She was
not very beautiful, nor very young. and
yet-and yeJ-he suffered for her sake.
She knew that as she glanced now at the
pallor of his face.
What light of anguish burned in the
dark eyes that gazed after the retreating
figure!
The concert went on. When the first
part was over there was a movement
among the audience. a quarter of an
hours interval for gossip or refreshment.
Some strolled into the tea room, some re-
manned in their seats.
Cora touched Maulrever's arm.
''Take me into the conservatory over
there" she said. 1.-THE heat is suffocat-
ing"
Then she seated herself on a low
chair and glanced up at her companion.
Il want to ask you a question:" she
said quietly. ~ ou may believe me, it is
not only curiosity that prompts me- You
know Mrs. Vivian, do you not?'
''Ie es. Or, rather, l know the woman
who calls herself so.
''It is not her real name? I thought as
much" said Cora.
She had grown very pale, and her ewes
had panied and wistful entreaty in them
that startled him as he met their gaze
But his own heart was too troubled to