The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-04-29
A ROMANTIC AFFAIR.


ity In its owner, and yet the mania had |
seized him, as il had seized many a
weaker man, and he had staked his all
and lost over the gaming tables at Monte
Carlo.
Tho moonlight touched his bowed head
softly, silvered the outlines of his figure,
revealed his haggard whiteness. It fell
on something else-something that gilt
tered in his hands like steel
"Stopl Don't do that"
It was q woman's voice that spoke,
woman's touch that rested lightly on his
sleeve, a woman's great dusly eyes, set
In face such as one sees but seldom in
q lifetime, which were raised to his.
She had strolled from her party to enjoy
alone the beauty of the evening, and alb
sorbed In meditation had wandered far
thsr than she knew.
The mans arm dropped to his side.
he looked at her in silence, wondering,
admiring, perhaps little ashamed.
'fWhy did you want to do itY' pursued
the gentle voice. "Does life seem so
evil a thing to your
II have been fool--a madmanl lam
ruinedi wish to God had never seen
this cursed place"
"But you are a man. You can work.
You can regain all that you have lost"
He shook his head.
II cannot find employment here, and
haven't the means to get away. have
had the viatique already, and | went
back to the tables thinking to have one
more bid for fortune and lost. The au-
thorities will not help me twice"
Her hand slipped into her pocket and
out again Adroitly she drew the pistol
away from him and pressed something
in its place.
"see, have bought this thing of you"
she said hurriedly. "You need not feel
too grateful. Compatriots should help
each other. If you want 20 repay me,
swear to yourself that you will never do
what you attempted just now. l must
leave you now. Goodby."
She was gone before he could stay or
thank her-swallowed up and lost in the
shadow of the trees.
"Aliss Ferris, allow me to introduce to
you Mr.. Fergus Landeck."
The first time they had met alone be
meath the stars at Monte Carlo, now they
were amid a fashionable London crowd,
and she was In evening dress, with dia-
monds sparkling at her throat and in her
hair.
For an instant she returned his gaze
questioning, perplexed; then there was a
fash of recognition, and he saw she knew.
'Will you take me into the conserva-
tory, Mr.. Landeck? 1t is so warm here"
They left the ballroom and strolled
under the domed glass where the palms
and lilies grew.
"You have not forgotten, thenY' 1t
was his voice, low and tremulous, which
broke the silence.
''No; nor you, it seems"
''There are moments in a mans life
which he never forgets That was one
Of them. Do you know | have often
wondered whether we should ever meet
again, but l dared not indulge hope
until this evening, when for the first
time learned your name. Miss Ferris,
shall we sit down for awhile2 Wait, let
me tix that cushion for you. am very
grateful for this opportunity of speaking
to you alone. want-I want to return
to you, with many thanks, the-the gift
you gave me five years ago. All, don't
say no. The obligation under which you
placed me will none the less exist, and
and l shall always keep the little purse
always-in remembrance of that night
and you"
'Fortune has evidently favored you
SINCE" she said after pause.
eyes, fortune has indeed favored me
Miss Ferris, your gift was like the en-
chanted purses in the children's fairy
tAles--bOttomless 1t enabled me TO reach
the Transvaal goldfelds. l worked hard
there; saved little; by and by specu
lated much. Sometimes people grow
rich there in a month-a week. / wal
one of them. Whatever touched seemed
TO turn TO gold whatever did was right
Money came 10 me in thousands-tens o.
thousands-hundreds even. On the day
/ sailed from Cape Town, three week
ago, was one Of the richest men IN Soutl
Africa, and If It had not been for you
should be lying in a suicides grave"
Something glistened on her lashes. Sh'
drooped her eyes and toyed with tn
feathers Of her fan.
81 am glad, so very glad, you havl
succeeded"
bis gaze fingered on the subtle outlin,
OF her figure, the curve Of her full whit
throat and cheek, the brown hair witt
the threads Of gold which waved an,
curved about her brow and neck.
eAnd you"-his voice sank lower stu
-''you have not married."
''No, as you see. But it is probabl
that / ahall lose my freedom SOON"
docs that mean you are engagedY'
''It means that Lord Hythe propose,
to me by letter this morning, and that
am to give him his answer tonight"
''And Is 1t to be yes?
She laughed little.
"Do you know that is a very strang
question TO put on So short an acqueini
anoe and that our conversation is bt
coming unusual in the extreme? MI
Landeck, you seem to forget that W
were introduced only half an hour agol
'You were present at the most solem
moment Of my existence, Let me a III
tie behind the scenes of your own life,
he urged.
she hesitated and cast a rapid glanc
at him. Her lips, quivering as wit
some hidden emotion, strove TO smile.
I'VE seem fated to have strange conf
dencea, you and /, she said and laughe
uncertainty. "lf you are very curiou
10 know, It is 'yes.' shall accept him.
Perhaps it was only fancy or the fiicl
ering Of the lamps, but il seemed {
though sudden spasm crossed his fac
born Of disappointment or Of pain
''YOu care for him Of courser
An uncomfortable impulse moved Il
woman 10 dash aside the barrier Of cor
ventionality and give expression 70 VIII,
ahe felt. She raised her eyes TO his. The
met, and the anguish in them toucht
him 10 the heart. She shook her hea
merely, then turned her face away.
''Ihen tell me- why you are going
marry him."
because he is rich, and my father
property Is mortgaged. / may as We
tell you the reasoni everybody VI
know"
"You iHtend 10 sacrifice yourself
your family's sake"
"sacrihcel What an ugly way Of pu
ting itl am going to make q 'marrial
of convenience Other women are
ing the same thing every day"
There was silence, save for the dri
ping Of the water among the ferns a.
grasses IN the rookery and the 5ubdul
sound Of distant music.
They were alone
m.the dim, religions light Of the rich
colored lamps the man was blind 70
but the white clad form against the ma
Of foiaEe. The heayy perfume q 3