The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-12-05
A Device of the Duchess.

Miss Marjoram burst into ripple of
merry laughter. Ferdie was dear
hoy and all that, but she couldn't pos
sibly love him-and she'd refused
Lord Barchester for no reason at all,
which was woman's reason-and
there is the carriage, and auntie had
better hasten, or they would miss
Melba's wake song in the first act of
"Romeo ct Juliette."
For a brief space the Duchess's
fears concerning Kittie's affections
were lulled, but they were reused
again to instant suspicious when, at
the beginning of the balcony scene,
Allan Tremayne, all unlimited, enter
ed her box and coolly slipped into a
chair at Kittie's side.
Every sigh of love, every thrill of
passion of the two stage lovers found
an echo in Kittie Marjoram's heart,
and the Duchess saw it, for she was an
observant woman and knew we'll how
to read feeting bushes and downcast
eyes.
When the fond veronese pair sang
of secret marriage the chaperon's
sharp eyes saw Tremayne's lips-hand-
some, clean-shaven lips-shape rather
than utter word or two in her ear.
Tremayne put the ladies into their
brougham after the opera, and as he
did 80 said an impressive "Good-by." !"
eau revoir, I presume you mean,
Mr.. Tremayne, said the Duchess, her
tones, sharpened by the certainty that
as she and her niece entered the park
next morning Mr.. Tremayne would
spring from somewhere with an offer
of chairs or the latest scrap of title
tattle.
"No, really, good-by. I'm off for
six weeks salmon fishing in Norway.
Lord Tregarth has lent me his rivet
and the chance is too good to be miss
ed."
"And you won't be at Goodwood or
Cowes?" cried the Duchess, in accents
of most uncomplimentary Joy.
"Alasl no. SO once more good
by"
"Well, I hope the affair is done
with, sighed the Duchess to herself,
after Kittie had kissed her goodnight
and gone to her own room. "It's a
mercy that man has gone. He might
easily have persuaded the silly child
to any act of folly-even to marrying
him. Perkins, Miss Marjoram has
left her gloves and fan here. Take
them to her."
The Duchess pushed Kittie's belong
ings aside, and as she did so felt the
faint crackle of thin paper beneath
the pressure of her hand.
"Never mind" she cried hastily.
'Miss Kittie need not be disturbed to-
night You can go, Perkins"
Once alone the Duchess drew from
palm of the small scented glove a note
written on foreign paper.
"My Own Darling. Thanks for
your trusting faith in my love and
your sweet promise to become my
wife. You must leave the Goodwood
course during the luncheon hour on
Wednesday. Drive to the station at
Chichester. I will meet you there
with the license in my pocket Well
be married at Dover, and then for a
lifelong honeymoon. You shall see
how beautifully l shall catch Her
Grace over the Norway lie. Your
adoring,
"ALLAN TREMAyNE.
81 wonder to how many women
Allan Tremayne has signed himself an
adorer?" cried the Duchess to the sill
'ver-topped bottles on her dressing
table, sand how many women have
been fools enough to believe him? But
Kittie, poor little simpleton, shall be
the last. Her heart is touched,
know, but she's proud girl, and
won't wear it on her sleeve for the
! rest Of her sex to peck at. Anyway