The Washington times., 1894-07-29

| to find fault with my friends. He presumed
to forbid me-forbid. forsooth,-to go to Lord
! Philips supper tonight"
Lord Philips supper! What is that?
| "A supper he is going to give in my honor
| at the Crown hotel. As Il would stay away
ance to tell me that if l go he will never
| speak to me again. Who wants him to speak,
Let him 60 on his way, and let me go mine.
could never put up with such prig.'
"Cissie, don't go to this supper. l implore
you." / said earnestly; Il know Edmund's S
temperament. 1t may lead to a serious rup-
ture between you."
Il don't care where it leads. 1 intend to
60"
MOI no, you won't. You will think better
OF it. You care for him too much to wound
him without reason"
Il don't care one jot for him." she returned,
deflantly, but her voice shook as she said it.
Edmund did not come in for his tea, and
we walked very soberly TO the theater to-
gether. He was there. of course, and went
through his work as usual, but l never saw
him once at the wings, nor did he raise his
mask whilst in my sight. Lord Philip Free
land was more TO the fore than ever, and
made himself unpleasantly obtrusive. monop-
olizing all Cissie's attention when of the
stage, whilst she, as il to provo her power
and independence, flirted with him more
openly than ever. He had brought her a
bouquet-the most magnificent bouquet that
l have ever seen. Although in the depth of
Winter, it was composed of white roses and
rare orchids, and was Of an enormous size.
The young fool must have paid pounds for it.
Cissie seemed chiIdishly delighted.
isn't it lovely?'' she said. holding 1t to my
face.
.Nor' exclaimed, thrusting 1t aside. 'It
is hideous. l should like to trample it under
foot
"Ohl You catl you're jealous" she CRIED
laughing, "you must get Mr.. Grey to console
you. You are quite welcome to him, can
assure you"
At that moment We had to move aside for
the poor. ungainly Toad to hop upon the
stage. and knew he had heard her words.
When the performance was over made last
attempt to turn her from her purpose.
"Cissiel come home with me tonight,
pleaded. as looked in at her dressing-room
door. Il beg-I implore you to do so. Some
thing tells me that If you don't you will re-
grst it for evermore."
She had divested herself Of her stage COS
tune. and her dresser was lacing the back Of
n white silk dress. In her hand she held
Lord Philips magnificent flowers.
'.You are daft" she said; lone would think
l was going to my destruction. A nice fool
I should look to draw back now when the
supper had been organized on my behalf. 1t
thing"
VERY wellr' answered, sadly. "you must
have your own way, Cissie, but you will re-
pent it."
go along, you old goose!" she said, laugh
ing land go to bed. / shan't be home till 4
o'clock" But her hard laugh had no merri-
ment in 1t. walked home with heavy heart
and alone. could see Edmund nowhere
and concluded he had gone before me. felt
it was an additional proof of what he was suf-
fering that he should have forgotten to wait
for me- When I reached our lodgings the
landlady told me he had come in and gone
straight to bed. had lost all appetite for my
supper and determined to retire also. Cissie
Stanley had her own key and 1 was too angry
with her to sit up for her return. l was tired.
but could not rest. Some spell seemed to
keep me waking.
could not drive the thought of Edmund
Grey's disappointment from my mind, nor
help wondering what effect Cissie's cruelty
might have upon him. heard him moving
restlessly in his room above mine, as If he,
too, found i. impossible to sleep. and some
nervous feeling made me get out of bed again
and light my candle and leave it burning on
the mantelshelf. Alter that dozed of for a
little while, as 1t seemed to me, but was
reused suddenly from my sleep by a loud,
sharp noise, as II a door was slammed.
sprung up in bed, wideawake and trembling,
hardly knowing what had happened. Almost
simultaneously heard a knock against my
door, and my landlady's voice, entreating me
to wake up.
81 am awake" cried, rushing to the door.
'sWhat is the matter? What has happened2"
The woman's face was ashen gray with
fright.
"oh, Miss Mstt!sea," she exclaimed, vhil-