The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-02-08

pleAeautlys anu 0ftef rev mOment1
silence, proceeded blandly:
That attorney must have the priv.
ilege Of preparing the contract OF mar
riage between our children. You will
not, hope. object to that, NortonY ]
certainly owe him that for the Inn.
mense service. without knowing It,
he Is about to render me-"
And the visc0unt was, In his heart,
now cursing the woman whom former.
~ lie had SO loved; was striving to
persuade himself that he was In a
dream, but he was compelled to &C.
knowledge that oil was terrible reality.
He had fallen into sort Of stup0r,
from which he was aroused by an alb
rlpt invasion Of the apartment by Mrs
ChestertOn's master OF ceremonies,
who entered without any ceremony at
all, supporting, indeed, almost bearing
In his arms, u young and elegantly.
dressed lady, who appeared in faint.
ing condition.
Having placed the lady in q chair,
the master of the ceremonies apollo
gized that he had intruded into that
room; he had had no idea, he said,
that Mrs. ChestertOn was there-had
indeed, believed the apartment vi.
can't.
Never mind that, Howard!" said
Mrs. Chesterton; but tell me what has
happened to this Lady,"
And Howard explained that the lady
had suddenly been ovepowere by the
heat In the ball room.
An Mrs. ChestertOn gave her salts 10
the master of the ceremonies, who
employed them for the recovery of the
still fainting lady.
And then, turning towards viscount
Dareleigh. the widow said. with re-
n.arkable amiability, "My presence ia
Indispensable; you will. l am certain.
be good enough to conduct me to the
ballroom"
And taking the viscount's mOffered
arm. she quilted the room with him.
And, as they proceeded:
Il will be generous, aud leave you
this night for reflection, and shall ex-
pect you tomorrow, ut noOn."
The viscount felt greatly relieved.
Against the morrow he had, in u mo.
ment, determined to be we'll prepared.
AS the two quilted the room the
fainting lady revived and cast her eyes
fcarfully around.
While Mrs. ChestertOn was so bold
~ dealing with her former lover and
associate in crime, a skillfuliy-con-
trived plot was in progress against
herself. which was to render abOrtive
all her daring efforts.
The person of whom, awhile since,
we spoke. as watching and listening
to Eugenia, when she had SO suddenly
and unexpectedly to him, been en-
countered by Viscount Dareleigh, was
Mrs. CheStertOn's master of the cere-
monies for that evening; and that
master Of ceremonies. himself, was no
other than Noel harrington.
Having discovered Mrs. Chesterton's
residence, Noel set about considering
how it would be necessary that ne
should next proceed.
1t 50 happened that the shop of q
music publisher of his acquaintance
was In the ncighborhood Of the iady's
house; and thithcr, on the morning
following the evening On which he had
taken the liberty TO seat himself be-
hind Mrs. Chesterton's carriage, Bar
ringtOn wendell his way.
And once there. lost no time In COM
ing to the purpose OF his visit.
DO You happen to know anything Of
a Mrs. Chesterton, who has lately
taken up her abode in this neighbor-
hoody Noel inquired of his friend.
And that gentleman replied that he
knew the lady very well; that she had
been a frequent customer to purchase
music for her daughter, by whom she
had generally been accompanied.
"She has daughterw Noel exclainl.
ed.
And that daughter, he was told, was
q very pretty and very charming girl.
Darlington felt then pang at his
heart; but he must do his duty; must
not think of Mrs. Chesterton's Child,
but must remember the daughter of
poor. martyrcd Arnold Lindsay.
| Are you in any way interested con.
corning Mrs. Chestertoni' asked Noels
friend.
| And harrington confessed that he
| was.
what Il pity, then" said the other,
'that you did not arrive five minutes
earlier, you would have seen her"
"She was hereY" Noel excitedly ex.
claimed.
| And then was told that Mrs. Chester
ton had been there to say that she was
about to have soiree, aNd TO ask that
Barrington's friend would furnish her
with list of persons whom she might
with safety invite, and who would moi
scruple to accept her invitations.
Almost q stranger in London, she
had said she felt DESTROYS to extend hel
circle Of acquaintance.
She had, too, instructed Barrlngton't
friend to engage for her an efficient
band Of music and to provide her witt
q master of the ceremonies, who wal
to be MT the house as soon as possible
since 1t would be his task to write the
Invitations.
said: you cannot yet have engaged
this master Of the cerenonies?'
NO" was the reply; but I have
man 1 know, n Mr.. Howard to whom
must send"
you must do nothing Of the kind,
said Noel. earnestly: but must OF
this occasion suffer me to become /.
master of the ceremonies"
His friend laughed and said thai
would be good joke; and harrington
assured him that no jest was intended
and that 1t was 4 perfectly serious
proposition.
| AMI tlieIl TIE OlueE grew ScElOu6
too, aud asked what was the mystery
of all that.
II cannot tell you that" replied
Noel: but you will believe that
have no evil purpose in view"
And ultimately 1t was arranged thai
Noel should pass with Mrs. Chestertor
for the Mr.. Howard who had beer
named to her; and to whom harrington
would gladly pay far more than hi
sum which would be received erOu
her.
Installed in Mrs. Chesterton's mouse
and sending forth all the invitations
Darlington took care that one of then
should reach Emmeline Lindsay, 4
whom he wrote also necessary in
structions.
What those instructions were Their,
is no need we should relate, sinci
they will be understood in their full
filnent,
Amongst the early arrivals ON tn,
evening of the grand party was {
young and beautiful woman, who wal
announced as Lady Greenland.
Az she entered an ante-chamber sh,
was met by Mrs. Chesterton and he
master Of the ceremonies.
The ladies exchanged courtesies ant
the hostess swept forward toward tn,
principal room.
And Lady Greenland gazed easerl.
after her and turned for a momen
very pale and shuddered.
1t will have been guessed, no doubt
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