The Van Buren press., 1895-04-27

he said, with laugh: DO you notice
never have letter from anyone2"
"Yes." I answered. frankly. "Why
y ity'
"Shall tell your" he asked. queer.
quizzical kind of expression about his
mouth; but his eyes were not quizzical.
They were too searching, too ANXIOUS,
TO fit well with the ''wreathed smile"
about those thin and mobile lips.
Certainly, yes; tell me. see there
is story In it." answered. laughing.
too.
IA highly romantic story, you bet
your bottom dollar on thatr' he said.
Il am fugitive"
"Mercyr' cried, startled. "A fugi-
tive from what-justiess'
mo; lovels he said.
suppose | looked puzzled, for he
went on TO say: "An old woman-at
least she Is old to me. as am only
thirty, and she is past fifty. Well, this
| old woman, as must call her, Lady
Asplin, has done me the honor to take
a fancy to my unworthy person. She
has prosecuted me for more than q
year now, insisting on my taking her
presents, on my accepting her hospital
ity, on my attaching myself to her
service. I give yon my word, no
more saw her little game at first than
] see now into the middle of next week.
1t ook 1t all as the innocent maternal
love OF an old woman for young man
making his way in the world-a woman
I<wla -, \ xxf g..
many friends, and sadly in need OF
bankers. And accepted all her kind
nesses as ! would have taken them from
my own mother. When she could not
give me money she loaded me with jew
elry to turn into money. Ihave small
| portmanteau full of jewels that she
gave me. But was never so hard up
as to be forced to spout these treasures;
and kept them, meaning to give them
back to her as she gave them to me,
when could truthfully tell her that
had established myself so far in my
profession as to need no more help
from the outside. Did not tell you
was on the Stock exchange? No? But
am. lam. forsmy business is a stock
broker. So things went on for about a
year or more, when the lady's feelings
either changed or became too strong
TO be concealed. From maternal af-
fection, as had thought, she passed to
| girlish coquetry-to young lady's
arts and fascinations-and later, too,
declared passion. She flung off the
mask and made me distinct offeE
was staying with her at the time, and
l declare to you was as innocent as a
dove Of her intentions, till she told me
in plain language that she loved and
wanted me to marry her. Then l was
frightened. l confess it. lam the son
of a soldier, and brave one, too, but
was fairly frightened by woman. In
the middle of the night made up my
packets and stole out of her house
like thief. When l saw your adver-
tisement, said to myself: That's the
ticket for mel answered it and came
down, as / say, literally fugitive
from a woman's love, and-I know the
sex-her certain vengeance to come if
she finds me out. So. Mr.. Waring,
there's my story, sir, complete in nut
shell; and think you will agree with
me in saying a pretty queer one 1t is,
too, and fit to go intoa three-volumned
novel, II ever there was one."
why, yes. it is queer enough" an
swered; ''and l scarcely know what to
say to it. 1t seems a pity that you
should leave London and your business
just for this Why not pack up all
these jewels that you speak Of and
send them back to the lady, saying you
cannot keep them because you cannot
marry her, and then go to work with
your hands quite free? That's what
would do If were in your place. 1
would not let myself be frightened or
banished for any old woman In the
world"
He sighed.
'Ah! you don't know women as do, ("
he returned. Nor have l told you
quite all. There is another woman in
the case-Mary Edwardes, Lady Asp
Inns orphan niece, whom love and
who loves me. II were to do this she
would turn poor Mary out of doors,
and do not know what would happen
then! For the dear girl has no money,
and she would be ruined. No, I dare
not do tbatv"
Iconfess l did net see the logical
consequence which seemed so clear to
my charming lodger, but supposed he
knew his own business best, so did not
urge my side of the question. 1t was
evidently a danger, take 1t how one
would, and too delicate a matter for
the interference of a stranger.
But did not like the idea of those
jewels given in friendship and kept In
estrangement. 1t seemed to me as If
the very elements Of honor demanded
their return; and for my own part /
could not have slept another night
with them in my possession had been
in Montgomery Somerset's place. To
him. however, this seemed to be not
only Quixotism, but even actually
criminal, In view of Mary Edwardes,
and that curious non seqmietur-her
probable dismissal from the house
should they be returned.
This story perplexed me great deal.
There were features in it did not like,
and 1t puzzled me how to make it hang
together. And, more than all, it
seemed to take away certain portion
of the reliance had had on my charm
ing lodger, to rub of some of the
glamour which he had thrown over me.
Well-mannered he WAS, certainly, but
l saw for the first time certain ar
tificiality in his good breeding, as II it
had been an art acquired and not In
herited, certain dash of obsequious-
ness In his complaisance which hith-
erto had taken simply as good tenn