Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-11-16

was quite the usual one, but more de-
cisive. She said, 81 think, you might
spare me a repetition of this, and left
the room. And then Thornton, in his
turn, gave up all hope. After that
Miss Wittemore seemed to interest
herself in but one being-her niece,
Maud.
1t was the night Of the garden par.
ty. The gathering was interested in
the little romance that was culmina'
ting that evening, mainly because
rumors of II somewhat dissgreeable
nature had preceded the arrival Of the
count. But every visiting foreigner.
in these fin de steele days, is regarded
in America with more or less suspi.
cion; and, by virtue of that fact, he
had found, from pure sympathy. many
admirers and supporters. During his
stay in New York, before his trip to
the country for this garden party, he
had made no better friend than Char.
ley Thornton. The feet that he was
engaged to the niece of Laura Witte-
more may have accounted for this.
Or Thornton may have been careless
and unsophisticated as usual. At
any rate they were everywhere togeth.
er-whioh initiated very much in
favor of the count. Still retaining
some of the rights of 'friend of the
family" even though he hal aban-
doned all pretensions to the hand of
the hostess, Thornton was at the
counts side when lie was presented to
Miss Wittemore. He saw the varying
expressions of surprise, terror and de-
termination in her face. He, perhaps
he alone, heard her gasp almost mar.
ticulsrly, "Raoul!" For the first time
in his life he was brilliant enough to
divine the truth, and by cleverly over.
turning table loaded with flowers he
turned silence into confusion, sus.
pense into laughter, and climax into
anti.climsx. 1t was feat very far re.
moved from the heroic; but it was
successful. Miss Wittemore, leaning
upon the..arm OF the lmperturbable
Count Kanolky. was enabled to escape
from the laughing throng, while Maud
Buchanan helped the supposedly I'M
fortunate Thornton to rescue the
| flowers.
Miss Wittemore and the count
strolled away to n remote corner OF
the lawn. They had the appearance of
being old friends-or old enemies.
$780," she said, opening the CONVEX.
sation when they had reached seat
under IN old shade tree, $50 you have
dared, Raou), to come even to my
house and under an assumed name, Us
the tiance of my niece?"
eyes," he laughed, with shrug of
his little, half STOPPING shoulders, II
have dared. 1t is but little trick in
the game. 1t is nothing. You see it
was very convenient to leave France
just when did. needed money and
thought it would be as we'll to take it
from Americans rs from others. And
I could not ask better opportunity
than being introduced as the fance OF
your niece"
"You do not mean," gasped Miss
Wittemore, anxiously, "to marry
Maud?"
"Well. not now," he answered. II
did intend to, until discovered that
you were q feature in the game.
Then it became too complicated mat
ter to bother with. All want, you
understand. is money"
''You have sunk SO low as that?"
''Oh," he replied with disagreea
BILE laugh, M have sunk much lower
than that. In fact I am improving
my situation daily. As you see, I am
the tiance Of beautiful and rich
young girl. will release her. But
you must help me in return. I want
money. I have obtained notes from
one of your set. You understand. I
must not be interfered with, or every
thing shall be known"
"You dare to threaten me, then,
with the exposure of your own in.
fanny"
"Certainly. That is a card that
never fails to win with women. Not
knowing that you were the Miss Witte.
more of whom Maud spoke so often, I
did not suppose it would be necessary
to use it. But it is a card always
carry, where I laugh-up my sleeve.
And it will serve my purpose now
very we'll. You would not care to
have another chapter added to your
story, would you? And You certainly
would not care to send your niece
through the world covered with the
same mantle that has been such NOR.
LITIGATION to yourself"
Miss Wittemore was silent moment
and looked YEARLY at the grass at her
feet, as blush of shame and disgust
spread over her facs. Such was the
man, then, to whom she had been true
oil tehse years.
"Money," she said finally, "money
then, is your only obiect?"
'The only object I have in the
world" no answered.
"Aud from whom do you expect to
get the money!"
"From one Of your smart Ameri.
cans, one of your friends. In fact,
Mr.. Thornton. ! understand that he
loves you. Oh, what fool he isl
Why, he did everything I suggested.
l was engaged to your neice. That
was all that was necessary for him to
know. 7 unfolded my scheme. I
talked mines in Brazil. I wanted
partner. He was only too glad to be
of service to me. Ha, hal"
Chow much" she asked, anxiously,
edo you expect to get from Mr..
Thornton?"
II have his notes." he answered,
coolly, "for $75. O0O."
"Will You let me have those notes
il give you their full value?"
TOO late. They are being nego-
tiated. O, I have to be quick. To-
morrow I realize on them and to.mor.
row I sail for Brazil"
"Do you know that such q sum will
probably ruin him?'
"Perhaps," he answered. ''But
what do I care? He is not the first
man hova ruinad and ha will not ha