The morning times., 1895-12-08
CHAPTER XIX.


see him.
The boy departed rather dublously, for he
knew that this message was decidedly ir-
regular in q business office. People should
give their names.
a lady to see you, sir" he said to Went
worth, and then, just as the boy expected,
his employer wanted tu know the lady's
name. Ladies are not frequent visitors at
the offices of an accountant in the city, so
Wentworth touched his collar and tie TO
make sure they were in their correct po-
Bition, and wondering who the LADY was,
asked the boy To show her in.
How do you do, Mr.. Wentworth" she
said brightly, advancing toward his table
and holding out her hand. Wentworth
caught his breath, touk the extended hand
some what Imply, then he pulled himself
together and said:
This is an unexpected pleasure, Miss
Brewster
Jennie blushed very prettily and laughed
laugh that wentworth thought was like
q a little ripple of music from mellow flute.
1t may be unexpected" she said, "but
you don't look a bit like a man suffering
from an overdose OF pure JOY. You didn't
expect to see me, did yuu?'
''I did not, but, now, that you are here,
may ask in what way can serve you?''
''Well, in thefirst place you may ask me
may sit down yourself, for have come 10
have long talk with you"
The prospect did not seem to be so al
Iuring TO Wentworth as one might have ex-
pected when the announcement was made
by girl so pretty and dressed in such ex-
quisite taste, but the young man promptly
offered her a chair, and then sat down
with the table between them. She placed
her parasol aud few trinkets she had been
carrying on the table, arranging them with
some care; then, having given him time
TO recover from his surprise, she flashed
a look at him that gent a thrill to the
finger tips OF the young man. Yet
danger understood is a danger half over
come; and Wentworth, uDconsciously draw
ing a deep brea til, nerved himself against
any recurrence of feeling he had been
trying to forget, with but indifferent Sue
cess, saying grimly, but only half con-
viucingly to himself, You are not going
co fool me second time, my girl, lovely
as you are"
a glimmer OF a smile hovered about the
Fediips of the girl, a smiie hardly perceptiDie,
but giving an effect to her clear comp nplexion,
as If sunbeam had crept into the room
ind its reflection had lit up her face.
II have come to apologize, Mr.. Went
WORTH she said at last. Il find 1t q very
difficult thing to do, and, as don't know
Just how to begiu, I'll plunge right into
It,"
"You don't need to apologize to me for
anything. Miss Brewster" replied Went
worth rather stiffly.
''oh, yes, l do. Don't make it harder
than it is by being too frigidly polite about
&c, but say. You accept the apology and that
you're sorry-uc-I don't mean that-I
should say that you're sure I'm sorry, aud
that you know l won't do it again."
Wentworth laughed, and Miss Brewster
ioir,pd him.
There" she said, ''that,s ever so much
better. 1 suppose you've been thinking
hard things OF me ever since we last met"
I've TILED to- replied Wentworth.
Nov. that's what call honest; besides, .
I like the implied compliment. / tbink
IT'S very neat indeed. I'm really very,
very sorry that I-tbat things happened as
they did. 1 wouldn't have blamed you IL
You had used exceedingly strong Ian
guage about it at the time"
IL must confess that / did"
"Ah,'' said Jennie with q sigh, "you
men have So ma ny comforts denied to Us
women. But L came here for another
purpose; If l had merely wanted to apoI-
ogize l think / would bave written.
want some information which You can
give me, if you like"
The young woman rested her elbows on
the table, with her chin in her hands,
gazing across at him earnestly and inno-
Gently. Poor George felt that it would
be impossible to refuse anything TO those
large beseeching eyes.
Il want you to tell me about Your mine"
And the geniality that had gradually
come into Wentworth's face and manner
vanished instantly.
$50 this is the old business over again7'
be said.
How can you say that?'' cried Jennie
repToachfully. II am asking for my own
satisfaction entirely. and not for my
paper. Besides, 1 tell you frankly what
want to know. and don't try to get it by
indirect means-by false pretenses-as you
once said"
How can you expect me to give You
Information that does not belong TO me
alone? l have no right to speak of
business which Concerns others without
.Sssir permission"
''Ah, then there are at least two others
concerned in the mine," said Jennie, glee-
fully. Kenyon is one, know; who is the
other?''
Miss Brewster, / will tell you nothing"
''But you have told me sonnet hing already.
Please go enand talk. Mr.. Wentwortti-about
anything You like-and / shall soon find out
all want TO know about the mine.'
She paused, but Wentworth remained ST.
lent. which, indeed, the bewildered young
man realized, was the only safe way to do.
They speak of the talkativeuess OF
womei'," Miss Brewster went on, as IL solilo-
quiZ,up, "hut 1t is notiling to that Of the
men Once set, a man talking and you learn
everything he knows-besides ever so much
more that he DOESN'T
Mis- Observation-Disclosures herverytak-
ing attitude, with its suggestion of conf
dentiR)relations, and ha adremoved her elbows
from the table. sitting now back In her chair
gazing drei,mily at the dingy wintlo " which
let the light in from the dingy court. The
seemed to have forgotten that Went worth
was there, and said more TO herself than to
him:
u wonder If Kenyon would tell me about |
the mine?'' /
"You might ask him.
mo, it wouldn't do any good" she con-
tinued, gently shaking her head. Hes one
of your silent men, and there are so few OF |
them in this worldI Perhaps had bettergo |
TO William Longworth himself; he's not sus-
pcious Of me- 1
As she said this she threw a quick glance |
at Wentworth, and the unfortunate young |
mans face at once told her that she had |
hit the mark. She bent her brow over the |
table and laughed with such evident en- |
Joyme1t that Wentworth, in spite of his |
helpless anger, smiled grimly.
Jennie raised her head, but the sight of |
his perplcxed countenance was too much
for her, and 1t was some time before her
mcrrIment allowed her to speak. AT last |
she said:
wouldn't you like to take me by the |
shoulders and put Inc out of the room, Mr..
Wentworth?'
''Pd like to take you by the shoulders
and sha lie you''
'Ah, that would he taking liberty. and
could not be permitted. We must leave
punishment TO the law, you know. although
do think a man should be allowed to
ruru anpl,ippf innallle m IN ha