Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-07-31


.Then he has given up, has he!" ha
isked quickly.
For the present, yes. There. don't ls> I
as talk any more about my misfortunes
am going to take your advice, throw ths
load off my mind, and try what change
Of scene will do for me. l have promised
dear Lady Dorrington to go down and
stay with her for week or two. She sa!s
she will get few pleasant people togeth'
ed to meet me. 1t will be much better
than going away by myself.
mo doubt" returned Shirley, drawing
a chair near the table. beside which Mrs
Ruthven sat. You look cheered up al
ready"
He glanced at the cash box.
well, if l do. 1t is no ordinary proof
of resignation. ! have just had the sat
lsfaction of paying heavily for my ngent'
failure"
"Oh, that's what brought Waite hereI
What villainous countenance the follow
has!'
81 do not think so. In fact, the advan
tage of his face is that it is absolutely ex.
pressionless: only l fear if he has no
succeeded, no one else will"
Il suppose you will have Lady Dorring-
toms cad of brother at-what do yor
call her place"
"Chedworth? Yes. it is highly proba'
ble'
Il am not important enough to be ask
ed" said Captain Shirley in an injured
tone.
Nonsense. my dear friend. But If you
are. | am going TO beg you not to accept.
Why? / am sure you would not LEI
me or any one interfere with you"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Ruthven,
with sweet composure. MY reason for
asking this favor is that l want you tc
tell me what goes on in town.
"Oh, l have to play the honorable par,
of spy, have 1T'
"You can do exactly as you like. If you
choose to disoblige me and break witt
me. you can Only
An expressive pause.
"You know very well don't want to do
anything of the sort. confess TO get out
of temper when l see you determined to
throw yourself away on such a fellow as
Marsden, when you might do SO much
better"
Il am not 80 sure I could. Mr.. Mars
den is evidently not the spendthrift you
made out. The money you insinuated he
had made away with for his own purposes
was Forthcoming wheu l needed 1t. l
prefer. too. being high up among the land
ed gentry, to being the wife of some new
made. insignificant peer"
"Why not an old important onet"
because at this moment there is scarce
one available. The Peerage gives valua
Bile information"
"And because the fascinating master Of
Evesleieh happens to please your fancy"
"What Is it to you if he does! 2" she cried
with sudden ferceness.
at Is a great deal to me. hate the
idea," returned Shirley, bitterly.
"You don't really mean to say You still
care who or what lke?" she exclaimed
with a slight not unfriendly, smile, that
Is too foolish. A strict alliance for our
mutual benefit is wise and reasonable,
but think we have exhausted sentiment.
The fact Is. you hate Marsden. l can see
your enmity curling the corners of your
mouth, and cleaning through the glances
you cannot veil. How can l trust you to
tell me what goes on, without exaggera-
tion or prejudice. You may have nothing
to report. Marsden may ask me to marry
him during this visit. l fancy Lady Dor
rington expects it. If SO, fear nothing,
for / do believe that if were richer than
I am-rich as Croesus-he would not tie
himself to me or to any woman unless she
could give him pleasure! 1t will proba-
bly, be but short-lived passion. 1 sus-
pect he Is constant only to INCONSISTENCY
still, temporarily, he likes me. Now II,
as have sometimes thought, he Is taken
with Nora L'Estrange, he will be gad-
ding to and fro, and spending a lot Of
time at their miserable lodgings. I want
you to keep me Informed of this. / am not
going to let that girl interfere with my
plans, cost what 1t may to cut her outv'
She spoke with strong emphasis.
81 understand" said Shirley, who had
listened sulkiIy to this long speech. '.If
you have set your mind on Marsden or
Evesleigh, everything must give way. 1t
10 a poor marriage for you, and there can
be only one explanation for 1t. Still,
Marsden cannot be as heavily embarrass-
ed as was led to believe. 1 was rather
surprised to find he was ready with the
money for your new purchase"
"Whatw cried Mrs. Ruthven. "You i'm.
agine Clifford Marsden would be faith.
less to his trust? What a base suspt
cion."
"I See nothing to elevate him above it."
said Shirley with a sneer. However,
will endeavor to carry out your wishes, a.
have always done, but not for nothing"
Mrs. Ruthven looked at him-a curious
searching look.
You shall have your pay" she said.
In any way You like except one."
You need not have mentioned the ex
ception; am well aware of 1t.
There was pause. Then Mrs. Ruth
ven said In an altered tone:
Lady Dorrington goes down to Ched
worth to-day and follow tomorrow"
How long do you remainf'
'Ten days, possibly fortnight. Now,
my dear Shirley, l am going to be rather
busy, and must bid good morning."
Il understand" he said, "and obey"
Lady Dorrington had written q few
lines to her goddaughter. excusing her.
self for not having called on or sent for
her. Time was too short, she said. 1t
was of the utmost Importance to get
poor dear Mrs. Ruthven away to n totally
new scene, and among fresh faces.
Mrs. L'Estrange smiled as she read the
note.
IL fancy Clifford Marsden will be her
best comforter" she said.
do you know" returned Nora In a
wise, reflective tone, II begin to doubt If
Clifford cares as much for her as I thought
he did"
do your said Mrs. L'Estrange. 81
never quite shared your opinion on that
subject, though I think 1t likely enough
they will marry. Mark Winton was say
Ing yesterday that there was an Idea at
one time among her late husbands broth
e. officers that Mrs. Ruthven would marry
Captain Shirley. 1t Is curious that he
should still be SO much with her. When
q man 10 rejected, communications are
generally broken off,