The herald., 1896-07-05

- W. A&N1'
me to be engaged to you. He would have
married me, if he had lived. He adored
me-" She turns suddenly to him, her in
tense vanity shining in her eyes.
"He left me message?" she questions
more curiously than eagerly. "His last
words were of me?"
"Well-no." dryly.
"Of what them" sharply.
Ellis man Marks"
She frowns.
'I don't believe it," Then throwing up
her head, "as If you would so far crafty
me. You are the last person whom
should have asked"
Meredyth shrugs his shoulders.
There are plenty Of witnesses. You
can examine them all at your leisure"
"There is no leisure" haughtily. 'T
leave by the first train in the morning."
Her belief in her own personality is so i'm
mense, that even now she glances at him
to see how he will take this sudden depar-
ture.
II shall see that the carriage is in
time says he courteously, trying with
very i'll success to conceal the relief he
feels.
witherine glance a soft rustling Of
angry garments, and he is once more alone.
He has, however, hardly sunk down into
his chair again, filled with a great sense
of difficulty overcome, when a step behind
him startles him out of his new-found
peace. She has not come back surely!
He turns.
CHAPTER vi.
Well, no. she has not. 1t is Betty this
time. Claudia had come repentant. Betty
had come frightful1y unrepentant, to Judge
by her face. Not sign of contrition or re-
gret, or desire for pardon, lies in her small
and piquant face.
''You. Betty?' says Meredyth. His voice
is stern, but in his soul he acquits her of
all evil. This is an unreasonable thing to
do, and he knows it, having no evidence
whatever to prove her innocent of a belief
in his design to murder his cousin. No
evidence except the earnest little face now
steadily advancing toward him. He puts up
his hands as if to check her advance but
she takes no notice Of his ridiculous ges-
ture,' as she called it afterwards.
YES" says she, coming steadily on
ward.
Il think, considering all things, you
ought to go.''
"well, I'm not going" says Betty. "Of
course, know what you mean. But you
didn't believe that
II believe what hear" But even as he
speaks, he knows now he never believed
it. "And with your suspicious of me?'
"Oh, nonsense" says Betty. "My sus-
picions of your She steps up to him more
with the air Of conqueror than traitor.
GAS if you didn't know. AS if you couldn't
see what meant"
"Still-you denounced me; in a sense.''
"For goodness sake, George, don't be
stupid. I made a fuss, of course-I ac-
knowledge that-but only for your sake.
I think, I know" paling a little, "T was
horrid to poor old Dick, wanting to make
him speak-when-but strange doc
tor had to be compelled to do something
and-and after ALL" with a sigh, 'I might
just as we'll not have interfered.''
"Still, you said it,
''That remains, certainIy''-she stops.
And he, can he hear the sound of her i'm
patient little foot upon the carpet? ooh,
if you are going to take it that way" says
she. half turning.
In spite of the sudden petulance that
makes her SO sweet, there Is a strength
about her whole air that tells him, il she
goes now, it will be forever. She will not
forgive his distrust. His distrust. The
situation takes a comic turn, while only
moment ago he had been declaiming
against her distrust of him, and of course
he had been in the wrong. 1t is impossible
to look at her and read duplicity in the
sweetness and graciousness of her dignifed
little face.
II am not going to take it that way,
Betty" says he quickly She is moving
toward the door. 81 believe every word
of real happiness 1 have known for long
time. Don't go. am not so rich in
friends that can see my best leave me
like this
"Oh, now," says the girl, with a little
uplifting of her charming chin, and a
glance Of scorn-not for him, but for his
words-"you will have plenty of friends,
you will be able to count them by the
thousands Even Claudia" she stops alb
ruptly. II met her as she came out of the
room just now. Have you,' there is just
suspicion of contempt in her tone, made
it up with her?"
NO." shortly.
''Well, am glad Of that" says Betty
bluntly. "Shed make you miserable"
He mods his head. There is little 81
lence. Then tentatively, you wouldn't, )"
says Meredyth.
He is hardly prepared for the little pas
sionate action with which she receives