The times., 1897-06-13
BY MRS. BURTON HARRISON.

this"
Tte took from his pocket, an unset
scarabaeus, jade green in hue, that might
have been worn in a mans ring or pin.
1T was his. / had often seen him wear
il in "A scarf. He had showed 1t TO me on
his first return from Cairo. How could
alarm the boarding house or set the police
upon the track of Rupert? Rupert, TIL
af-no; L won't say the word! Not till
it's proved will | call him so. i found
traces OF wax on my latch-liey of the house
door, and had been in the habit OF throw
ing, with my other keys. on the dressing
table every night. Rupert had recently
sent a man there with d note, enclosing me
"A present of $50 While | wrote the an
swer the rian must have taken the inn
preston OF nay keys. Mr. Macintosh,
had inistrustea that gift OF money, though
kept IL TO pay my way to Philadelphia and
my board. Although / had given Rupert
all, it was the first he had given me.
returned it TO him the day after my dis
covery OF the loss, with two lines: Take
your money, and give me back my stradi-
varius' He answered in such brutal
tone-it makes me sick to think of it-tiis
claiming all knowledge of my Stradivariris.
L
into my heart: From this time forth
refuse to see OF TO speak 10 one who has
done me this foul wrong That was two
years ago, Mr.. Mackntosh-two years ago.
1 have not prospered since. l am living on
"a pittance OF pay, because the tirles are
hard. and my employer has nothing like the
business we used To have. Are you cold.
sir? II so, can light the gas-stoye. /
keep it for very cold weather, generally.
My nephew, as | said, has gone TO a play
tonight, to see Sarah Bernhardt, with a
party invited by Mrs. Bsaunloris. His
friends are very exclusive, al nd he is great
favorite-or. perhaps. it was last night
he went 10 the theater-I am losing MY
memory, you see
How does lie continue 10 cut such Il
dash without fortune?' asked Colin, anx-
ious to satisfy himself without exciting the
poor old fellows s suspicion
''Nobbody knows exactly Hewas always
lucky in speculation and very daring. |
gave him money to start with all could
spare and ne went on dudon. Yes, henust
nave good purse to live as he does. don't
envy Rupert, but OIL IL had the courage 70
go tonight and try to getiuto his rooms TO
say I was his Uncle, and could wait till he
came in and then search there and find
out
Perhaps he has sold the stradivarius,"
said Colin
''Oh, don't say that Mr. Macintosh ]
hope against hope that he's keeping II as
the gem OF his collection that | may one
day look at it again. d know it in a hun
dred. There is tiny vein Of
color III the wood that looks like
hand with an outstretched fin.
ger on the right side, near the bridge of
the instrument. Enough for anyone for
you, FOR instance, VINO know nothing Of vio-
Iins, to identify 1T by. But I'd know my
beauty as far as could see herr
AS he filled cracked glass with Crane
juice for the third time and tossed it off
Colin saw that unusual treat had affected
hts ;oor old brain
''In vino veritas, Mr. Macintosh lie
resumed, smilingiy wistfuIly. i've told
you my story as it hasn't passed my lips
since got my death wound You go into
society, don't you? L Judge from this"
touching the sleeve OF Collins evening
coat.
ITO very limited degree said Mack
intosh, feeling much abashed.
Because, thought, if you did, il might
come in your way TO help me" but in the
act OF making this suggestion, the instru-
meut maker forgot what he had begun to
say. he wandered,-grew drowsy, and
Colin soon aiding him TO bed, left him there
sound asleep.
The pathos Of this incident dwelt with
Macintosh for days. He Ionged to tell
Kathleen, whose int rest, he knew ,vo I'D
he keeniy arouse in view of the object of
the ole artisans mania But, in one way
or another, Colin failed TO see any of The
Blair family. He continued to meet Thorn
dyke CIf the stairs and to exchange greet
ings with him. There was, however, 10
repetition of the first attempt at conf
dence. Thorndyke, as if aware that he had
betrayed too much, looked shy Of further
converse with his stalw art and friendly
young neignbor Colin had almost begun to
think the whole story dream.
AT last, when the need to look upon Kath
leen's bright face became ovcrpo wcrng
Colin turned late one afternoon through
softly falling veil Of snow, in the direction
OF the Blairs' house AS he'shook off the
feati.ered flakes upon their door mat lie
pleased himself by believing he would he
asked to walk at once into the Cosy init
macy OF the family room, where, at that
hour, Kathleen and her mother were won't
to meet for tea.
Kathleen would be wearing her gown uf
brown serge, with the siashes of crimson
that So well became her glowing brunette
beauty-looking like the genius of home!
Mrs. Blair would put away her galley
slips and blue pencil, and come over to the
tea table beside the coal fire. Both Of
these gentle creatures would turn unon
him the gaze OF friendliest interest.
Collins gateway of hope, in the shape
OF Mr. Blairs front door moved inward
Behind it stood an elderly woman, en-
deavoring to dry her parboiIed hands
upon cl,eckered apron before receiving
the visitors card between thumb and
finger.
Yes. sir; gone out, both Miss Kash-
leen and the madam" she said with
bursting pride 1T was in a cab. thu |
fetched meself from the stable Some
kind of grand music party where our
young lady was goin' to play, sir, and
they'd not be out Of it till after six
No. G., Fifth avenue, sir, they told the
coachman; perhaps you'd be KNOWN The
house, Mr. Mackintosl?''
Colin, blessing his stupidity in forget
ting that this was Kathleen's important
twenty fifth, retraced his steps Down
fell his air castle Of a quiet hour with her
Vanished bis fond imagining of some token
from her sweet, half hidden regret that
they had been so long apart With crlel
clearncss Of sight, he heheld the tr le
ambition of her life. B y the time he should
have taken slow step higher in his pro-
fession Kathleen would haze scared in,
an empyrean whittier he could not fol-