The times., 1897-06-13

no surprise, except that a tawdry girl wear
ing an old feather boa coquettishly around
her throat asked him, with some yexation,
| not TO go crowding other folks out OF the
places they had got before he came.
a lady, effecting her exit from the house,
WAS met by young man who had just
jumped out of a handson, whom she greet
ed in accents materially affectionate.
$50 late, Mr. Thorndyke?' she said, in
staccato reproach. Its almost over now,
and Levtsky will play y,no more. But Aua-
tolia is Just about to sing her last. Nothing
woull tempt me to leave but that Nita, poor
girl. is at home with bad throat
.'It's "a success, then?'' said ignoring
Nitai the young man, at whom Colin Mack
intosh gazed eagerly, seeking TO be con
vinced of his identity with the robber of
the Stradivarius.
He was handsome. golden-haired, open,
faced. smiling. What a brave nephew for
the old neighbor on the attic landing! But
Colin did net know his Christian name, and
that
.Iia, Rupert, said a man, coming cut.
why are you behind time? Theresa new
girl playing on the violin, thatI know will
please your fasffdious fancy
stopping the way, the two young men
aided her footman TO introduce her goodly
bulk within its open door. a tthis achieve
meut. the group around the awning uttered
an .Ah- HI of satisfaction, and the
carriage drove away.
Any new violinist that is worth the
asking you may count upon seeing at nay
party on Wednesday night said Thorn
A
young person in question fairy We'll, and
have pttle doubt OF getting her to do what
l wish ir you are 'epris. Clarkson, drop
in and III give yoii chance at her
"Ali right, old chap, good-by.'
As the two neu separated, Coltn cienched
his fists
None too soon for Kathlcen's eager am
bition. had arrived the day Of her appear
ance before an audience that would make or
nar her hope of establishing herself as
performer at semi-private concerts.
Punctual TO the hour appointed by her
patronGss, the rusty cab that ia the eyes
Of the Blairs' maid servant, had con
fcrred style upon their dwelling by pulling
up IN front Of it, had deposited at the
BeaumorIs portal the young yiolinist and
her mother.
In a wide hall, beneath orange trees
ranged gainst tapestries OF fabulous age
and value, they were received by two
automata in claret and silver livery. whose
mission it was on gala ia Us to forever
point out to guests the way toward distant
cloakrooms The fiddle case, no less than
the heSitating manner OF their entry, be-
tr9 ying ouI ladies TO these potentates they
were hurried with scant courtesy up
stairs. and bidden To wait In the morning
room. until the pleasure or the mistress con
corning them should be ascertained
Kathleen saw the flGgh en- Ter mothers
cheek, at the moment when Molly caught
the gleam Il her child's eye.
Don't mind, darling"
Its a mistake, Of course, dearest
were spoken simultaneously. Thereupon
the two ,grasped hands for a little Ieas-
suring squeeze, and locked around them,
comforted
Neither had seen anything comparable
to this toudoir, its fantast.c furnishings
gat hered from every quarter Of the el0,,c,
its floor strcwn with skins and rugs soft
as velvet, its litter OF costly cUTinS and
cushions heaped upon gilded coHches. Kath-
lccn, getting up to PACE the loom with u
free, impatient step, paused oftenest be-
fore the clusters of long steInuIed Ioses that
hung their royal heads over tie rim OF tan
crystal vases, ana the gems Of pictures upon
the satin background Of the walls. Then,
standing amazed 10y the Writing table with
it's fittings and toys of beaten silver, she
whispered, meIrily:
What contrast to our wer-worn old
writing things, st home. Upon this hotter,
one could only write invitations to We're
de ere''
She was interrupted by a French woman.
whose ertry, with the glib assurance that
madame would see them shortly, conveyed
More of comradeship than OF respect
There was a long wait. Kathleen,
awcaTied OF her splendid prison, employed
hn time by falling upon a novel, OF whose
Contents she possessed herself after the
rapid fashion OF the reader accustomed TO
absorb new books.
Mrs Blair took up no volume In silence
she sat thinking OF the days when she and
Lottie Earl, now the owner of this stately
donicile, Lad been schooImates and bosom
friends. To shut her eyes to the BeauniurIs
luxury, was to conjure up I-ottie's early
home in Clinton place. whittier Molly had
often repaired by invitation to spend Sat
urdays. The sad-colored walls hung with
dreary landscapes in oil upon which no eye
WAS ever seen to cast fleeting glance; the
carpet and curtains flowered garishly the
basement dining room: the little girls ex-
changing vows of friendship
A tender memory was that OF the day
when Lottie's mother had died Was It
not Molly for whom they had seat to soothe
and console the terrified child? Moliy's
faithful breast upon which LottIetha night
had sobbcd herself to sleep?
The door opened. This time, it was
Mrs. Beaumoris in person, attired for the
reception OF her guests Mrs. Beaumoris
perpiexed. annoyed, an open letter IN
her hand 1t was an easier matter for this
lady to recognize fresh, bright-eyed Molly
Christian, who, under the impulse OF fond
retrospect, now sprang up to greet her,
than for Molly to identify her old pla ymate
I'm this faced woman with the pale hair,
deliberately crimped-the cold, res less
blue eyes-the prim, unsmling mouth.
Mrs. Blair's affectionate words died upon
her lips. She faltered, blushed, and drew
back with a pain at the plain indca ton
that her surprise was as mweicome as it
was ill-tirned.
You you-are Miss Blair's mothcr?"
said Mrs. Beaumoris. in tones she could not
make other than thin and chill. why, was
not told of this before?'
Because because" began Molly, and
emotion overpowered her, cutting short
her speech.
MY mother thought il would naturally
make no difference whose child you had
| hired to play before your guests said
Kathleen, sw weeping grandly into the
breach. But we are quite ready to 20