The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-10

lnen some other peOp.e joined In the
I conversation. and Crichton Emlay easily
cortrived 10 escape. But ne began to find
himself curioas.y interested in the Three
bi-sraces- He could not keep them out
OF mis- mild. He was impressed in an IN
canny sort Of way. Even the talk OF Mrs
ST Bosworth. 50 harmlessiy frothy and
narrowly ingenious as il was impressed
MIN more and more with this strange
sense Of perpleNity in a problem which
had no call on him for solution. and with
business which was absolutely no con-
Germ or ais Who on earth were these
Three Disgraces? And in any case what
did II mater TO him who they were?
So he was thinking as he walked slowly
along the Chelsea embaukment on his
homeward way. II distressed him that
ne should have to waste any OF his
thoughts on these absurd ungainly wo-
men. and yet il seemed TO be fated that he
must feel an interest in them.
can it be- he asked himself as he
walked nome that night, that I am bless
ed by fortune with the chance Of making
a sensation story out of them?'
Fun of that hope he trod the Chelsea
einoankment. The night was warm and
soft IN early summer. one Of those rare
deAclouS nights which make us unwilling
10 understand what the earlier writer's in
prose ana poetry meant when they pictur-
ed the charms Of an English June
Emlay wore a light grey coat over his
dress suit. and he remembered with a Gu
rious flash Of recollection that he had
worn the same light grey coat one warm
evening when he was returning from
dinner party in Moscow, where he had
met and talked with the Princess Marie.
and when he first began 10 realize that
ne had fallen in love with her How far
away II seemed, that time-and vet the
light grey coat was not old. There was
MOI anything IKE an interval which could
nave allowed the Princess Marie to
change in appearance. 10 lose anv of her
charms. He was thinking of this when
he found himself almost unconsciouslv un-
der the windows of the house which was
occupied by the Three Disgracesl
There were lights in the drawing room
windows lights somewhat softened and
suppressed. The windows of the drawing
room were partly open. The rest of the
mouse was IN darkness. There was sing
ing heard from the drawing room. but the
tone OF the singing like the tone of the
hSnt, was somewhat subdued. Still erich
ton Emlay, who had positively stopped to
4steh before crossing the street to his
own home could distinctly make out
that it was the singing of music hall min
strelsy belonging to London and to Paris
The songs We're now in English and now
in French.
These Polish Jewesses," he thought to
himself, that is the only sort of thing
they care about and he was on the
move to cross the road and go home to
his own den
The house of the Three Disgraces had.
like all the other houses in the terrace. a
balcony in front of its drawing room win
doWs. Crichton suddenly became aware"
as the old poets put it, of a woman's fig
ure standing in the balcony. The woman
was looking down into the garden, and sup
ana down the street
Eb
he had undoubtedly been listening; and
although 1t was very harmless listening.
yet 1t might seem rude, and the poor Dis
graces would perhaps be sensitive to such
sort Of attention. Or perhaps they would
not mind-Derhaps they would rather like
lt-people of that sort were not usually
over sensitive. But anyhow whether the
women or the woman liked it or did not
like 1t, Crichton felt abashed at the idea
of being caught in a listening attitude
He drew himself into the shadow and
waited for the woman to go back into the
house
But she, standing in the balcony, began
to sing or Groom in low voice, a little
French song which he knew only too well.
1t was song which he had heard the Prin-
cess Marie sing, and had never heard
sung by anyone e4se. II was sung now
in a voice exquisitely sweet, soft, and
plaintive, so low that there was nothing
liv'd 'twiXt it and silence" And our poor
friend Crichton started, as if from COM
mon-place and prosaic life he had sudden
ly found himself set down in a land of
bhsstul enchantment, and he said to his
beating heart, 1T is the Princess Marle,p
And he advanced involuntarily from the
shadow, and with his movement the fig
Ure disappeared from the balcony
For moment he stood there and could
not move. IL another moment the door Of
the house was opened and a woman came
ghdlng, not running, towards him where
he stood. She spoke a few hurried words
IN russian Crchton had picked up
enough OF russian TO know what she was
saying.
"At .ast, at last, you have GOMEZ, were
her words. Then she drew close to him.
and then shrank back with look of dis
appointment and alarm. 1t was the elder
of the two girl-Disgraces; there could be
no doubt about that. There In the bright
soft moonlight, Crichton could see the face
raddled with roughe and made CHASTITY
white with paint But he had heard the
voice and the song, and he saw the ewes
and he knew it was the Princess Marie!
why have you come here?" she asked
him in quivering, low-toned voice, and
yet in voice thrilling with emotion.
DO you know me?" Crichton asked in a
tone as low as her own
Yes know you; of course I know vo1t
But it is not to the purpose whether I
know you or not. Do you know me?"
YES, l know you. I know you by
your voice You are the Princess Marie -
flush! hush! for heavens sake-no
names here! Why do you come here? You
do not come to watch us-to spy on us?''
OH he positively started with horror
and resentment at this cruel stab. The
girls voice softened.
NO" she said, you brave English gen
tiemen do not act the part of spies. And
besides, know you. and 1 liked you've
all liked you-my father and all I was
waiting for my father here tonight. I
sang that little song as a signal that he
might come, for thought your figure was
his. Now I know he will not come to-
night. So go away-do not stay another
moment-do not ask me any questions. but
go away"
Am never to know? might be able
to serve you"
Some time, perhaps but not now.
Goodnight"
She almost pushed him from her. He
gave one last look into her face-that
painted, desecrated face, that bewildering
masquerade, for he could not doubt thatG
it was a planned and purposed masouer-
ade. and planned for a good purpose. He