The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-12
CoryRlultr By AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION,
ICONTINEEDl

81 am more puzzled than ever" said
Wallie. when Randolph was gone.
"What now?"
'ln the first place he couldn't pnitc
make up his mind whether he'd met her
or not; then he got furried bccanse
suggested there had been stories about
her; and, finally, he took to flight rather
than discuss her any more. Now if he
doesn't know her, why should be flare
up so about her! and if he does linc W her.
why does he pretend he doesn't
Hes nn ola fashioned began Geof-
frey.
That's gainmon," interrupted Wallie.
"and you know it! The fall al man is
an older fashion than Mr.. Randolph.
Did any sane man. young or old, ever get
into stateof mind because the correct
ness of an cpern singer he didn't know
was called in question? | can't make it
out-nnless be means to marrF herr
This speculation was received by Geof-
frey in dead silence, and for Il consider
able time neither of the men said any
thing. Atlast the questioned the cottage
at Newport was brought up once more
and canvassed until they parted
Bellingham walked slowly toward
Madison square, with Mr.. Randolph.
among other things on his 1nind. Still
meditating he turned up Fifth avenue.
and before long found himself opposite
Mile. Marana's hotel. 1t occurred to
him thatil,e had never yet colled on her
in her own apartments and he resolved
TO repair that neglect. Accordingly he
went to the Office and inquired if she
were in. The clerk glanced mt the key
board anil said "Yes" abstractedly. Bell
inyham got into the elevator and
went up.
The pa psssageway, after the bright sun
light 0fHhe street, seemed rather dark
Not knowing which waythe numbers
ran, he remained for moment where
the elevator left him. Just then door
was opened on the right,:a gentleman
came out, and advanced along the pas
sage toward him. When about ten PAGES
distant, he stopped, tnrned back, and de
parted hastily in the opposite direction
But Bellingham had recognized him: il
was Mr.. Randolph.
The incident made little impression on
him, however. He turned to the left.
looking Ifor the number, hut finding he
was goiIg the wrong way he retraced
his steps, and presently .fannd himself
standing before the door from which
Mr.. Randolph had just issued 1t bore
Mile. Marana's number. Tie knocked,
and Nine. Bemax opened to him. ON
his inquiring whether the yprima donna
were engaged, the lady ,saif she would
see. So he walked in, md stood by the
window, ;nnd in Il few minutes Mile.
MARINA appeared. She greeted him
with such evidently spontaneous pleas
ure that ANY slight misgiying he may
have felt was Immediately cdissipated
81 heganto think yoD Were never go
| ing to come" she said.
I'm so much ont of The WAY of max
ing calls that I'm surprised to find my
self here. You have a great,many call
ers?''
"WeN- a good many cSme, but | see
very few-only old friends. And OF
course she added, las l never was in
New York before, that is the same as
saying see hardly any one'
81 met a man lately who knows you,
think-Mr. Randolph"
Mr.. Randolph She pronounced the
name in changed tone and blushed.
Alexander Randolph" he repeated.
hooking at her
She dropped bsr eyes. 'I--believe-l
4 have heard his n0me," she said
Bellingham said no more; he felt dis
mayed and bewildered. Undoubtedly
| there was some unpleasant mystery bout
thisfellow Randolph. Heard his name," :"
indeed Had not Ghe man been in her
company five minutes ago?
Il saw you at the opera last night" re-
marked the prima donna, recovering her
self Bellingham merely nodded. Were
lou disappointedg' she asked faltering1y.
"No, j was like the rest of the audi-
nnce,7 he replied in a dry tone.
lyon are not like the rest of the aa-
dience to me," she said, lever since the
first night have sung toyou. wouldn't
tell You. oply-I thought you knew it!r
II know nothing about yOn." returned
Bellingham roughly.
"You speak as If you didn't care to
know anything" she said. holding up
her head.
Bellingham controlled his rising tenn
per. A weaker man would have pro-
tected himself by irony or sarcasm, but
he said exactly what he thought "a
care more about what concerns you," he
said. Ethan about anything else. But ]
will not look away when am being de-
ceived. You and this Randolph are both
pretending to be strangers to each other.
l saw him come out of this room just be-
fore came into it. Do you deny that
he was hereY'
'He was here" answered she, turning
pale.
"There is only one other question. Are
you going to marry himi"
This was so uneyDected that she