The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-09-16

Nbt'
She paused tentatively.
You don't mean to say that you OK
pect me TO tell Ned Markham that
you've tilted him.
II certainly don't expect you to put
it in that way" replied Miss Oakhurst,
with Il little laugh, but | am quite
certain that you would explain it to
the poor fellow much better than any
one else"
'Explainr" exclaimed Nora, impa-
tiently. Il don't know that there's
anything to explain except that you've
put yourself and me in most ridicu-
lous position"
Nora
Il wish I'd never had anything to do
with it Inever felt so uncomfortable
i'll my life as 1 have done since you
dragged me into this precious scheme Of
yours.
Poor old Nora, ~ murmured Betty
sympatheticall- while she cast furtivo
gIances at the clock.
! 'YOu came here and shed any num-
Der of tears; declared that you adorcd
Ted Markham. that your father would
not hear Of ali engagement, but that ii
you only had little time before you
you We're suIo everything would come
right.
80 it has" remarked Betty soto
voce. at ) only a question of point of
view"
Nora flashed an indignant look at her.
Il think You might be serious now,
and at least pretend that you re ashamed
Of yourself. You begged me to help you
to get my aunt to ask him here, to act
as screen in fact, SO that your people
might imagine it was all over and that
you had both changed your minds, and
nOW-nCw'-
The sound of bell broke III upon
Miss Helmsley's eloquence, and Betty
caught up her gloves.
I'm awfully sorry, Nora. Abuse Inc
as much as you like. Goodby."
And before Nora could stop her she
IA dartcd through the door and was
Oh her way down stairs. She let her go.
After all, it never was of any use to ar
que with Betty. She was one OF those
delightfully."- irresponsible creatures who
Ill w Il llid4-ssSSt " SIIIll WIG D4GlLlO Vi
their shortcomings on to other peoples
shoulders and whom no one-no man,
at any rate-ever dreams of Judging by
ordinary standards. Nora wondered, as
she stood there idly looking into the
street, how she could ever have been
foolish enough TO take Betty's love trou-
bleS seriously.
Meantime that same folly of hers was
going to hear some very unpalatable
fruit, III less than ten minutes young
Markham would be there. He had ar
ranged to call for Miss Helmsley and
her aunt, Lady Hewitt, TO escort them
to an afternoon concert. The elder lady
had declared at luncheon that the
weather was far too depressing for it
not to be madness to risk the probability
Of a further tall III ones moral barum-
eter by 4 couple Of hours of orchestral
music and that Nora must give him
some tea and her excuses.
Nora was conscious that this was a
neat pretcxt for giving the young man
the chance of Il tete-a-tete with herself
Lady Hewitt was too indolent natural
" not to be heartily weary of her du-
ties rs chaperon TO her niece.
An attractive heiress was a response
bility little to her taste, and the girl
felt that, ineligible as most mothers
and responsible people would have
termed Ted Markham, with his post i'll
the foreign office and his meager per
sonal fortune, Lady Hewitt would open
her arms TO bin gladly if he would buo
relieve her of her onerous duties of
watchdog and would declare that Nora
had money enough for them both.
Nora sighed as she stood at the wiz
dow. 1t was topsy turvy world, and
the wrong people were always being
thrown together. If only
Am l disturbing you: L WAS told to
come III here"
Nora started, and the color rushed 20
her face.
"Oh, l hadn't heard you come III.
Do sit down. Aunt ism well. am so
sorry you should have had the trouble
OF calling for nothing, but she hoped to
be able to go until the last moment.
Won't you let me give you some tea:'
She spoke with nervous hurry, scarcely
JauSlllS 1Or all answer.
Ted Markham took the chair she Of
erred him and listened in silence while
she ratified on. Suddenly she stopped,
conscious OF his fixed glance.
''Is anything the matter" she asked
in slightly alarmed voice. 1t was sure.
" not possible that he could already
have learned Betty's treachery.
Eyes. We can't go on like this, Miss
Helmsley."
"No?" Nora felt the color go out of
her face
at isn't fair to you, and besides L
things have changed
You mean that Betty
Miss Oakhurst is going to be mar
ried :" Nora gasped, but did not speak.
''She is engaged to Lord Barthorpe. l
mot Lady Oakhurst just now, and she
was overlooking with loving kindness
to the world i'll general. "
Betty has behaved abominably,
put i'll Nora Indignantly.
Ted Markham smiled.
81 think, on the contrary, that she
has shown remarkably good sense. / am
going to leave London. really came
this afternoon to say goodby."
Nora bit her lips.
81 am very sorry" she began hest
tatingly II am afraid l was rather to
blame, but l thought Betty really
cared, and'-
She left the sentence unfinished. Ted
Markham's demeanor puzzled her. He
was quite white, and there was a look
in his eyes which troubled her. What
was there i'll her fluffy haired, blue eyed
little friend to move a man so? That
her companion had taken some great
resolution and that singularly diff
cult one, it was easy enough to perceive.
Are you going to be away long,"
she asked awkwardly. II mean, are
you going far?''
81 think of going to have a look at
the antipodes. My father has some in
terest, and hope to get sentoff to Mel,