Arizona republican., 1898-11-19

THE WHEEL CHAIE WAS BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN HALT.
 to be imminent. T beg leave to end this cOiJoquy. You have claim upon my forbearance: otherwise I should require you to apologize for the language i'll which you have just indulgcd. Good morning, sir"
 It will readily be understood that the effect of tl3is encounter was not tram quiliziD%, and there were superficial traces Of annoyance i1 North's face and manner when, . few moments later, hc entered Mrs. Maynard's dr2wing-rOoIn.
 He had not inquired if Mrs Maynard were discngaged. rather indolentlv talk ing it for granted tlat she would be: and he was very much annoyed to find that lady occupied with morning wis itors. Mrs. Maynard vas one of the few ladies in X who found t cxpc- dient to hold morning receptions; and this happened to beher day"
 North felt extremely awkward or dis covering that l4c had intrudcd q purely business call upon q social hour; but be- fore hC could excuse himself and with drav-indccd before he was able to de eide whether or not this would be his better coursc-hc was seized upon, fg- urativciy, by tic entire draving-room and retreat vas impossible. Finding that he was intimately acquainted with everyone present, he entered with meas I.rablc aGrecablcness into the current of small talk, in+vordly hoping that none of his friends would notice the circumstance that neither when he first addressed them. nor in his subscCront conversation. did he call any of them by name
 He seized an opportunity to speak a few words to Mrs. Maynard in private, during the course Of his call.
 Tho conversation had tlarcd upon q wonderful cactus which the gardener had just induced to bloom for tl,c first time. Everyone lad seen it, except North; and with the same exception everyone was going into raptures about it.
 North immediately became enthusi- astic on the subject, for the cactus was in the conservatory, beyond the reach Of the sharpcst eyes or ears i'll the draw ing-room.
 Mrs. Maynard" he exclaimed. turn ing to that lady with an air of mock appeal. my happiness depends upon my seeing that cactus, Will you favor nc to this cxtc3t?''
 With sorc laughing rcjoindcr she led the way to tl,c conservatory, which opened from the dra0inC-rooIn, and q moment latc~ they stood alone in the warm, moist. pcrfumc-lalCE place with great banlis of tropical plants widc-sprca,ling palms and stately can- mas casfulg q. dcliCatc green twilight around them and q soft, dreamy silence pcr'v@ding inc fragrant gloom.
 North duly c:,;.;,iillcd the cactus and expressed the pIoDcr degree of admira ton; then turning qniclliy to Mrs. May llard, whl. lii.; manner changed from the supcrd.:ial suavity that he had adopted fer the drawing room to a DOT tcnt2u5 gravity. he said, in a low tone:
 Mrs. Maynard. I nave something of great importance tn teil you. You will bc surprised perhaps tiisagrecahly. Shall speak now, CT wait until some ether tImc?'
 She wa, tearing the petals from a great crimson hcarte.! rose. ami she did not look uN: but the slight trcGnor of the lanGrid VhIic fingers betrayed to him the nervous agltaUion against " hich her pride and will were contending with ou!y partlal success.
 ''Euu may speak now, MT North. Then, 0eariiy: Why shonld you wait? It IS nn yvorsr at one time than another"
 TT: rir, Mrs. Maynar,. and certainty, however unwelromr it may lpc. is al ways more easily hoTte than auspensc. In one word, thcn-Annie Dupont has been discovered"
 Tiic soft color in her checks died out quickly in the surprise that she felt al thia ;tnunlnT"HtrIIt. and fir an instant her eyes lifted tllenIS,ltcs to his with half increlulnuS inquiry.
 ''1 Ou did not expect this. Mir Nortl?" she questioned, quietly. a curious re- serve in her manner which made him vaguely conscious of having lost ground with her since their last interview. The IHtiinatInn NIS too subtle and sliEht Tar him tn be alile Ia seize llpun it and definitely assign cau$c. hut, had not !ns affairs licen shaping themselves so satisfactorily within th4 last few days. 1t would have olcas1oned him intinite uneasiness.
 Expect it?"= -Fepessed. .-vth