The Portland daily press., 1898-11-03

u6SS Ill QbyD WhOu rooms were nOOT
ly furnished and the next meal had been
an event of uncertainty. A few months
of life at good hotel, amid congeniaI
society. would always be followed nv
many months of residence high up in
some back street. where the noise was
eternal, where the sound of loud-voiced
Frenchwomen sounded above and below,
where clothes were hung upon the drab
ialousies to air in the sun, and where the
smell of garlic came i'll at the windows.
In such life tho quiet English home
lines of Stratfeld Mortimer had come as a
welcome rest She had loved their quaint
old ivied cottage and had fondly believed
they would remain 2there always, happy
and contepted. But, alas Nelly S tragic
end had changed it all.
Zertho, her reckless but animated COM
panion of the old days, was back again
with them, and once more they were upon
the very spot that she had vowed SO ol5eh
she would never again revisit.
These reflections brought with them
thoughts of Nelly. She recolleoted now,
often and often, they would stroll togeth' :
er along that terrace while Zertho ana her
father sat hour after hour at the tables,
regardless OF meal-tines, and how some
times, hungry and having no money, trey
would go il and obtain from one or other
of the men ten-franc piece with which
to get their dinner at the cheap little res
taurant they knew of down in La Con-
damine. 1t was upon that very gravelled
walk, with its inviting seats, high palms
and banks of flowers, that they had one
afternoon passed tall, good-lookiDg
young Englishman not much older than
themselves. He had smiled at them,
and they, always delighted at the chance
of an Innocent Irritation, had laughed in
return. He had then raised his hat,
spoken to them, and strolled along at
No11vsc cido HE mama WAS Ghartaa HOl-
royde, and it was he who a few weeks
later had given Nelly the costly brooch
which had been stolen from her throat by
her assassin.
She glanced at the seat beside which she
was standing IL was the one on which
they had sat that sunny afternoon when
they chatted Inerrily, and he had first
given the two girls his card. She sighed.
Those days were past, and even Nelly,
her companion and confidante, was no
more. She was, she reflected gloomily.
without single real friend.
AT that moment, however, she felt a
light hand upon her shoulder behind her,
and a voice. exclaimed:
'tLianel At last''
She turned quickly with start, and
next instant found herself face to face
with George Stratteld.
You, Georgel' she gasped, her face
blanohing.
eyes, darling" he answered. 81 called
at your address at Nice, but they told
me you had come over here, so followed.
But what's the NATTER" he asked, in
CONSERVATION. "You are not well. How
white you lookl Tell me, what is worry
Nothing whatever, assure you. IL
wasn't aware that I looked at all pale,
Your sudden appearance startled me"
But George regarded her with suspicion.
He knew from the look of intense anxiety
upon her fair countenance that she was
concealing the truth.
sis the Captain with your" he inquired
after an awkward pause.
Eyes, he is inside she answered.
"But why have you come hereT
10 see you, LANE" he said, earnestly.
IT could no longer bear to be parted from
you, so one night resolved to run out
and spend a week or SO in Nice, and here
am.
Her face had assumed strange per-
picked look. He knew nothing of Zertho' s
existence, for loving him so well she had
hesitaJed day by day to write and tell him
the hideous truth. She saw that he must
now know all,
She raised her clear, wonderful eyes to
his as she stammerd question. asking
II that was his first visit to the Riviera.
"Yes," he answered, gazing around at
the Casino, the mountains, and the sea.
Chow charming it is here. I don't won
der that you are so fond Of it,
''I'm not fond of it, she protested
with sigh. 81 would rather be in Eng
land-much rather. -
"Yet you are half French YOURSELF
Surely this is gayer and much more pleas
ant than Stratfeld Mortimer" he ex-
claimed, leaning with his back to the bal
ustrade, glancing at her elegant dress and
noticing how we'll it suited her.
, "The surroundings are perhaps more
picturesque" she replied, turning her
gaze sea- ward, "but 1 was far happier
there than here She sighed, and the
little gloyed hand holding her sunshade
trembled.
"Why?" he inquired, surprised.
For an instant she raised her eyes to
his, then lowering her gaze, answered.
''Why do you ask? Did not then have
youp''
''But am here now, - he said,q quickly
81 must, however, admit that your well
come was scarcely as cordial as I expect
ed
Her lips frightened. and she swallowed
the lump rising in her throat.
ell cannot kiss you here, in a public
place. she said with little gesture of
regret.
The strange GOODNESS about her voice
apparent apathy OF her letters actually
arose from Indifference. HIS suspicious
were correct. Her love had grown cold.
A heavy look of disappointment crossed
his face, as pausing.a moment, he glanced
at her, and saw that she shiyered
Most women approach
" the critical period of
M motherhood for the first