The record-union., 1898-11-15
BREAKING The NEWS.


more about Mr. Markham's powers on
endurance than T."
but what do you think he'll do?
What do you suppose
Why waste our time in supposition?
He'll be here most likely this afternoon,
and you will be able to judge for your
SELF
Betty Oakhurst sprang to her feet.
Ted is coming here this afternoon
Why on earth didn't you tell me be-
fore2" And she fidgetted nervousdy
with her hat before the glass as she
spoke.
But you knew. Betty, where are
you going?"
Anywhere out of this" cried the
girl, laughing nervously as she stopped
TO kiss her friend.
Nora, however, caught her arm.
Nonsense, Bettyi You'd much bet
ter tell him straight out now and get
Il over. It will be ever so much more
awkward for you if the news reaches
him from outside"
Il don't see that at ALL returned
Betty quietly, as she drew away from
her companion II am sure that f-it
you-''
She paused tentatively.
You don't mean to say that you ex-
pect me to tell Ted Markham that you
have Tilted him?"
Il certainly don't expect you to put
II in that way" replied Miss Oakhurst,
with a little laugh; "but I am quite
certain that you would explain it to
the poor fellow much better than any
one else
'Explain!" exclaimed Nora, impa-
tiently. Il don't know that there's
anything to expain, except that you've
put yourself and me in a most ridicu-
lous position"
Moral"
Il wish I'd never had anything to do
with ii. l never felt so uncomfortable
In my life as I have done since you
dragged me into this precious scheme
of yours"
Poor old Moral" murmured Betty
sympathetically while she cast furtive
glances at the clock
You came here and shed any num-
Der of tears; declared that you adored
Ied Markham; that your father would
not hear Of an engagement, but that
II you only had a little time before
you, you We're sure everything would
come right"
so it has" remarked Betty sotto
voce. ITS only 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 asham-
ed of yourself. You begged me to help
70 n~Ir l.:
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-now-"
The sound of a bell broke in upon
MISS Helmsley's eloquence, and Betty
caught up her gloves.
I'm awfully sorry, Nora. Abuse me
as much as you like. Good-by!"
AND before Nora could stop here she
had darted through the door and was
on her way down stairs. She let her
se- AFTER all, it never was of any use
10 argue with Betty; she was one of
those delightfully."- irresponsible Great
res VINO always manage to shift the
blame of their shortcomings on to other
peoples shoulders, and whom no one
no man, at any rate-ever dreams OF
49, S4AAS " SlduQdTuS. Nora
wondered, as she stood there idly look
ing into the street, how she eouid ever
have been foolish enough to take Bet
tvs love troubles seriously.
Meantime, that same folly of hers
was going to hear some very unpalata-
BILE fruit. In less than ten minutes
young Markham would be there He
had arranged to call for Miss HelmsIey
and her adx
them to an afternoon concert. The
elder lady had declared at luncheon
that the weather was far too depress-
ing for it mot to be madness to risk
the probability of a further fall in
ones moral barometer by a 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 pretext for giving the young man
the chance of tete-a-tete with herself.
Lady Hewitt was too indolert. natural
~. not to be heartily weary of her 1u-
ties as chaperon to her niece. An at
trdctiVe heiress was a responsibility
little TO her taste. and the girl felt
that, ineligible as most mothers and ro-
sponsible people would have termed
Ted Markham, with his post in the For
elgn Oft1ee and his meager personal
fortune, Lady Hewitt would open her
arms to him gladly if he would but re-
Eeve her of her onerous duties of
watchdog, and would declare that Nora
had money enough for both of them.
Nora signed as she stood at the win
dow. 1t was a topsy- -turvy world. and
the wrong people were always being
Thrown together. If only
Am l disturbing you? I was told
to come in here"
Nora started, and the color rushed to
her face.
"oh, hadn't heard you come in!
DO sit down. Aunt isn't well. am
so sorry you should have had the from
bis of calling for nothing, but she hoped
to be able to go until the last momenf.
Won't you let me give you some tea ?'''
She spoke with a nervous hurry.
scarcely pausing for an answer
Ted Markham took the chair she Of
fered him, and listened in silence While
she ratified on Suddenly she stopped
conscious of his fixed glance
Is anything the matter?" she asked
in a slightly alarmed voice. 1t was
surely not possible that he could al
ready have learned Betty's treachery
Yes We can't go on like this. Miss
Helmsleyl"
mot" Nora felt the color go out of
her face.
TT isn't fair to you. and besides T.
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 I