The Portland daily press., 1898-11-08

Certainly, madame" he answered.
still standing near her, a puzzled express
sion upon his countenance as she uhioeS,
ened her sealskin and allowed 1t to fall
over the back of her chair, revealing q
trim figure with narrow waist, neatly
attired in black silk, the bodice trimmed
with cream.
''You were smoking she said, with a
smile. Pray do not desist OH my ac-
count. l love tobacco. Indeed, If you
offered I would take one of your cigar
ettes-or would you think me very. very
shockings"
ssBy all MEANS" he laughed. 81 shall
be delighted if you'll join me-" and he
offered her his cigarette case and took
one himself. Then he struck a vesta
while she raised her veil, disclosing q
pretty face, and an adorable mouth, and
lit up with the air of an inveterate
smoker Her fair hair was, he noticed,
there WAS just the faintest suspicion of
artificial coloring in the former, and
her checks betrayed the use of the hare s
foot and earmine. He reflected, however.
that in Frenohwoman these little aids
to beauty might lie forgiven. Her hand
some head was well poised, her throat soft
and well-rounded, her white glo yes new,
ness and elegance. Her exact age was
difficult to determine, nevertheless she
was still young looking and possessed
the chic of the true Parisienne, which to
Englishmen seldom fails to prove attrac.
tive.
He made movement to close the win
dow, but, with peretty pout, she de-
tanned him, declaring that the room was
a little warm, and at least for the present
she felt no draught.
He sank back into his chair and regard
ed her with an expression half of curiosi-
ty, half of surprise. Their eyes met. The
silence was awkward, and he broke it by
apologising for receiving her somewhat
abruptly.
ssAh, you bachelors are generally abrupt
to unwelcome visitorsl' she answered in
her pleasant broken English, with a low
ripping laugh. 1T lie only my much
abused sex who prevent you from revert
ing to utter barbarity. You are not mar
ried. All, you should have wife to look
after you.
"perhaps I may have one-some day"
he answered, smiling at her frankness.
Slowly she removed the cigarette from
her lips, and her gaze wandered round
the brightly furnished room.
"But you declare yourself to be an un-
welc ONE visitor" he continued. "Whyp
For moment she regarded the end OF
her cigarette contemplatively, then turn.
ing her dark eye upon his, answered in
a half-apologetic tone
ssWell, you must think my visit here
curious, IN sieur. II it is nevertheless. l
trust I may be forgiven for eoncroaohing
upon your time, and coming here without
The object of my call is of
some concern to you, inasmuah as it is in
the interests of one who loves you
Zone who loves mel" he echoed in
Surpriss. "Whof
ssLiane Brooker,' answered his fair
visitor. ssIn her interests, and in yours. y
"Are you then, a friend of Lame ?'' he
inquired, suddenly interested.
: ssWell, not exactly" she replied, a lit
tie evasively he thought.
Then she replaced her cigarette daintily
between her lips, and continued smoking
with that ease and grace acquired by
ladies who are in the habit of soothing
their nerves with tobacco.
fare you acquainted with Captain
Brooker2" he asked.
Eyes, we have met" she answered.
you know him of course. He is such
man, such thorough
Bohemian, yet such perfect gentle
man.
Unfortunately. have only met him
on one or two OCCASIONS" George said.
In an instant it had occurred to him that
from his mysterious visitor he might
learn what Lame AID poor Nelly had
always refused to tell him. "He has lived
here, in France, for some years. What
has been his profession?'
Profession p she exclaimed, raising
her dark, well shaped eyebrows. "What,
are you unRware9"
II am entirely ignorant. !"
''Well. although military officer, of
late years his chief field of operations has
been the trente-st -quarante table at
Monte Carlo, where he is as well-known
as-well, as the fat old gentleman who
sits in the bureau to examine ones visit
ing card. -
disbelief.
"Yes, q gam bier, she went on. "Few
mon of late years have lost large sums SO
reckIessly as he has. Once every body fol-
lowed his play, believing him to be a sort
of wizard who could divine the cards I'M
dealt; but at last his i'll luck became pro-
verbal, and after running himself he left
with Lame and Nelly Br1dson ana went
to England. +"
land Lame? What of her?' he in
auired, dismayed that the man he had
cid in high esteem as good-hearted
easy going fellow, should actually turn
out to be an adventnrer.
"Ahl she has led strange life"
sighed the handsome Frenchwoman 81
have seen her many times but have sell
dom spoken much with her. often met
her father in the days of his success. but
he for some reason avoided introducing
me. Although the circle in which Erie
BROKER moved was usually composed of
adventuresses, and the scum of
gambling -hells. he held his daughter
aloof from 1t all. He would never permit
her to mix with any of his companions,
appearing to entertain curious supsicion
towards even rsspsotablssfolk, fearing lest
she should become contaminated by the
worlds wickednesS.
There was short pause, during which
he pondered deeply over the facts his
strange visitor had explained. The truth
was out at last. Liane was the daughter
of AN adyenturer. He recollected how
we'll she had been dressed when he had
met her ON the terrace at Monte Carlo,
and reflected that her father must be
again winning. The reason why she had
him to leave her that afternoon
why she. had always preserved such a reti-
cence regarding her past life, was now en-
tirely plain. She did not wish that he
should know the truth.
"You said that you called in LANES
interests, - he observed, presently, glanc-
ing at her with earnestness "How?'
what are her interests are yours; are
they not?" she asked.
Certainly.