The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-02
BY Special Wire.
BY Mrs. ALEXANDER.

Ry Mrs. ALEXANDER.


resumed Lady Hastings, slowly unfas-
tening her cloak "She is still hand
some. She was, I believe, lovely. You
We're very young man, Val, then.
You had not long joined the regiment,
and they used to say you spent more
time than was prudent in the society OF
poor Mr.. Revell's widow"
ga good deal more than liked, % re-
piled Carew frankly and stoutly. 81 al
ways thought her she devil and as
plausible as Beelzebub But now that
the old times are coming back to your
mind I dare say you will remember lit
tie Algy Melford of the til lancers!
My great chum He was awfully smit-
ten with her, and it took all my time
and all my wits to choke him off. After
all, I don't think / should have saved
him if he had not been Frustrated by
sharp attack of fever and the doctors
had not packed him off home can tell
you that woman very nearly bagged
Lord Melford's only son and heir, and
you know what fortune he will have.
| Mrs. Revell hated me on that score, and
some others into the bargain, and she
| il woman who likes to pay her debts.
It would be nuts to her to ruin me. -
| '.If you knew all do. you would not
say so. Whatever happens, try to see
James alone, which will not be easy il
| she is on the watch. "
| .'If James were in his right mind,
| how angry he would be!' exclaimed
Lady Hastings HE has always been
such good fellow in spite Of his eccen-
tricities. Fewmen of 30, which was
his age when I married, would have re-
ceived his fathers second wife as kind
| ly as he did. %
| "He has been good friend to me,
and but for him I should be nowhere
now" said Carew.
"You have been rather bad boy,
/ Val, but / believe there's the making
| of successful man in you -
"Aye, Lady Hastings, it l had good
woman to care about me!' said Carew,
with profound sigh.
sNo use in thinking of such a prize,
Val, till you can prove you are worthy
of it. The only thing can think of at
present is to give you letter of intro
duction to my solicitor. He is shrewd
man. Twill tell him am convinced
of your innocence, and you must tell
your own story"
She rose and went over to the writing
table Carew stood gazing disconsolate-
ly through the window.
SIT is dreadful aggravation of our
difficulties said Lady Hastings, look
ing up from her writing, "this disap-
pearance of James and his nurse. OF
course he can be found. Nothing is hid
den long nowadays, but time is of i'm
mense Importance. I wonder Khodja,
his native servant, has not found means
of communicating with us. "
"Khodia has been dismissed and sent
back to Bombay
els it possible! I never thought
James would part with him. Why, he
has been with him ever since my step
son was appointed commissioner at
H"
"Ah, it looks very badl''
stPray impress upon Mr.. Heartwell
the extreme importance of tracing James
as soon as possible, said Lady Has
tings, rising and giving her note to Ca
rev. AS he put it in his pocket the din
ner bell rang, and at the same moment
the door was opened by Ruth.
ST have ordered the dogcart, mother, :"
she said. "Val must drive to Nutfeld.
There is no up train after 7:45 at our
little station. :"
ga thousand thanks, cried Carew.
t'Come, then, you must want your
dinner And Lady Hastings took his
arm. "Stop, y she exclaimed, suddenly
pausing before she reached the door.
ST have an idea. Suppose I go to the
Oriental bank people and offer to guar
antee the amount of the check? am
good for $500"
"Oh, yes. Do, mother, DEAR cried
Ruth.
''No, certainly not I will accept
nothing of the sort, - returned Carew
firmly. "Besides my decided objection
to your risking the money, every one
would see in your action proof of my
villainy. My near relationship to James,
my intimacy with the general and your
self are well known You would be
credited with a sacrifice to save me-
No, no, the matter must take its course
I have been rather a poltroon about it,,
but your kindness has reused my droop-
| ing courage. I will use the time that is
left me diligently. don't think any
steps will be taken for few days
"Steps! Law proceedings!' exelaim-
ed Ruth.
ST see the force of what you say, :"
said Lady Hastings, moving on to the
dining room, ''but remember I am not
afraid of trusting you with $500"
Dinner passed silently, though Lady
Hastings was careful in her efforts to
make Carew eat. When it was over
and the sound Of wheels was heard as