The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-01

'YOt, might trust me, too, V1I."
"But I must not bore you about my i'll
luck. When will your mother be in? I
want her help sorely."
"She must be here soon. expected
her at 6. -
Carew threw himself into an easy
chair and leaned his head on his hand
with responding gesture.
''You might trust me, too, Val, :"
said Ruth, still standing beside him.
II might not be of much use, but it
would be relief to talk of your trou-
bles"
'sI am in hole, an awful hole,
Ruth - he returned. ''I don't see my
way out of it unless Lady Hastings can
get at your brother.
"But he must not see any one, not
even my mother, and you know how
much he likes her, though she is step
mother. We went up to visit him last
week, yet the nurse, Mrs Somers, was
obliged to refuse us. His mind is much
disturbed and he is ordered to the sea-
side
"He has gone there At least he has
quilted his lodgings in Kensington and
left no address.
"That seems very extraordinary
"Not to me, cried Val, starting up
to pace to and fro-''not to me, consid
ering who pulls the wires. Yes, Ruth,
I will tell you what is wrong. l was in
mess about money some little time
ago. had lost heavily on-eh, on va
rious events that you know nothing
about and wanted desperately to turn
over new leaf, to exchange with
Clavering into the Seventeenth (the
regiment is going to India next monthly,
to live on my. pay and try to work
round, so | put my pride in my pocket,
as had nothing else to put there, and
wrote to James Hastings. He was al
ways more like brother than cousin
to me. He has lots of money, too, and
no one to think of but himself. asked
him for $500 and permission to pay it
back by installments He soon replied,
inclosing his check for the amount I
asked in letter-a lecture, in fact, but
a kind one. [ felt sure I had come to
the end of my troubles, and even ven
tured to dream-no matter whatl Of
course I lost no time in getting the cash
and disbursing it. Some days after I
was asked to call at the bank where I
had lodged the check, and the manager
informed me that the Oriental, where
James banks, had returned it, the sig
nature being doubtful 1t was awfully
shaky. I certainly had a shock; still I
was not greatly disturbed. told the
fellow it was all right; that had a
letter from Mr.. Hastings that would
settle the matter; but, by Jove, can
not find the letter anywhere! Must have
torn it up! Then I went to Kensington
to James lodgings There the angelic
nurse would not let me inside the doors
She said she would take an opportunity
of representing the matter to her pa
tient and would write to me- So she did
to say that Mr.. Hastings was not
clear on that or any other subject. If
James cannot or will not remember the
transaction, shall be accused of for
tered Carew as he followed the butler
TO the room generally used in the morn
ing by Lady Hastings and her daughter,
a cool, shady apartment, with bay
window overlooking the garden and
comfortable hooks to read or think in,
heautifed with flowers and ferns and
sweet with the perfume Of the conserva-
torv. q door into which stood open.
The room was untenanted, but the
sound of a,piano and a fresh, pleasant
voice singing ''Robin Adair" indicated
that the daughter of the house was not
far off.
1T will tell Miss Hastings, SIR" said
the servant, and Carew was left to look
abont him, which he did with somber
eyes-eyes that ached as they gazed at