The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-26

that it would take place at St Georges, Han
over Square, on September 18th, which was
now only two days away and all day Doug
las and Cora had been doing some of that
Indispensable shopping which, somehow, al
ways seems to get put off till just before
wedding.
Cora's boudoir at The Towers was to be
entirely refunshed, and this had necessitated
many visits and consultations.
she sat slipping her tea now, with an air
of exhaustion.
shopping is she said. with sigh of relief;
but it must be even more firing for the peo-
pie who have to sell you things. 1 always
pity the shop girls
The mattresses here seem to have a pretty
good time of it, anyhow, said Dougles,
glancing round at the daintily- attired girls.
The tall one over there is decidedly pretty,
too"
Yes, is she not?" agreed Cora "she used
to be at that ice shop in Oxford Street 1
don't think ever forget a face
Don't you? am afraid 1 do, unless it is
very striking one. BY the way, of course you,
too, have noticed how, after you have once
run up against a person, you seem always
meeting them afterwards wherever you go.
They must get as tired of seeing you you
are of seeing them
No, I do not think 1 have ever noticed it
myself said Cora, idly.
We'll day. should think it was
about two months ago-I went down the
Strand a, bus with a black fellow-looked
like Hindoo student, you knoW-and now I
seem always meeting him. 1 rather fancy he
is a student at the Charing Cross Hospital.
He is rather a good-loo1ing fellow in his
way, and has the most piercingly keen eyes
ever saw"
"a Hndoo." repeated Cora, looking at him
with the faintest stirring of a vague dis
turbance and apprehension that she could not
have put into words. Have you ever spoken
to him."
'Oh, dear, no! Why should I? A man will
travel with the same person for half life
a mr. 10 y oio,t
to be an awful nuisance if you started him
to talk
oh you thorough going old Briton!' said
Cora, laughing, her momentary uneasiness
quite vanished. You would be like the two
men who lived desert island for years,
and never spoke because they were not in
troduced."
Very likely" assented Douglas cheerfully.
oh! there is something L had to ask you,
Douglas, and l was nearly forgetting it,
cried she, with sudden recollection. Mother
wants to have all the presents laid out by
tomorrow night. Aunt Eugenia wishes to see
them, and she says she is not strong enough
to be at the wedding, she is coming round
tomorrow evening. Oh, dear! l think a
grand wedding is a dreadful fuss, but the
girls would never have forgiven me if they
had not been bridesmaids
Never mind. sweetest it will soon be over,
and then we can slip away quietly by
selves. Old Steinway was brick to lend us
that little bungalow of his for the honey
moon, and, if it only keeps fine, we shall be
able to have plenty of boating still. And so
you want the necklace? Well, L think 1 had
better go and fetch it tonight; shall be
fully busy tomorrow, settling things up, and
shall hardly have time"
'Oh but L thought you were coming back
to dinner tonight" said Cora.
Il shall have plenty of time for that,
dear I'll put you IN a hanson now, and go
off straight to Moorgate Street get the neck
lace, and take the Underground to Baker
Street. That is easy enough
Thanks; if you don't mind, dear, I think
that will be best said Cora, beginning to
put on her gloves.
Douglas called a hanson, put her in and,
hailing another for himself drove off to
Moorgate Street where the establishment of
Messrs. Faucet & Golding showed to the pub
lie an imposing display of plate glass win
dows.
He was so intent upon his errand that he
did not notice the figure of Hindoo passing
unobtrusively along the pavement, as he
pushed open the heavy door and went in.
1t was late; already a couple of assistants
were putting up the strong iron shutters for
the night, and when Douglas inquired for the
necklace, it was only to be told that the man.
ager had gone home, and that, he had the
keys of the strong room, it was unavailable
until the next morning.
What a nusance!" said he irritably
'Well, suppose there is nothing for it but
to wait till the morning.
He paused moment to light a cirgarette
out of the wind, and then went briSkly to-
wards the Underground station, quite uncon-
scious of the dark subtle figure that followed
him.
At that time Of the day there is slacken-
ing in the traffic of the Underground line and
Douglas was able to secure a first-class COM
partment to himself as he thought but lust
at the last moment, someone swung himself
easily in, and, with an inward smile, Douglas
recognized the Hindoo student of whom he
had spoken to Cora
He thought of her question as to whether
he had ever spoken to him, and. on the
!, nffh he ont sold