The St. Johns herald., 1899-03-11
7lA Changed Man.N |

. HEY were standing before a per

i" HEY were standing before a per fumery shop in Bond street as
 passed them-two young ladie
 or manifestly good society, so refined
 was their appearance and so perfectl! correct their tenure. I could not hell
 half turning, and who should they bt
 but that archtease of cousin of mine
 Sybil Vane, and her bosom friend Gwen O'Hara. It was Sybil that haG | spoken. and she said:
 Fancy that little fool throwing her self away on a man like that when she knows he only wants her for hel money"
 What little fool and what man?" asked, as raised my hat by way ot apology for the intrusion.
 "Oh, you men! You never know any. thing" said Sibyl, when she had recov. cred from the shock my question had evidently occasioned.
 "Then tell me-" rejoined. "You nev- CT have any secrets from me, you know at least, not for long,"
 Why, Honor Beaumont and Capt. Faulkner, to be sure."
 "Are they engaged to be married?"
 "Of course they are, and he hasn't a penny, while she has q million"
 Well, he's a very handsome fellow, and she is-passable."
 They say he cheated at cards, that he's in everybody's debt, and Is nothing short of mere adventurer. And yet Honor Beaumont has accepted him! I say it's really too bad of her."
 l had known Faulkner for some years, and I am bound to say I had very little to urge in his defense. He had never been actually caught in any nefarious proceeding, but 1t was known that he had run through most of his friends, and that he was wonderfully lucky at faro, and that he was anxious ly looking for an heiress.
 The wedding took place, and about four months afterward Captain and Mrs. Faulkner were back in town, ap- parently the happiest people to be found in all Belgravia.
 AS for Faulkner, he seemed com pletely changed. There was a manli- ness about him that one never noticed before; his eyes wore a frank expres- sion that was truly refreshing to see. He Was clearly devoted to his wife, and they seemed to perfectly understand and trust each other. What could it mean?
 Gradually got to really like Faulki- her. He made splendid host. was a pattern of the domestic virtues. and inn pressed one as being the soul of honor Our acquaintance finally ripened into 8 close friendship, and the intimacy de- velOped until at length found myself how l know not-on terms of real with the man whom, only few months before, had been inclined to look upon very much in the light in which he was regarded by my cousin Sybil.
 One evening he expounded the mys- tery.
 Shall l tell you the story of our Jack" he asked
 "As you will, my dear fellow" l re- piled, If it isn't too sacred a subject for a third party"
 That's just it-it is a sacred subject as you will see."
 He lit his cigar and proceeded:
 "All that the world thought and said | of me before 1 was married was true, | and more than true. l was a regular | pad lot And it is true also that in pro- posing to Miss Beaumont 1 was actu- lted by the most mercenary motives, | md those alone.
 All that l wanted was her money Ter money, Jack-do you hear me? The world said so, and the world was per 'ectly right. had plans as to what I would do with it. My chief anxiety vas to prevent her getting any inkling If the truth, and so 1 never ceased to lance constant attendance on her, and to withdraw her as far as possible from her lady friends. All went we'll until one evening at the Villiers' 'all she took me to one side. saying: 'Fritz-she always called me Fritz ather than Frank-I want to speak to 'ou.'
 "'What is 1t. darling?
 "'You are not to call me darling any nore till this matter is cleared up.' "'What matter. dearT
 "'Just this: People are saying that ou are marrying me merely for my honey. Is that soY
 "'Of course not. love you for your elf
 Stop, stop! am going to put you 9 the proof. You know my solicitors fessrs. Hopkins & Dicey, in Lincoln's nn?'
 "'Yes.'
 Well, meet me there tomorrow at oon. sharp. And now. goodnight
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