The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-19

and have a little something to eat be-
fore you CO." Violet entreated.
II couldn't eat anything till i've
tackled that fiend of a woman"
In a few minutes Jack was driving
rapidly across London in the direction
Of Noting Hill Pm glad she never
got that mad love letter of mine" he
said to himself with sigh. II sup
pose that vile French woman got hold
ff 1t. Well, I shall go back to India
'and stay there till feel cured Of my
folly"
Lord George Maitland at the same
time was driving far ahead of Jack in
the same direction. Arrived at GER
tain door in a small street in Noting
Hill, he asked for Madame Devonne.
heard she was in. and was admitted
Let no one else come in while 7 am
here" he said to the servant, slipping
a sovereign into her hand.
Madame Devonne was seated by tho
fire, knitting, with the remains of n
dainty little dejeuner-a-l la -fourchette
on a table at her side. "Ah! milor, 1t
delights me to see you" she said, ris-
ing and holding out her hand.
Lord George bowed. "Sit down,
Madame" he said sternly. II have
but one thing to say-give me at once
the two letters of which you sent me
copies, one written by Lady George
Maitland and the other by Captain
Staunton."
"Ah, milor, but have them not"
1T is useless to lie. Give them to
me at once, or / will have you arrested
on the charge of blackmailing, chan
tage you call it in your country"
"Ah, but Violet is clever! She has
confessed to her good husband; she
says she means nothing, and milor be-
lieves, and yet she loves the handsome
Jack, and
"Silence!" thundered Lord George.
mot another wordl You have been
blackmailing my wife for many
months; you have made her life miser-
able and mine hell upon earthi You
tried to make me believe that CAPTAIN
Staunton was receiving from my wife
the hundreds of pounds that you were
compelling her to pay you as hush
money. But all this villany has come
to an end. Your letter of this morning
has led to a very different issue to
what you anticipated. According to
your advice l went home unexpected
ly ] stood unseen in the conservatory
behind the boudoir, and lowered my
self, through your slanderous tongue,
to spy-yes, to spy-upon my own wife!
But / learned the truth-the whole
truth. If you were man, madame,
l should horsewhip you. AS it is, you
will give me those two letters imme-
diately 1 advise you to give them up
quietly"
Madame Devonne rose without a
word, and unlocking a drawer, took
out two letters. which she handed to
Lord George. He glanced over them
quickly, and then put them into his
pocket. Il think you will leave Lon
don shOrtly?" he inquired in a mean
ing tone as he rose to his feet.
Probably" she answered coolly,
your vile climate gives me the mi
graine, the spleen. And, as you say
in your ugly language. the game is
up Ali" she exclaimed, suddenly
changing her tone. II understand, you
would frighten the poor Frenchwoman:
but YOU dare not send her to prison,
no! you remember miladi's reputation
hate a scandal! And you, milor, have
you not been fool? So easy to trick,
so ready to believe; and so patient,
yes, patient. All! how / hate the Eng
lish virtue. patience! You believe all,
but you watt"
Lord George, without another word,
left the room and went out into the
street
THAT vile woman was right" he
said to himself II have been a fool
a blackguard to have believed any
thing wrong against my darling little
wife, and to have spied upon her.
Brute that I was! But l will make it
up to her-my vi, my darling. never
again shall you have an unhappy mo-
ment" And he called a hanson and
drove rapidly home.
Dear Vii went to Madame De-
vonne's house yesterday and found her
out. l went again in the evening,
when the servant told me that she had
left for Paris in a hurry. Shall l fol-
low her up? Yours ever,
John stanton"
The answer arrived quickly:
Come to luncheon at >. George told
me to ask you. He came home yester-
day just like his old self and was so
sweet and nice to me. He asked me
if had any bills, and wrote a cheque
for them, saying he liked doing it, and
in the end l told him everything, and
he was so happy and good. Your
happy old friend, "Violet.
"P. 81 really believe George is
quite fond of you, after all."-St.
Pauls, London.
"Did you ask the doctor IL you had
malaria?'
Not on your life; he's treating me for
five other expensive maladies now. Chit