, 1899-03-31
He throws out bis arms aaif tired to

death, and draws in his breath heavily.
"NowT' says she, leaning forward.
Am l worth your acceptance" says he,
turning sharply to her. 81 hardly dare to
think it, and yet you have been kind to
me, and your own lot is not a happy,
and"
He pauses.
do you hesitate? p asks she, very bit
terly, although her pale lips are smiling.
"Will you risk it alp says he, sadly.
"Will you come away with me? | feel |
nave no friend on earth but you. Will
you take pity on me? l shall not stay
here, whatever happens; / have striven
against fate too long-it has overcome me.
Another land-a different life-complete
forgetfulness@"
d you know what you are saying!'
asks Lady Swansdown, deathly white.
Yes; l have thought it all out. 1t is for
you now to decide. | have sometimes
thought | was not entirely indifferent to
you, and at all events we are friends In
the best sense of the term. II you were a
happily married woman, Beatrice, ]
should not speak TO you like this, but as 1t
is-in another land-if you will come with
me-we@"
Think, think!' says she, putting up hel
hand to stay him from further speech.
"All this is said in a moment of angry
excitement. You have called me youi
friend-and truly. l am so far in touch
with you that l can see you are very un.
happy. You have had-forgive me if J.
probe you-but you have had some-some
words with your wife?"
'Final words! hope-I think"
81 do not, however. All this will blow
over, ~and-come, Cyril, face it. Are you
really prepared to deliberately break the
last link that holds you to herr"
''There is no link. She has cut herself
adrift long since. She will be glad to be
rid of me-"
"And you-will you be glad to- be rid OF
herT"
at will be better" says he, shortly.
"And-the boy 2"
"Don't let us go into It," a little wildly.
"Ohl but we must-we must" says she.
'The boy-you will-T
81 shall leave him to her. l am nothing
to her. l cannot leave her desolate."
"How you consider her!" says she, in a
choking voice. She could nave burst into
tearsl "What a heart! and that woman
to treat him so-while-ohI it is hard
hardT" 4
81 tell you" says she, presently, that
you have not gone into this thing. To.
morrow you will regret all that you have
now said"
"If you refuse eyes. 1t lies in youl
hands now. Are you going to refuse me?'
"Giye me a moment" says she, family.
She has risen to her feet, and is so stand
ing that he cannot watch her. Her whole
soul is convulsed. Shall she? Shall she
not? The scales are trembling.
That woman's face! How it rises be-
fore her now, pale, cold, c~ontemptuous.
With what an ~insolent air she had almost
ordered her from her sight. And yet
and yet
Oh! A groan that is almost a sob breaks
from her. The scale has gone down to
one side. 1t is all over, hope and love and
joy. Isabel has won.
She has been leaning against the arm OF
the loungeAn 9 she cauIners>s hacin
upon tHeSeat as thou dinS
sible to her.
'Well?" says Baltimore, laying his hand
gently upon hers. His touch seems to
burn her, she filings his hand from her and
shrinks back.
you have decided" says he, quickly.
sYou will not come with me?"
"Oh! no, no, nor cries she. at is i'm.
possible!' A little curious laugh breaks
from her that is cruelty akin to a cry.
''You like her better than you like me.
You are angry with your wife, and would
be reyenged upon her, and your way to
revenge yourself is to make a second WON,
an hate you"
"a second?'
81 should probably hate you in six
! MONTHS says she, with a touch of pas
sion. 81 am not sure that | do not hate
you now"
"a second womanv' repeats he, as il
struck by this thought to the exclusion
of all others.
"Yesr'
you think, them" gazing at her, that
she-hates meY'
Lady Swansdown breaks into a low but
mirthless laugh. The most poignant an
guish rings through it.
"She! she!' cries she, as if unable to
control herself, and then stops suddenly,
placing her hand to her forehead. "Oh,
no, she doesn't hate you," she says. but
how you betray yourself! Do you wonder
| laugh? Did ever any man so give him.
self away? You have been declaring to
me for months that she hates you, yet
when | put it into words, or you think /
do, it seems as though some fresh, new
evil had befallen you. All! give up this
role of Don Juan, Baltimore. 1t doesn't
suit you"
He would have spoken to her again, but
she rejects the idea with such bitterness
that he is necessarily silent. She has COW
cred her face with her hands. Presently
she is alone.
CTo be c%ontinued.)