The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-05-12

Ted Markham, with his post in the
foreign Office and his meager personal
fortune, Lady Hewitt would open her
arms to him gladly if he would but re-
lieve her of her onerous duties OF
watchdog, and would declare that
Nora had money enough for them both.
Nora sighed as she stood at the win
dow. 1t was :opsy-turvy world, and
the wrong people were always being
thrown together. If only
Gam disturbing you? was told to
come in here"
Nora started, and the color rushed
to her face.
"Oh, hadn't heard you come in!
Do sit down. Aunt isn't well. / am so
sorry you should have had the trouble
of calling for nothing, but she hoped to
be able to 60 until the last moment.
Won't you let me give you sorle tea?'
She spoke with nervous hurry. scarce
ly pausing for an answer.
Ted Markham took the chair she Of
fered him, and listened in silence
while she ratified on. Suddenly she
stopped, conscious of his fixed glance.
us anything the matter?" she asked,
in slightly alarmed voice. 1t was
surely not possible that he could al
ready have learned of Betty's treach-
cry.
ayes. We can't go on like this, Miss
Helmsley."
"No!" Nora felt the color 90 out of
her face.
ut isn't fair to you, and besides L
things have changed"
"You mean that Betty
"Miss Oakhurst is goingtto be mar
RED" Nora gasped, but did not
speak. "She is engaged to Lord Bar
thorpe. I met Lady Oakhurst just
now, and she was overlooking with
loving kindness to the world in gen.
eral."
"Betty has behaved abomipab ly!"
put in Nora, Indignantly.
Ted Markham smiled.
81 think, on the contrary, that she
has shown remarkably good sense. I
am going to leave London; I really
came this afternoon to say good-by."
Nora bit her lips.
II am very sorry" she began, hest
tatingly. II am afraid I was rather
to blame, but thought Betty really
cared, and"
She left the sentence unfinished.
Ted Markham's demeanor puzzled her;
he was quite white, and there was a
look in his eyes which troubled her.
What was there in her fluffy-haired,
blue-eyed little friend to move a man
so? That her companion had taken
some great resolution, and that sin
gularly difficult one, it was easy
enough to perceive.
"Are you going to be away long 2"
she asked, awkwardly. IT mean, are
you going far?"
II think of going to have a look at
the antipodes. My father has.some in
terest, and l hope to get sent off to
Melbourne"
but haven't you made up your
mind rather hurriedly?" she objected,
timidly.
"Hurriedly? Why, I put things in
train weeks ago!"
"Weeks ago!" she exclaimed. "But
Betty's engagement is quite fresh
Did you suspect"
II suspected nothing. I knew"
"You knew!" she exclaimed, indig-
nantly, "Then why didn't you speak?
Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you!" She stared at him, his
tonel was so vehement. ooh, about
Betty, you meant"
'"Of course. What else could I
mean?"
Nothing, of course"
Really, don't understand YOU"
He laughed drearily as he rose. 'No,
must not explain, Good-by."
She looked up at him with startled
syes.
You are too hard on Betty. She"
"On Betty? Don't you know that
haven't thought of her for weeks
that found out long ago that we had
made a mistaken"
"Thcn why are you going?"
She managed 70 keep her eyes upon
his face, though her cheeks burned and
she felt almost choked.
Don't you know that am almost
pauper?" he said, bitterly, as he
turned away.
Nora took step after him. care
You going she asked, in TREMBLING
voice, because you want to make your
fortune, or because-because I am too
rich!"
"Nora!"
She covered her face with her hands.
''Oh. il you were not in love with
Betty, didn't you see-didn't you guess
weeks ago"
The voices of the chaperors wer,
loud in condemnation when the en-.
gagcmcnt was announced. and Tho
mothers of younger sons and ungil.
titles declared that Lady Hewitt ha6
allowed her niece to throw herself
away; while Betty Oakhurst shook
ner pretty head and reflected sadly
that men were tickle creatures and
that feminine friendship was but
broken reed.-London World.
Deeu-RO0fesv su.ua~so-