Arizona republican., 1899-03-25


 the wrong people were always being thrown together. If only
 Am disturbing you? I was told to come in here"
 Nora started, and the color rushed to her face.
 ''Oh, I hadn't heard you come in! Do sit down. Aunt isn't we'll. am so sorry you should have had the trouble of calling for nothing. but she hoped to be able to go until the last moment. Won't you let me give you some 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 rattled on. Suddenly she stopped, conscious of his fixed glance.
 ''Is anything the matter?" she asked, in a slightly alarmed voice. It was surely not possible that he could al- ready have learned of 3etty's treach- cry.
 "Yes. We can't go on like this, Miss Helmsley."
 ''No!" Nora felt the color go out of her face.
 ''It isn't fair to you, and besides T. things have changed"
 You mean that Betty"
 Miss Oakhurst is goingSto be mar ried." Nora gasped, but did not speak. ''She is engaged to Lord Bar thorpe. I met Lady Oallhurst just now, and she was overflowing with loving kindness to the world in gen. eral"
 Betty has behaved abomipably!" put in Nora, indignantly. Ted Markham smiled.
 ''I 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.
 'I am very sorry" she began, hesi- tatingly. ''I am afraid I was rather to blame, but I 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 fuffy-haired, blue-eyed little friend to move a man so? That her companion had taken some great resolution, and that a sin gularly difficult one, it was easy
 
 Are you going to be away long?" she asked, awkwardly. q mean, are you going far?''
 T think of going to have a look at the antipodes. My father has s-some in terest, and I 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"
 ''I suspected rothing. knew"
 "You knew!" she exclaimed, indig- nanty, "Then why didn't you speak? Why didn't you tell me ?''
 "Tel you!" She stared at him, his tone was so vehement. "Oh, about Betty, you mean!"
 ''Of course. What else could mean?"
 Nothing, of course-' "Really, don't understand you"
 He laughed drearily as he rose. 'No, I 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 I found out long ago that we had ! made a mistake ?" "Then why are you going?" She managed to keep her eyesNpon ! his face, though her cheeks burned and 1 she felt almost oho1yed Don't you know that I am almest ! pauper?" he said, bitterly, as he ! turned away.
 Nora took a step after him. "Are ! you going" she asked, in trembling voice, because you want to make your | fortune, or because-because am too rich!'' "Nora!'
 She covered her face with her hands. l ''Oh, if you were not in love with Betty, didn't you see-didn't you guess | weeks ago.
 The voices of the chaperons were loud in condemnation when the en- was announced, and the mothers of younger sons and ungilt . titles declared that Lady Hewitt had allowed her niece to throw herself away; while Betty Oakhurst shook her pretty head and reflected sadly that men were fckle creatures and that feminine friendship was but a broken reed.-London World.
 Deep-ROOted Suspicion. The little naked-legged, shoeless