The Portland daily press., 1900-07-02

really smarting under the sense of q
deadly affront, apparently offered him by
me. But you men will more readily be-
lieye woman faithless than misdoubt
that fine thing honorv'
der words came all in a rush: her
VOICE was 50 piteous that / could not but
feel for and believe her. "The proof,
madame?" / asked weakly.
els herew She fourshed a paper be-
fore me, addressed to Beauclerc. "The
true writer of that abominabe letter
avows himself at last! Yes, it was a
gross forgery, sir See for yourselfv'
She flung it to me imperiously and tri-
umphant.
read the letter. and my heart sank
for Audrey. Here in truth was the wo-
man that should mate with Beauclerc,
if SO hap he were willing, and this | was
fam to think he would be now that the
truth was clear. l handed back the pa
per with a sigh, yet my heart was lighter
than I would have imagined.
MADAME" said / at last, 'your case
is now my own. Yonder comes Beau
clerc. Go you to meet him. There is
my brief. Tell him from me dare swear
that you will do his business more thor
oughly than l." gave her my card, with
a bow. Across the back I had scribbled
while I spoke, ""The bearer, dear friend,
is my choice" In a moment I and Saint
Lilac were once more alone.
But I trembled when I thought of
Audrey. What would she say? Had I
not deliberately brought her on a FOOLS
errand? [ stood nightly perplexed, my
chin in my hand, half hoping that my
lady would not come, after all, now that
Oh, 1o+ z
to her home. I could explain then with
a better grace, although my knees knock
ed together at the prospect of the inter-
view. "Zounds,3 l half muttered, what
pother I am in, to be surer'
"'Tis bad sign you should talk with
yourself" suddenly came a voice from
behind the lilac. EITHER you must be so
cOnceited as to deem no other worthy of
your speech or else your wits must be
wool gathering"
1t was Audrey. I knew her dear tones
at the first word. Strangely enough, now
that I was embarked on what bid fair to
be perilous time, my spirits revived.
''You offer me a meager choice" l said,
rallying. II viii tell you why you find
me here so out of conceit with the
world"-
''You may spare yourself the trouble,
friend john" said she, coming into view.
81 have been under the shelter of our
patrons wing she bowed to the lilac
'all through your strange interview"
"Then you have heard pr gasped.
every word" replied my lady, nod
ding her little head. I had not dared to
raise my eyes, but I could tell from the
tone of her voice that her golden curls
were shaking at me. "You are q naughty
man." she said severely.
I stealthily raised my glance, first TAX
ing in her little shoes, then slowly up
that dainty form till I reached her soft
blue eyes.
''You have made a great fool of me-
she went on.
my DEAR" said I, gaining a little
courage, 'listen how much greater fool
you have made of me. love you with
all my heart and soul! Not till I was so
near to losing you altogether did I know
how dear you were. My scheming on
your behalf I fancied to be only for the
sake of friendship. But / love you'll
loved you always. / knew you were not
happy, and Beauclerc is an honest fellow
and rich, while II am too poor-toO
humble. You would but have been ex-
changing one misery for another. have
made a rash venture, and / have lost
ALP
1 looked away as I spoke. I could not
meet that gentle reproach in her eyes. II
thought I should have been happy"
stumbled on, Gin seeing you happy, and
that the next best thing to having you
myself would be to find you an interest
in life and a home"
Somehow found her at my side-her
hand on my arm. You can still find me
a home, friend john" she murmured,
and her voice was the sweetest music in
this world. 'But to make me happy
ah, then you must share that home too"
l looked up amazed II would not have
married your Beauclerc," she went on
rapidly-"no, not for all the riches in the
world! But I did want to tease you,
friend John. Listen. Love is master
not a servant We must dance to. his
pipe, no matter how alluring the gilded
palace may seem, no matter how bril-
liant the diadems that ambition may Of
fer. The honest hearth and the one
love-these are Gods gifts that I will
not barter for all mans money-no, not If
it were heaped right up to the skies!
Kiss me, JohnH'
l did her bidding, the happiest crea-
ture on poor old earth, while Saint Lilac
waved his hands in perfumed blessing
over our heads and sighed with us in
sheer contentment.-Vani Fair.
Pleasant Work For Spare Minutes.
EonpraI r owls NJ ppck q dictinol1is h