The Princeton union., 1900-11-15

1IUlll IIliNI, IN y SOul# AASASs
door. to unload the luggage.
Don't take no more cabs. guy'nor,'
he whispered hoarscly in my car and
next moment he was gone. Who had
sent him in such Il roundabout way TO
tell me this? Who, indeed, had set
him on to watch me? 1t must have
been friend, OF course, and gave the
credit to Mr., Snuyzcr. They We're evil
IDENTITY smart people, Mcssrs. Sarnbanu
4 Sons, when there was Il chance OF
business coming their way. @
The night was not over yet-~a night
Of dark doings and unexplained mys-
teries, all OF Which seemed to center IL
me. could not quite believe-why
should l?-that the scraps OF conyers;t,
ton | was now to oyerhcar referred to
me. And yet, had been gifted with
second sigllt--llad l, indeed. been more
alive to the warnings l had received
might have been spared much misery.
But am anticipating. .,.
When ! reached the opera the act
drop was down, and l thought to cast
Il look on the house before | made my
way to the box where l was hidden.
My hosts were strangers, and rathc:
! wished to see LawfOr0 first, that he
might present me to them in due form.
So | entered by one Of the side ways
into the stalls and stood there watch
ing the audience for 4 time.
In the midst of this | became sud
denly aware thata pair Of bright eyes
were fixed upon me from another di"
rcction, and saw that was IN object
OF intereSt-mOre of Il passing interest.
perhaps-to a we'll dressed, charming
woman in a box on the pit tier
Then suddenly Lawfora touched me
On the back, saying:
ooh, oh! So you are here. Come right
along Let me present you to the
duchess. She's nightly set upon sec
ing you," and he led the way along the
corridor to the box No. :7A.
, As we got close to it l saw the door
was ajar and | was attracted by the
sound of voices talking Spanish. which
. | knew. Lawford held me back, pos
sibly fearing to be indiscreet and to
intrude upon some family quarrel.
What was said did not impress him.
perhaps, for think I've did not under
stand Spanish The voices were raised
. high enough to be plainly audible t0
any one outside-a mans. coarse. harsh
and menacing; woman's in reply
pleading softly, yet firmly.
, "You know the conditions and you
, arc bound to assist The man has been
, handed over to us. He is our game
our quarry What he has must be ours
all of it, the whole vast fortune
81 would much rather be left out CT
the business. l despise myself so!
hate and detest the part you woul(
. have me play. will not go agains
4 him." "~>~~"~ ....~
e "Sanctissima Virgen! Defend M
from a womans scruples. l tell 70,
you must-there is no alternative, Cap
tiyate lim, win his devotion. VIII,
not? He is a comely youth (guapo Chi
> COY: you have made eyes at worse
You must and shall. By heaven. if
thought you meant to play me false"-
|. He checked himself abruptly an,
n with sudden peremptory ''h-sh," ant
a came out to invite us most cordially t
te enter the box. There was nothing t.
'e show that any difference Of opinion
i" had but just aXtated it's occupants
>. Both husband and wife were smilin
" .sweetly; the dukes voice Che was
= small, spare man. with cleaning eye
~ and glistcnins teeth in his dark div
face) was now so smooth and silky th:'
could not imagine that it was til
1t same had heard in such harsh an
1, rasping, angry tones. His manner, to-
! was full OF that punctilous formalit
70 that goes with the highest breeding i
" the blue blooded don.
It The lady Gt was she who had bee
l. staring at me) sat now perfectly uuie
X and self controlled. There was n
% trace Of emotion about her as she we
l coined me, with marked anxiety to /
n pleasant and make INC feel at home
ID The entr'acte was not yet ended, an
e. the duchess swept her soft draperie
Id aside to give me room by her side
" the front OF her box, where l was
0. full view Of the whole house. Frid
Fairholme included.
lc "Why, Captain Wood, this is reall
N kind of you," she began, Ito take l
le in this informal way. Directly rea
1T Of your accession to old Mr.. NJ
t. Faught's fortune, | was most anxio,
st to meet you. We knew your uncle
a no?-wcll. your relative. Mr. NJ
Taught was a friend of our family
II, the old days. I never knew him m
[e self, but I have often heard my faith,
c. speak of him and of his great wealt
1e Will you let ME congratulate you-an
Pepe'-this was to the duke-"ha1
you congratulated Captain Wood? (
course you have
"Es claro of courSr-l know til:
Captain Wood is one Of the chief
fortunes favOrites But believe m
senor mio, you have also come in
! great trouble. Vast wealth is a te
! rible burden; to use. it Alright is
| grave responsibility. Especially
when-you will pardon me, CAPITA
Wood-it has come undeserved.''
"But, -Pepe, it is not fair to say tha
Captain Wood was relation-he had