The suburban citizen., 1900-08-25

I4.Ai- -S9 LtttSlM EngllSn girl, with the
blue blood Of a noble old family in her
veins, and she had inherited the beauty
of the Vanes-the clear, pale, oval
shaped face, the proud lips, and the
calm, sweet, violet-gray eyes.
She was a visitor at Anstruthers
Hall for the first time since childhood.
Lady Anstruthers was a dear friend
of her mothers, and it had been the
desire of both families that a matri-
monial alliance should be formed be-
tween Barbara and the elder son Of the
Anstruthers. But when the girl was
about fourteen years old a terrible
disgrace fell upon the Hall.
Lord Anstruther's name had been
forged to the amount Of several hun
dredpou' rs, and circumstances pointed
to the elder son, Clifford, as the guilty
one.
The thought that a son Of his house,
which had hitherto been free from
stain, should 40 so shameful 4 deed,
nearly killed the old man at first, but
time deadened the force of the shock
the affair was hushed up
Cliffords place as heir was usurped
by the second son, and only one clung
to the belief Of the young man inno-
cence, which he had firmly declared
that one his mother.
Barbara had been at the Hall nearly
n month, and CASTOR Anstruthers was
her devoted slave. She was growing
weary Of him. Her womanly instinct
had sounded the depth Of his shallow
nature, and found nothing there to sat.
isfy her
Clifford was coming home from
abroad to pay one Of his occasional
visits to his mother; for since that
dark day he had made his home 10
more at the Hall.
Barbara had curiosity to see this
young man, whom she remembered as
a high-splrited dark-eyed youth; she
paused before his painting in the gal
lery to study it for perhaps the fiftieth
time in the past two or three weeks.
The painting had been executed just
before the discovery Of the forged
note, when the original was about
three-andtwenty.
1t represented a young man, radiant
with youth and conscious strength and
power. The pose of the handsome
head was king-like, the dark hair was
thrown back from a broad brow, and
the large, dark eyes held faint smile
which the grave, sweet dignity of the
beardless lips denied.
There was a fascination about this
picture which Barbara could not resist,
even while she rebelled against it.
How deep and base a heart he must
have had" she thought Ito wear a
look like that while he was contem.
plating so contemplate a deedw
For Barbara had listened to the
whole shameful story many times, and
had decided against the young man.
And how her naughty lips had curled,
and how cold and proud the sweet
eyes had grown at the bare thought
Of the Old-tme-planned alliance.
She, Barbara Vane, to wed with n
forger who was free from a prison
cell only because his Old father shrunk
with shameful agony from placing
him there!
Her dainty head crested itself as she
! turned away from the painting, but
the faintly-smiling eyes seemed to fol-
! low her, and she looked back over her
shoulder.
A door opened and shut at the lower
end Of the room, and directly a gentle
man advanced toward her from the
! shadows.
A sudden thrill made her trembe
from head to foot. This was Clifford
Anstruthers, but oh, infinitely older
and sadder! There was no smile in
the dark eyes which rested upon her
face. a heavy mustache dropped over
the stern mouth and a few silver
! threads glittered among the dark
waves Of his hair, though he was not
yet thirty.
He bowed coldly, without offering
his hand.
MY mother tells me that you are n
visitor at the Hall, Miss Vane," he
said.
Yes" said Barbara, a feeling Of
timidity flushing the clear pallor Of
her cheek, "and 1 find it a delightful
old place-quite fulfilling my childish
remembrance Of it."
THAT is pleasant" he returned in
an abstracted manner, pulling the silky
ear Of large yellow hound which had
followed him into the room, and now
stood with wistful eyes uprased.
A pause, full Of embarrassment to
Barbara, ensued, broken presently by
the entrance Of Castor Anstruthers,
who in full dinner costume, came
swiftly down the room, starting a lit.
tie at tile sight Of his elder brother
beside Barbara.
'Ah, Cliff, you've come, eh? How
! are you" he said, smiling in a shift.