The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-01
LADY WARYS STRATAGEM,

truth there is in the stories about any
unprotected girl who has always been
popular with men.
1.-THE position in society of poor girl
of good family is very hard and difRult
particularly when she has no relatives
Of influence to help her. The more fortu-
nate somehow seem to band themselves
| against her. like wolves against a weakly
member of the pack l have never felt
this till now, never knowingly suffered
from it; and now, oh, It's too crueli
Since / have been here all the ideas of
my life have changed. 1 have been
frivolous girl, very thoughtless of the
real matters of life, and suddenly all
this has changed.
81 have found that life is very serious
and very beautiful-very beautiful for
those who are fortunate; very serious
f! for those like myself. You know you
| have suggested that I ought to devote
| myself. or at least part of my time, to
| some useful work, and have begged me
| to help you with your schemes. Now L
am anxious to do so. l want to leave
this place, where 1 am very, very I'M
| happy, and come and help you in the
noble work you are doing for your fell
| low creatures. You will have me, won't
| you? You may wonder why, and l
must tell you. For the first time in my
life 1 nave come to know the meaning
| OF the word love. You have often &C
! cused me, not quite unjustly of flirting
I feel so sad to think now that perhaps
l have caused pain to some who may
| have taken seriously what was merely
pastime, for l am in love, and hope
| lessIy. l thought there was some hope
at one time. He seemed to take an in
terest in me-the interest appeared to be
| growing into friendship-and, oh my
! dear., ne is such a splendid man, not
1lI-
| good looking in quiet way, but he has
| large, luminous mind. He is full of
| great ideas, and yet simple and unaffect-
| ed, and his nature is as kindly and I'M
selfish as possible.
But I don't suppose it is that. There's
| something else which I do not underst and
that causes him to fill my waking and
| sleeping thoughts, and it's hopeless.
Know it's hopeless. Probably he never
| would have looked upon me under any
| circumstances as more than a mere
| friend, but even his friendship would
nave been very sweet as Well as very
Il feel that the other girls in the house
| ana their mothers have been telling tales
! a%alnSt yaggerated tales of little
I fou1es ana although probably he believ IS
niue, can til that something has crept
| betWeen US and that, perhaps not know
IlSiy, ne believes l am merel-- a schem r
WY " ny can something happen to show the
were only rich he would know that | am
SINCERE! l can't write any more, dear.
Inc last few nights I haven't slept, and
E,a am Pee necomlng wreck. | must get away.
FOR the moment l feel more tranquil,
since he's away in London, but [ have a
sort CT duty to myself to prevent myself
nom suffering needlessly, SO I'll come, if
may, and help to tend your poor and
SICK people, and be thankful that In
! working for the happiness of others tn re
IS Eo, nope ,e, ma l may forget my own misery.
4oQr unhappy old friend, Mary
| over the letter-She was very sorry for
nerself and far from confident about h r
| plans; then she carefully put the f ST
sheet of the long letter into an env 4Iope
| and addressed it to miss Charlotte
SlalreXy,1lle, 3, William Street, BethnaI
Green. and she took the rest OF the let
! ter, and also the letter to Sir Robert and
| rut them together into an envelope, whi h
! sic addressed to him at his club. After
she put on her frock, did up her hair,
| spcnged her eyes with cold water. put a
| llttIe drop of cocaine in the corner of
| each eyelId, went down stairs, put the
Two letters in the post bag and ate a big
On his return to the Lechlade's Sir Rob
ert Black found Lady Mary sitting un
| Ger tree in the garden looking very
picturesque. She was dressed TO perfec-
| tlon. Her cheeks flushed when he came
toward mr.. He did not guess that this
vas va IN consequence of guilt. Sir Robert
old not take her hand; his manner show
Ell great embarrassment.
! - lazy mary, he said, speaking with
! difficulty, you have done a clumsy and
| an ungentlemanly thing"
What is it?'' she asked
| >, IN your letter to me, by accident you
lnclosed part of a letter written to some
She gave d little cry, a most artistic
| little cry, and guilt flushed her cheeks
| again most becomingly; he did not as
scTI6e the blush TO guilt.
oh, give it me-give it met she call
ed ed out Give it back! You haven't?':-
She paused.
He fumbled in his breast pocket. His
! PS31Wertul, well cut face changed rap
idly from white to red and from red to
az II must tell you the truth" he said.
I read part of it innocently was
puzzled, but there was nothing to ten
me l was acting wrongly. When / dis
covered the secret I tried to stop, but
| something, to my shame, forced me to
go. on reading. 1t was an unmaniv
thing {, to do; it was the meanest act OF
He drew the letter out of his pocket
and held it with trembling fingers.
Lady Mary showed a violent emotion
real, honest emotion; she was at the
great moment of her life and hati rot
the least idea what was going to han
pen.
Give ne my letter" she said in a
your honor, Sir Robert"