Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-22

| Dexter"
oh, but they are, assure you," said
the other, eagerly. Il paid lot for
them-old, real, traced-work. with best
gold topping and wire; but they're no
sort OF use. to me, you see
Nor to me, Mrs. Dexter | really
don't want any such ornaments
Nonsense. Hal. ha as if any pretty
jewellery was amiss for a beautiful
woman You shall nave them at two
dollars. There!"
Clare put them back in the box, and
| held it out.
No. thanks, Mrs. Dexter she said.
with touch of cold hateur. Il don't
care to buy them, everywhere they less
| tnan two dollars.
1 We'll, that's strange, now, that you
won't have them. l made sure you
wouldn't miss such bargain"
I'm not bargain-hunter, | assure
you, Mrs. Dexter; and it is the worst
economy, isn't it, to buy what one
does not want?I I4
But you may; and shouldn't guess
you went in for economy either said
Aurelia, with half-laugh, meant to
be arch, and a meaning glance over
the others graceful dress.
Clare merely shrugged her shoul-
ders apd turned towards the nearest
window.
Il am going in" she said; "it is chill
ly out here. am so used to Southern
climates that l soon feel cold And
she left Mrs Dexter alone on the ter
race.
III soon spoil your game for you,
thought" muttered Aurelia, savagely.
and his, too-with the same blow.
You may bet your bottom dollar on
that score, now I've proved you rich!"
! Perhaps she was the more angry be-
cause she felt that she had not boom
ed at lockwood Hall by any means
as well as she had with the less select
Percivals. The native vulgarity OF
the woman in truth had shewn itself
more and more.
Or was it that the discovery she had
made here, the secret she possessed
| common nature chat she had grown
| and her consequent schemes for get
ting money, had SO ellted her vain,
careless whether she Doomed" or not
as a society entertainer? And if SO,
| did she reckon without her host?
A scheme in theory and a scheme
practically carried out are often two
very different things, and SO Mrs. Au-
relia Dexter found 1t is often the
| practical impossibilities of working out
the details which are the death of the
finest sounding (theoreticaD scheme,
and compel its abandonment.
Mrs. Dexter's details did not as yet
go so far as that, but they gave her
great trouble at the very preliminary
steps. 1t was easy to tell herself, with
the Tightly ease and conceit of Glad
stone, that she must see Erieston alone
as first step-must write him a line
to shat effect. But how see aim alone.
who was scarcely ever left alone? How
even write secretly when probably his
letters were opened by that cuss of a
secretary?' Aurelia elegantly put i.
to herself. Again, how see him without
Mrs. Sayiile's knowledge or suspicion?
How too, herself escape in that house
hold without her absence being motto
ed? The period of her visit was draw
ing to a close, ana there was not
mint or sign OF her being asked TO
prolong it, even so long as some of the
other guests stayed.
but she presently arranged nIan
She a1aertained, easily enough. that
letters posted in the p1lIar-box in the
avenue would be delivered in or about
Lockwood by the first post next morn
ing, and to send one was the first stem
She wrote the letter in the safe re-
treat Of her own room, tore up two or
'AA4 ~, anu Ahdiy HHIsuSu one 1ndt sat
lsfed her. The hand in which she la
borionsly wrote it was upright and
stiff, obviously feigned to an educated
observer. 1t ran:
Sir,-I am in possession of a secret
OF yours which, as you best know. you
would not have known to the world
your world. But if you would not
have it made public property you must
be, tomorrow night about ten o'clock,
In the copse on the southwest extrem-
ity of the great lawn. 1t you are wise,
you will manage to get there alone"
She put no signature, and during the
afternoon posted the letter herself. The
next day, in pursuance of her plan. she
spoke Of feeling rather inclined to
headache, 50 that in the evening it
came quite naturally when about half
past nine she begged Lady Flora to ex-
cuse her if she retired to her own room
and kept quie. for awhile.
"Oh, certainly. | am so sorry YOU
are unwell Mrs. Dexter. Is there
nothing | can