New-York tribune., 1901-05-05


siGled in.
Half in the dark. Aunt Elizabeth, Do you
~ant your poor relation to break her neck?"
Putting relation in the singular was a fine slap
al me man who walked Just behind.
IT'S dinner. / think" said the widowed girl
who held that mock title She lifted her head
braNely, as became a generals widow. and led
the way formally with Dalcarres The other
TWO had 70 walk side by side
Involuhtarily they looked at each other and
then At the pair front.
En- said joseph
"Humph," said Mrs Cox significantly. Too
cautious" Then they glared Al each other again
like tigers.
They Were stil sitting at dessert. a silent little
company Bess had been trying TO talk and
failed and Dalcarres was gazing az her with a
slow earnestness that not lost upon the TWO
third parties Now one Qf tue servants brought
IN telegram The mistress of the house took IL
up listlessly a thing of business; then she
read il with cry:
''Oh, it's Archie" she said ITS Archier'
They all started. Surprise had driven away
all the wstful WEAKNESS Of her manner; her
eyes were shining. her cheeks were red
My cousn-my soldier cousin. said Bess
He has got leaye-he is coming home-he has
Mrs Cox looked at her thoughtfulIy.
Let M see" she said Did meet him at
..eSo.' answered Bess a bright scarlet height
eninE the young easerness in her face ii"
sailed for India that morning
We We're brou.ht Up together. you know"
had asked nothng-"and haven't seen MN
since Polly
Mrs Cox was attentive.
You must stay on with me while he IS here
To play propriety.~ said Mrs. Cox. of
course -
i shan he charmed" said Joseph. calmly add
ing himself to the invitation There was GER
tam breathlessness in both their voices
John Gordon sand goodnight soon his morse
was brought round and he gahoped away IN me
dark. Bess had thanked him for coming IN d
neighbOrly fashion 10 cheer them up: puN NJ
ewes were still daZZIed with that surprise
Joseph. having politely seen him TO me s cor
returned to find that the other TWO had rtliTed-
He was about TO take up has own canaie "neh
he heard a rustic of skirts aboVe-Afs- NoS
foraging for a novel TO read in bed She PAUSE
on he stairs and then. believing the coast cleaI
Vortured oh" She halted. cacGht IN htt ~
red dressing gown with her har pic.ie1H p 1f4 - h. -
pins all round her head-and the rest leit -
hind her-and she slared al Joseph as one iili7'
81 q serpent. e. ~ .;=
i am exceedingly glad 70 see yol- he sac,
Tb1re was 3 new civility in his tone OF lis d
horrid sarcasm. II arrested her IN her night
..Reaause ! think the time has come for Us e /
sba Locked al him sharply and then. suddenly.
she SAT down They exchanged glances 81 lhlrl- .
ligence. IN their eyes odd mixture OF triumph .
and apprehension
We both know the terms SAID J"SePs %
our late uucle's Will
..F-erything to his widow" answered Mrs
Cox promptly. until she married
or Il she died" said Joseph II WOULD go 10
the next OF kin" ,.
Don't suggest gasped Mrs Cox, looking
euiltily round.
He laughed sardonically.
I was not suggesting that she should DE- NJ /
said i only suggest she should marry By
the forms of our uncles VIII. If she marrles
again she is to lose every thing-and the money
is 10 come 10 an individual named IN sealed
envelope in the hands Of the lawyers. Polly -
he paused rneaningly-"dO you remember now
the LAWYER looked in our direction when ne came
70 that? That individual must he either you OF
! He seemed to suspect as much
She nodded ,.. -,
tiors and II remember speech ne made 10
me- Just before he died"--
i remember something he said 10 me; IL was
as good as a promise
Here there WAS a brief revival OF greed ana
rivalry in their glance.
we win sink that" said Joseph. recovering
himself say that our prospects are equal'
hadn't We better-aht-5O shares
What do you mean? asked Mrs. cox sus-
oiciously Had she not often paused IN her
Schemes struck with horror lest she might be
contriyirg his victory after all2 She was sure
quite surc-that hers was the hidden name but
il might happen 10 be his
surprising we married." said Joseph TX
,vouls Dot signify which Of was the lucky
person ..,-,
II was an audacious proposal Nevertheless
II was fIain tney could fight better side by SIDE
unharnpered by d passionate enoeaNOr 10 thWart
each other.
Mrs Cox thought instant Her broad race
rimred with its hard ring on frlZZing pins,
r,igb- bl unbeautiful but il was businesslike-