Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-02-09

seat Just vacated by his ward. eft Is
not one Of the fastest liners. Indeed,
1t takes ten dsys to reach Liverpool.
but for the same price 1 was able to
get absolutely the chief stateroom on
the ship. 1t is on the promenade deck
and has a private bath and a room for
Mrs. Nolan adjoining niue. Oh, it has
every convenience, and has a big, wide
bed in which can be thoroughly COM
fortablel"
Il am glad you have made such good
arrangements" responded the major;
but wish you wouldn't go. Jeanne,
do you know that you are drawing me
into depths of degradation that 1
would never have reached but for you I?
For Gods sake let's renounce IL all and
turn about and try to live pure, honor
able lives. / am already tired of the
plan"
Bosh!' Her exclamation was full Of
impatience. Don't show the white
feather at this late hourl You want me
TO continue to love you, and cannot
love anybody as poor as Jobs turkey.
So drop that sort of nonsense 1 have
argued with you all am going to-"
Another thing" he said, cautiously,
Il don't like the looks of the woman
you employed"
Lucy Nolan, and why, pray?"
"She doesn't look like an honest
woman"
A ripping laugh burst from Mrs.
Goddard's lips.
What are you amused over?" he
asked, slightly piqued.
THAT you should expect me to select
a prodigy of human goodness to help
me carry out the most daring piece of
rascality ever born of woman's fertile
brain. Dear Rowland, are you Jest
ing?"
DO you mean to say that you sus-
pect her to be a dishonest woman?"
Il know that she will do anything I
ask for money and keep her mouth
shut. / may as well tell the truth. I
used to employ her. She was at the
head of my sewing-room. We under
stand each other"
He seemed deeply shocked by this
confession. For several minutes he sat
staring at her dumbly. Presently he
pulled himself together. Later in his
life he recalled his reply and regarded
1T in the light of an inspired prophecy.
Jeanne, don't drive me too far" he
said with a sudden firmness that beat
her back into the crafty cautiousness
from which overconfidence had allowed
her to slip. Don't drive me too far
l have always had an ideal-a woman
who would be above instead of beneath
me in high aspirations, and if anything
should cause me to shake YOU off. IL
will be that you draw me down instead
of upward"
Her face was full of startled concern
for single instant, then she began to
smile upon him.
leave it all to me, then. Rowland q"
she said. "I am plotting and planning
for your interest and mine. All ask
of you is to be silent and obey NV or
ders. Think of the long years of hap
piness before us. You never could make
me believe that we are doing Blanche
any wrong in making the few remain
ing months of her life happy. She con-
fessed to me that she loved you only a
few minutes ago."
You are not serious, Jeanne? ?"
never was more so. She has never
had moments happiness since Won
married me. Now, it will be but fair
for me to give you to her while she
lives"
He made no reply. The freight
shone in the face of the enchantress.
If he fell under the circumstances. h,
dld nothing but what mans earliest
ancestor did for reasons not so clear
ly set forth as those which dragged
Goddard away from the rugged path
of rightdoing.