Marble Hill press., 1902-06-04

| tUAfA. uut Cuhfut uNNtC 70 MH4ure hci
OF his positive belief In her innoeenes
Of the charge had brought smile "a
her face.
1T 10 drcadlui. even 70 Be taken foI
such notorious woman. don't you
think! But perhaps I lhould look Al
Il rgksonAbly. and believe the baron
has made an excusAble blunder. Real-
". some Of the garcohs here IN the no.
tel have addressed me as countess. and
have been puzzled to account for
II until now. 50 We must look alike
demure little English lassie. and
she 4 clever. designing Russian dip
lomat."
Charlie nodded. eagerly.
What she said seemed 20 very rea-
sonable. and she took II much better
than he expected.
But he could easily discover that
airline was not wholly at her ease.
Frequently she cast quick glances In
the direction Of the door.
This fact had come to his attention
some time back: but Charlie did not
ind the least reason TO suspect that
the baron had aught to do with H.
She seemed to hesitate. perhaps
hardly knowing Just how to begin her
story.
ALLOW me TO remark. In the begin
ming" said Charlie. that, while / am
ready and anxious to serve you, and
stand ready to do all that may become
4 man-if there Is any reason Why you
should wish 10 keep these things se-
cret l viii try TO help you. even while
cropping in complete ignorance"
''oh. no." she answered quickly; 1T
is not that You are entitled to the
fullest confidence. I was only endeav-
oring to collect my thoughts so that
might know Just how to begin. And.
besides, I have q natural feeling Of
shame. because the person who has.
sadly fear. been plotting in secret
against me. Is one who should be my
best friend upon earth-my fatherl"
Young though she was. this beauti-
full girl had known what II was to sup
with poverty. to be left alone and
friendless in the world and to meet
with the most unexpected and glorious
fortune.
Her story. even when briefly told.
was a series Of dramatic surprises, such
az are well fitted for the stage. yet
occur 80 seldom in real life.
She barely mentioned her earlier
years. save TO tell how her father, a
sea captain. had been lost az II was
believed. at sea; and with her mother
she had fought the grim wolf In Lon
don. sewing. as such people OF refine.
ment reduced to poverty must do in
order to earn bread.
Then came her mothers death, fol-
lowed by her bitter fight against the
world. and especially the persecution
OF dashIng gentleman. who seemed
determined that she should marry him.
no matter II dislike and disgust took
the part Of love In her breast.
Then the wonderful freak of fortune
that brought Airline in contact with
an eccentric old aunt who was exceed
Ingiy wealthy.
1t was the old story-Arline's mother
had married beneath her, and from
that hour had been as dead to her
relatives; but when a kind ProVi-
dence threw the forloFn young girl un-
der the housekeeping carriage horses
Of the dowager Lady Wallis, and she
later on discovered that this lovely
creature was her own flesh and blood.
sudden love for the girl sprang up
in her withered old heart, which re-
suited in her adopting this niece as
her sole heiress.
Two years later airline was bereft
Of her eccentric. but kind relative, and
found herself once more alone in the
world. this time possessed Of a most
bountiful fortune.
Then it was, with the abruptness Of
a cannon shot. Captain Brand ap-
peared upon the scene.
He had thrilling story to tell Of
his vessels laundering in gale OF
the African coast, his narrow escape
from drowning. Of being cast ashore,
found by wandering Arabs, taken into
captivity. sold some years later to
tribe Of the Great Sahara. so that he
finally drifted to Dahomey where,
through the assistance Of the faithful
woman he had been forced TO marry.
he eventually made a bold and success
full escapes though his companion gave
up her life In throwing herself in
front Of spear that was meant for
him.
airline accepted It all as gospel truth,
and would have at the time believed
even 9 much more miraculous series OF
adventures could such have been by
any means invented by this modern
Munchausen.
This was before she knew Captain
Brand so well.
She spent money with liberal hand.
He was enabled to indulge his love
for fine clothes to its full bent. He
smoked the finest cigars, drank the
most expensive liquors. and she feared
he frequently INDUCED in gaming.
Thus year went by.
Captain Brand had ceased to beg for
money. He demanded 1t as his right,
and in sums 80 large that Airline was
growing alarmed.
He had tried to influence her to
make her win leaving all her wealth
to him: something might happen to
her, though Heaven forbid. and she
would not like to think of the great
property going to strangers while her
poor papa was left unprovided for.
Airline refused to do as he requested,
something within warning her against
It.
Some time after the dreadful sus-
pieion had flashed into her brain that |
Captain Brand was having q win !
forged to suit his ideas governing the
case.
Even then she had not realized what
this might portend How should an
innocent trusting young girl desirous
Of bestowing all reasonable benefits
upon the man she had come to believe
was her father-how should she sus-
pect that this Iingrateful man could
conspire with unprincipled confeder-
ates TO actually take her Life, yet by
sucn means as would make it seem q