Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-05-23

The marquis stood there. unmindfu
of the good-natured shoves of the
crowd. seeing nothing but the charm.
Ing countenance of the younger lady
AT last!" were the only words that
the vehicle passed on.
Then. with cynical smile upon his
face he once more Joined the onward
surge OF the crowd.
Half an hour later he shook himself
FREQ from the rolling pillows. and en-
tered narrow court. by means OF
which he was enabled to reach street
leading to the poorer regions.
Suddenly he paused before house.
a shabby looking AFFAIR. where n dirty
little paper in the windows announced
that apartments were to be let.
Some Quixotic notion seemed to
possess him. for he gave n quick look
up and down the street. laughed a
little harshiy. as though In Judgment
upon his contemplated action. and
then boldly sounded his knuckles upon
the door.
A frowsy woman opened Il.
You have rooms for hire. madam
asked the marquis. In the bet OF Eng
li3h.
She was rather appalled, at the ap-
pearance of such "howiIng SWELL" as
she was inclined to consider fashion
ably dressed gentleman. and very
humbly answered that II was true.
though surely none to suit his lord
ship.
u am not so certain OF that" ho
replied quickly. for ! am looking to
ind n sky parior for friend of mine.
painter. who will furnish Il Mt his
convenience"
The woman's face grew brighter.
II Il was nm attic the gentleman
was iookin. for. she did have one va
cant: Il had even been occupied for n
season by nm artist. who was pleased
to say the light was exceptionally
good.
She led the way to the attic and the
marquis followed.
From object to object he glanced.
and upon the yawninS aperture.
yclept a fireplace. his saxc seemed to
lin.er longest r.i... 4H
With n calm voice he inquired the
price of the attic. and upon bcin. told
Immediately paid three months rent
In advance.
Then hc seemed dcsirous Of being
rid OF hcr presence. and expressed n
desire to be left alone for half an
hour.
So the woman went below to relate
fairy stories of the Prince Bountifui
whom she had unwittinsiy entertained.
and boast OF the new artist iodscr
who was to occupy one Of tho attic
rooms.
And the stranger In London stood
there In that upper chamber. notion
less. evidently overcome by memories
that crowded upon his mind.
As he stood. musins on tho strange
and remarkable vieissitudcs of for
tune. he heard n footstcp dragging
wcariiy up the stairs. and thinking Il
was the iandiady. he did no, move.
Then n door was closed. and he heard
n key turn in the lock.
Some pcr1on had entered the adJoin-
ins room. probably counterpart of
the one he occupied. Yes. there could
be no doubt about Il since he now
caught voices.
unconsciousiy the marquis listened.
Evidently aomcthins had given him n
great shock. for his attitude betrayed
this. as he stood there. with one hand
half raised. his head bent sideways.
and evidently intent upon hearing
what was said beyond the thin parti-
tion. while to himself he was muttcr-
ing:
Marvellous. indccd-thc hand of
fate. After two weeks OF searching
through half of London. and now to
discover her by chanee-to occupy the
adjoining room. Ali this ia kind. in
deed: but one OF the many favors with
which have been blessed by an indul-
gent fortune"
As he listened. he discovered to his
dismay that there was sound OF low
weeping in the next room.
He heard a window lowered. which
struck him rs singular. as the air was
very close on this balmy Jubilee day.
rs there no escape. dcarcst7'' said a
voice that seemed half mufiled by the
bed clothes. and yet one knew instinct
lively that IL belonged to an aged wo-
man.
None. whatever. Aunty. We have
endured everything that mortal can on
earth. There is nothing left for us
but this one resort" came in low.
quavering voice tina, somehow caused
intense emotion TO pass over the mar
quis' face. possibly because the speaker
was a woman and in trouble.
Then God forgive us''' said the
cracked voice. very reverently.
Hush. Aunty. dear: say no more.
have keyed myself up to the desperate
or you will unnerve me just when I
pitch Happiness was never meant for
me: doomed to always sup with pow
erty. Kiss me again. Aunty. Soon I
will come and lie at your side. where
your arms can cnfold me; dearest
arms that have so many times crushed
me to loving heart"
The marquis was strongly shaken
for man whose untold millions were
the wonder and marvel of Lombard
street. to he thus brought face to face
with the direst poverty. was a rude
shock.
Suddenly he became aware of the
fact that some noNious gas came to his