The Lamar register., 1902-02-12

How are you, Lady Frances?" he
said, holding out his hand with hesita-
tion.
Lady Frances! am much Obliged
to you for your formality. Lady
Frances returns her thanks to Mr..
Hope for his polite inquiries" con-
tinued she in tone of pi9ue. and hon
oring him with a swimming ceremony
of courtesy.
He caught her hand. Forgive me.
Fanny, but our positions are altered
at least mine us; and how did l know
that you were not?"
"You are an ungrateful-raven,"
cried she. ito croak like that. After
getting me to write you no end of let
ters and all the news about everybody,
beginning My dear Gerard and end
ing Your affectionate Fanny and be-
ing as good to you as sister, you
meet me with My Lady Frances!
Now, don't squeeze my hand to atoms.
What on earth have you come to Eng
land for?"
81 could not stop there" he returned
with emotion; II was fretting away
my heartstrings. So took my resolu-
tion and came back; guess in what
way, Frances, and what to do"
How should l know? To call me
Lady Frances. perhaps"
LAS clerk; a clerk to earn my
bread. That's what I am now. Very
consistent. is it not. for one in my po-
sition to address familiarly Lady
Frances Chenevix?"
"You never spoke a grain of sense
in your live. Gerard" she exclaimed.
peevishly. What do you mean?"
"Mr. Netherleigh has taken me into
his counting house."
"Mr. Netherleigh!" she echoed in
surprise. What. with that-that-"
THAT crime hanging over me. Speak
up. Frances"
mo: was going to say that doubt.
don't believe you guilty; you know
that. Gerard"
'I am in his house. Frances. and
came up here tonight from the city to
bring a note from his partner. de-
clined any OF the reception rooms. not
caring to meet old acquaintances, and
the servants put me into this"
But you had a mountain of debts
In England, Gerard, and were afraid
of arrest"
81 have managed that: they are 60
ing to let me square up by INSTALL
ments. Has the bracelet never been
heard OFF"
"Oh, that's gone for good: melted
down in a caldron, as the Colonel calls
1t, and the diamonds reset. 1t remains
a mystery OF the past, and is never ex-
pected to be solved"
and they will suspect me! What
is the matter with your dress?"
Matter enough" answered she. let
ting 1t down. and turning round for
his inspection. II came here to get
1t repaired. My great BOBBY of part
ner did 1t for me-"
Fanny, how is Alice Seatonf"
You have cause to ask for her. She
is dying"
Dying" repeated Mr.. Hope in a
hushed, shocked tone.
"I do not mean actually dying this
night, or going to die tomorrow; but
she is dying by slow degrees. there is
no doubt. 1t way be weeks of yet;
cannot tell"
Where is she?"
Curious to say. she is where you
left her-at Lady Sarah Hopes. Alice
could not bear the house after the loss
of the bracelet, for she was so obstin-
ate and foolish as to persist that the
servants must suspect her even II
Lady Sarah did not. She felt. and this
spring Lady Sarah saw her. and was
SO shocked at the change in her. the
extent to which she had wasted away.
that she brought her to town by main
force, and we and the doctors are try
use."
Are you also staying at Colonel
Hopes again?"
II invited myself there a week or
two ago to be with Alice. 1t is pleas
anter, too. than being at home.'
Il suppose the Hopes are her to-
night?"
MY sister is. do not think your
uncle has come yet"
docs he ever speak of me less re-
sentfully?"
NOT me- tninR MS stormihB over
it has only made his suspicious strong
er. Not week passes but he begins
again about that detestable bracelet
He is unalterably persuaded that you
took it, and nobody must dare put in
a word in your defense"
"And does your sister honor me
with the same belief" demanded Mr..
Hope bitterly.
Lady Sarah is silent on the point
to me; think she scarcely knows
what to believe. You see l tell you all
freely, Gerard"