The evening Republican., 1902-06-25
LOVES
STRATAGEM.

Fenela watched her amt with
wide, unfaltcring eyes. She was much
too angry to be the least bit afraid.
rc lhrralcly, in cold blood. Miss de
NauX had opened letter addressed
to Fcnclla and stood reading it as
though it were her own, The read.
Ing made her eyes snap. When she
came to the signature she stamped
hard and made to fling the offending
sheet into the fire
Tcncla was too quick for her. She
caught the letter, cru mped 1T be-
tween locked hands, then confronted
Miss oe Vaux with face as set as
her own.
81 have wanted not to hate you.
Aunt Pam she SAID. ''There are
lust the two of us left. But-but
YOU make me do it. | did not
thlnlt my fathers sister could be
SO dshonor able.
Miss de Vaux gasped. II one OF
the roses blooming on the terrace
outside the windows had spoken
reprovf OF her she wou Id have been
scarcely more amazed. Fenella in
all the five wears since she came to
Vauxlour had shown herself a
pattern of silent. shy obedience.
She must be instantly disciplined.
go to your room at once!' she
said icily. "Stay there until John
Jermain come. l shall tell him the
whole truth. After that, il he
sti!l wishes to marry you, you will
leave my house as his wife or else
as peuniless as you are ungrateful. .
II shall GO now!' Fenella said,
turning toward the outer door. Miss
de Vaux barred her way. saying with
bitter smile: "Wait. Read your
letter. Between the lines you will
find out that your true love, Mr..
Allen Lee, does not want you unless
you bring him the hope ofmy money
Fenela's luminous pallor turned
suddenly ashen but her head was high
as she answered: "You would hard
iy have tried to burn letter which
said that. But instead Of pressing
To the hall door she turned and went
up the stairway,
In an hour she came down, a slim,
black wrath, clothed in the faded
mourning she had worn when she
came to Vauxlour. A small bag,
pitifuIly rusty. more pitfully fabby
dangled from her hand.
II am taking away nothiag but
what belongs to NE. Bear wit.
ness TO that, Aunt Pam. she said
duly. pausiug a few steps in front
OF Miss dc Vaux. "You were
right. l was ungratetul. l un.
derstand now; you--you wanted to
save me the hurt, the shame OF 1t.
she went on, "but must 60 away,
just the same. l cannot Cannot
marry
stop, foolish child! There need
be no talk Of marriage-until you
choose" Miss deVaux said husklly
Under her crust Of impcrlous pred
she loved Fenslla dearly. ""List-
Ell! Be wise aud . little pitiul.
Johu Jermain ought 10 be nv sou.
never loved anybody but his faith
or. My pride and temper parted
us. Now YOU know why l want
him to have the money, yet not to
leave it away from my own blood. y
Lot him liavcit--unenCum bered, )"
Fencla sad pr QudIy.
"Miss de Vaux wrung her nands.
"You--you muut not 90 away she
said. Fcnella smiled waniy, but
shook her head, saying, Il must y
"You are mad; quite mad. " Miss
de Vaux said, the distress in her
voice apparent. A tall, wholesome
looking fellow came guslily through
the door. Two strides took him to
FcnelIa. "What does it mean--this
masquerade?'' he asked. Miss de
Vaux began to speak, but Fenclla
stopped her by an imperative gesture
''lt means you are to be rich and
happy ID your own way she said
clearly. II have not been 50 blind as