New-York tribune., 1903-04-05

so we Strolled round to the Terrace again and
sat down learned that her yacht the Gadfiy,
was in the port, and that she was taking her
father, Colonel Silas Hilbert and q few other
| friends for a short cruise She ratified on for
some time viyaciously, then suddenly paused
4 suppose you know the Hethertons are here
with hiIn?" she said, with tightening of her
lips
Mrs Van always treated me as a confidential
friend 1t was this attitude that had led Pattie
| TO a wrong assumption
Yes, have met them. How are you taking
1t? Am TO commiserate with you. doesn't it
matter now?" 1 asked, for 1 knew the exact
state OF affairs.
1t matters more than ever. I was never SO
disappointed in my life. To think that another
DAY with him last autumn and l should have
been Lady Blakenhurst! Just pure i'll luck that
ne was called away at that moment" she ex
| claimed.
| She was not exaggerating. 1t showed de-
plorable lack of originality for a wealthy AmeTi-
can. but the fact remained that it; Mrs.
Vans one ambition in life TO marry into the
| English aristocracy and secure title, and she
had been within an ace OF capturing the weak
minded Blakenhurst-
| I am more sorry than 1 can say" I said,
sympathetlcally- This was perfectly genuine,
/ for was thinking of Pattie.
And to be beaten by Mrs Hethertoni' cried
Mrs. VAN She paused, as if words were too
much for her. of course, 1 know that that
| dear girl, Pattie had nothing to do with the
! tanglement-it was purely her wretched mothers
doing. She had the opportunity, and she utilized
| it. AS you know any one can manage poor
Ernest-that is anybody with a willard she
| had the chance she finished, ruefully.
Chance is everything particularly at Monte
! Carlo" 1 remarked, not knowing quite what to
! say
And firmly believe the dear boy would have
| been happier with me. could manage him bet
ter than an inexperienced girl like Pattie"
Mrs Van had certainly managed one husband
very efficiently. He had worked commercially
hard to make money, and then, just as com
Il hate Mrs. Hetherton," cried the little
widow, vindictively- And if 1 had him to my
self for an hour or so-even now"' she con-
! tnued. meditatiyely.
1 gave start
Has he seen you yet?"
No; but I'm going 10 send him Il nOte-Just
10 remind him Of old tines!'
oh I shouldn't" put in hastily. wouldn't
/ Il be rather embarrassing for ali parties?'
Mrs. Vans eyes twinkled mischievously-
! wouldn't mind embarrassing Mrs Hether-
ton" said she.
colonel" who belonged TO a somewhat rougher
school than his brilliant daughter, but he was
amusing, and 1 rather liked him. He was in
tensely proud Of Mrs Vans progress, and was
just as anxious for her TO marry into the Eng
lish aristocracy as she herself. ! dined with
them that evening on the Gadhy. and had an
enjoyable time
+, TWO days slipped away; I saw a little of
Pattie and too much of Mrs Hetherton and the
time l received a note from Mrs. Van asking
ne TO dine again that evening on the yacht 1t
was their last day il Monte Carlo, she ex-
/ planned. as they were sailing at dawn
On my way down TO the GadHy that even
ing I called in at the Hethertons hotel
to say I would be pleased to accept their
invitation to 90 to the Nice races next day with
their party. l happened TO run across Pattie
And where is the lucky Blakenhurst?' l
asked. with smile.
oh, poor Ernest got sick headache during
the afternoon. and went to bed before dinner. l
hope it's nothing serious" she said, anXiously.
'Oh, nor I said, reassuringly. Il think saw
him looking at an intelligent book this morning
that doubtless brought il on. Au reVolr?
1 hurried away down to the port and In
few minutes was on board the Gadfy-one Of
the latest things in yachts for millionalres Mrs
Van welcomed me efUsiVely.
only a small party-just ourselves ana
She turned to tall young man standlng IN the
background Il think you know Lord Ernest
BIakenhurst?"
Sick headache indeed! I could have almost
laughed, if l had not thought Of the deception
practised on poor Pattle.
Mrs. Van caught hold Of his arm, ana ne came
forward, looking somewhat sheepish.
''Hulo, Trench"' he said, with a stupid NOD
mo idea you were coming"
THE surprise is not all on your side!' re-
piled, attempting to instn proper touch OF
severity into my tone.
The little widows eyes were almost dancing
with unholy joy as they met mine
Il told you should like to- she whispered to
me, triunphantly. -
| shook my head reprovingly. Still, as the
yacht was sailing in few hours time, no harm
could be done.
We went in to dinner, which, like all MRS
Vans entertainments, was in the way OF an
object lesson on the advantages OF wealth AS
watched her handling Of the fnane Ernest
confess 7 was moved to admiration Ii was art
in the highest sense, and l was more lhan
thankful for Pattie's sake, that the Gadhy was
departing almost Immediately
Afterward the colonel led Blakenhurst ana
> he