Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-11-12

A friend of your husbands, maam, -
said Mrs. Parsons.
Lord BERTHE entered in his free and
easy way, but at sight of Joan, at the
slim and graceful figure, at the beau
tiful face, with the large dark eyes, he
felt, as he would have expressed 1t,
taken aback." In all his life he had
never seen a more beautiful face, or
one that in a moment moved him MOI e
powerfully.
Il beg your pardon" he said, modest
ly; 'but have only learned that you
and your husband were just stopping
here, and-and-" he stammered, L
thought would call"
Joan regarded him with a serene
smile.
viii you sit down? Lord-my hus-
band has gone out"-the color came
and went-"but he will be back direct
ly."
Il daresay you have heard him
mention me-" said BERTHE. sinking into
an easy chair. my name is Dews-
bury"
Joan shook her head
mo, have not; but am very glad
to see you. My-husband-will be
back directly"
"Oddest thing in the world, his TAX
ing rooms here" said Lord BERTHE.
pleasantly. 81 should have thought
they would not have been half swell
enough for him"
L. IA
Joan. And do you live here?"
Just underneath" said BERTHE.
'Awfully rum, isn't it? | used to know
him very well when We were at Etc..
together"
p said Joan, pleasantly. 81
don't remember your name"
''Dewsbury-Lord Dewsbury," said
BERTHE. 1T is not such an old name
as yours, Lady Villiars"
My name is Newlands," said Joan
gravely.
Bertie's blue eyes opened wider and
wider, and his frank, handsome face
grew crimson. For a moment or two
he sat regarding her with an embar-
raised stare. in worried silence.
He had evidently made an awful
mistake, and had taken the man who
got into the cab for Stuart Villiars.
And yet, what an extraordinary re-
Anyway, he had made an ass of him
self, and the only thing to be done was
to apologize and take himself off.
Il beg your pardon" he said,
eagerly and humbly. Il am very sor-
ry | am, indeed. | saw your husband
leave the house and get into a cab,
and | took him for an old friend of
Villiars. And--and II
thought | would come up and call
upon you and ask if there was any
thing | could do, and-'pon my word,
| am very, very sorry" he stammered, |
painfully.
There was a pause for a moment
while Joan struggled for a decision;
then she raised her pure eyes and met
his gaze steadily.
Il told an untruth," she said. my
name is not Newlands, and it was Lord |
Stuart Villlars whom you saw leave
the house"
BERTHE drew long breath; the calm,
sweet dignity of the confession |
touched him.
Il thought So he said; "but-but-
of course, you were right to contradict
me if you had any reason or wish to
keep it secret, and beg your pardon,
Lady Villiars. for intruding," and he
made a movement to the door, being
Ear more embarrassed than Joan.
AT the Lady Villiars," Joan's face
flushed, then grew pale again. She !
had told him so much that she could !
not let him go away believing another
lie; besides, what did it matter? He
was a friend of Lord Villiars. and
would help them rather than betray.
She was silent for a moment, then |
she said: |
II think l must tell you-you are
friend of Lord Villiars ?"
BERTHE nodded eagerly.
lam not his wife, but | am to be. |
We are to be married today or tomor-
row."
Lord BERTHE stood for a moment as
ii he had not heard. then his face grew |
deadly pale, and wild horror shone |
in his eyes, as they rested on her in
Eocent face.
"Not-not his wife,-and living here |
alone with him!" he almost gasped.
A slow crimson mantled to Joans
face, but her honest eyes met his
frankly, though with vague trouble !
in them. 'Yes--for few hours
Why not?"
BERTHE put his hand to his brow and |
wiped the great drops of sweat that
had started upon it.
So young, and beautiful, and inno
cent! Great heavens, what a fiend
Stuart Villiars must bel" he thought |
A groan burst from his lips, and he .
paced up the room and back again.
scarcely conscious of what he was
doing.
"When-when did you Gomez" he
asked. and his voice was hoarse with
the sudden emotion which the revela-
ton of her position had aroused in
him.