The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-07

man she left tho smaller, ana went IN IoI
the larger prize; less clever one would
have tried for both and nave JARED shs
failed, 1t Is true, by an oversight shd
could never havo noticed that the piece
of paper wrapped round the crescent was
peculiar In anyway or she Wooid not
have left II on the table among the 9TH
ers. She turned 1t off well when Hvelyn
recognized It, and made tho most OF her
time. She was within an ace of success,
but fate was against her. And Carr lost
no time either, for that matter; for have
since found out that the telegram she
sent was to Birmingham, where he was
no doubt hiding, bidding him meet her
In London earlier than had been mr.
ranged. OF course he set off for the
scene Of the accident directly he heard
or It. having received no further COM
1nunicatlon from her. We only arrived
ten minutes before him. For my part
admired her more than I ever did before,
when the truth about her came out.
considered her to BIO plnk-and.white
nonentity, without an idea beyond neat
adjustment of pearl-powder and then
found that she possessed brains enough
to outwlt two minds Of no mean calibre,
namely, yours. Middleton. and my own.
Evelyn was tho only person who had the
slightest suspicion Of her. and that hard
~ amounted to more than an instinct,
for she owned that she had no reason to
show for it,
II wonder Lady Mary was so complete.
ly taken in by her to start with" l said,
"I DON'T" replied Charles. " have
even heard of elderly men being taken In
by young ones. Besides. suspicious peo-
pie are always liable to distrust their
own nearest relatives. especially their
prcpossessing nephews and then lay
themselves open to be taken In by entire
strangers. She wanted to get Ralph mar
ricd and she took fancy to this girl,
who was laying herself out to be taken
a fancy to-. In short, she trusted to her
own Judgment and 1t failed her. as U.S.
ual. wrote very kindly to her from
abroad, telling her how sincerely sytn-
pnthzed with her In her distress at flnd-
ing how entirely her judgment had been
MT fault. how lnmentably she had been
deceived from first to last and how much
trouble she had been the Innocent means
of bringing on the family. have had no
reply. Dear Aunt Mary! That reminds
me that she is in London now: and I
think call from me. ind personal ex-
preston OF sympathy. might give her
pleasure" And no rose to taKe his
leave.
had let Charles go without contradlct-
ing n word he had said. because. unfor-
tunatcly, was not In position to do go.
AS have said before, ! am not given
to suspcctng a friend. even though ap-
believed in Cars innocence. though
must own that was sorry that no never
answered any OF tho numerous letters 1
wrote to him, OF never came 10 SEQ me in
| London, as had particularly asked him
to do. OF course did not believe that
he was married to jAurelia, for It was
only on the word Of a stranger and q
police Inspector. while knew from his
own lips that he was engaged to a coun-
try woman OF his OWN. However, DO
| that how II may. my own rooted con-
| viction at the time which has remains
| cd mistaken ever since, Is. that In Soma
| way he became aware that he was un-
| Justly suspected and being, ike all
| Americans, OF sensitive nature, he re-
| tired to his native land. Anyhow. have
never seen or heard anything OF him
| since ! am aware that Jane holds a
| different opinlon; but then Charles had
| prejudccd her against tim-so much 30,
that 1t has ended by becoming subject
on which we do not converse together.
saw Charles again few months later
| on sultry night in July. I was leaving
| town next day, to be present at Ralph's
| wedding and Jane and / were talking II
over toward 10 o'clock. the first cool tins
| In the day, when he walked in. lie look
| ed palo and faded as he sat down YEARLY
| by us at the open window. and stroked
| L
| SILL He said that he felt tho heat. and
| he certainly looked very much knocked
up. I do not feel heat myself. am GLAD
to say.
II am going abroad tomorrow" he said
| after few remarks on other subjects
1T is not merely a question of pleasure.
| though shall be glad to be out OF Lon-
| don, but have of late become an object
| OF such increasing interest TO those who
| nj |
| cided on taking change CT air Tor y
time"
"Do you mean to say you are not go.
| ing down to Stoke Moreton for Ralpha
wedding?' / exclaimed. II thought we
| should have Travelled together as we once
| did six months ago"
II can't CO." said Charles, almost sharp
| Is. II have told Ralph So.
II am sure he will be very much dis
| appointed and Evelyn. too; and the we'd
| ding being from her uncle's house, as
she has no room OF her own, VIII mako
your absence all tho moro marked.
TT must be marked then; but tho
young people Will survive II, and Aunt
! Mary will be thankful. She has not
spoken 10 me since made that little call
/ upon her In the spring When pass her
carriage In the Row she looks the other
| way"
II am glad Ralph has consoed HIM
self" said. "a good and charming Wo-
man like Evelyn and a nice, steady fel-
low like Ralph. are bound to be happy
together
Eyes" said Charles. IT suppose they
are. She deserves to be happy, she al
ways liked Ralph and he Is 1000 rel
low. The model young men make all the
/. running nowadays. In novels the gooa
woman always marries the scapegrac y,
but It does not rem to be the case ~
real iife."
'Anyhow. not in this instance" re-
marked. cheerfully.
mo, not In this Instance, as YOU ~
i Justly observe" he replied, with pass
ing CLEAN OF amusement in his restless.
tired eyes. .And now" producing SINAI!
| packet, as ] am not going myseH,
want to give my wedding present TO me 1,,
bride into your charge. Perhaps you VIZ!
| take It down tomorrow, and give II INTO
her own hands, with my best Wishes f',,,,,
might we sec 1t hrst?' said Jane, WIN
/ all n woman's curiosity. evidently scents
| ing a jewel-case from afar.