The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22

as she paused. 81 love you. Stella. but
am poor"
7 know it," she said quietly. and
love YOU. but 1 can only marry a rich
man"
And Molly. the heiress OF studely
Chase. stands between me and riches.
shall never be a rich man.
IF Molly we're to die began Stella,
softly. has Sir Gilbert the power 70
choose another heir2''
Failing Molly. / am next in success
sion. he answered shortly. ''and Sir Gill
bert has nc power TO leave the estate
away from me And he Is seventy nine"
/ Their eyes met.
IF We were in novel" went on
Stella. in the same soft voice. you would
manage to get rid Of her-somehow.
'.weH2" said Edgar, as Stella again
paused
We might work that incident-into
our novel, The girl to be removed might
be an a dance in dress OF fimsy chif-
fon. nest inhammable material She
might be sitting talking 20 a partner
say. on the stairs-and some man. light
ing a cigar might throw the match
aside II might lodge In Ier dress. quite
BY accident Of course. and the way 10
happiness Cor the other two is clear
Edgar was deadly pale
Think OF all IL means she whis-
pered. in voice Of beguiling sweetness
Riches. luxury. beautiful Studely
Chase. and me. She stands between you
and all that And she will marry lie
AIarchant, whom you hate. and reign
here mistress OF all that might belong
10 you and me. Think think, Edgar"
Molly had danced the first. according
to promise with her cousin Edgar. and
the rext with Paul. There had followed
, few duty dances; and then came Psul's
; turn again
Let US sit this out. darling hs
urged. Let us go to our own little nook
behind the great palm The conserva-
p tory is pretty full; but 1 don't believe
any ole has found out our seat
No one had. for the seat was in a
secluded corner. not easily found by
those who did not know it. But Edgar
knew his way 20 il. and soon followed
= them
Had Paul looked up he might have
> seen the white, set face behind the
. | palm; but his ewes were fixed on MoIlys
. sweet face and he saw nothing else. He
!, did not even hear the sound OF match
. drawn sharply across a rough surface.
nor see the thin tongue OF flame that
stole upward from the soft, light ma
v terial that lay on the ground behind
J. Molly.
SuGdenly-and never viii Paul for
1t get the .siekening horror of that moment
e Molly sprang TO her feet. mass Of
flames. which seemed to have burst
u forth as il by some Internal magic
r AIaddened by pain and fear. the girl
u. would have rushed past him. but ne
u caught her and threw her down, tearing
r, on his coat TO throw her over. and try
ing TO beat out the flames with his bare
III hands
There was q great Outcry. and the
sound OF hurrying feet and the flames
~ seemed mounting higher and higher, and
" Molly lay very still Then PAID WAS
l conscious that help was rendered and
the fire extinguished. and then he stag
gered TO his feet sick and giddy, and
=. looked down on Molly. lying motionless
and unconscious
-. The doctors gave little hope for th'
- shock 10 he system had been very great
: but though Molly went down 10 the verl
4, Jaws of death she did not die.
.t- Il was a very slow recovery. FOL
-bt months clasped before she was able q
as leave her rooms and IL was a warm
as sweet day In June when she for tn
~, first time walked out in the park wit
nd her lover \. very little tired her. an
as she looked white and fragile as they re
,in turned 10 the house and sat down on tn
terrace, where tea was to be served.
he Sir Gilbert was then just coming alon
the terrace looking very grave, an
she holding some letters in his hand. Ate
/ carefully preparing Molly for bad new
ing he read aloud one of the letters. whif
st; was to t.e effect that Edgar Craven wa
Ky dead, found shot through the head
Monte Carlo.
in, rTHE END.l