The leader., 1905-03-04

Ling. He had looked quite samished, of
late. poor fellowl On her way across
the passage, her nimble brain executed
q menu Of an almost pr0fiigate char
actef, considering her circumstances.
She meant 10 buy fatted calf, to kill
and Geek II after She had s'fGn III h6r
copy.
She was fairly aquivef with excite
ment as she tapped at Kenset's door.
Perhaps 1t Was because Of this that her
knock was SO feeble as to BE scarcely
recognizable as SUCH This she failed
to realize, however, and, believing that
no response to her summons indicated
the fact of no presence within, she soft
" pushed open the door and entered,
with the intention Of leaving note OF
Invitation upon the mantel.
But the room was not antenanted. A
man stahdihg before an empty fireplace
turned a quick White face upon hef at
the sound Of the opening door, Sohpe-
thing IN his appraised hand flashed with
the duh glitter of metal ais fle dropped
his arm. and 4 heavy thud as Of 4
weighty object striking the, hearth be.
meath the crate fell ominousIy on her
ears, as the arm made quick backward
movement.
Forsan instant the room SWAN before
her, a deathly nausea turned her sick
and faint, her limbs nearly gave way be-
meath her. Then, she smiled and went
forward nonchalantly, with gay
laugh.
you didn't hear me knock, sup
pose" she said, in wonderfully steady
voice. a. r IL si,,ty
We'll, die, ,aall thetsame.o Perhaps
it wasn't very loud,--I really don know,
You see, I'm SO excited / hardly know
what I'm about. I've got such an aw-
fully good thing for youan ont-and-
out scoop. What do you think? Eu-
genia Vanderbilt is engaged to the
marquis of Avonshire! Fact, / assure
you, and the best part Of it is that not
a living soul on this continent outside
the family knows it; but just you and
/. Sit down, my friend; and seribble.
I'll give you all the data as y6a 90 along
that ist all I've got, and it's consider
able:
She got him finally into the spirit OF
the thing, and seated at the table with
a blotting-tag before him ana pencil
in his hand: Her excitement and v6lu-
bility had hoodwinked him. Although
his muscles twitched and his hand
shook, his color had grown more iiatu-
raj and he appeared to follow her with
interest. His eyes wore no longer the
hanted look Of a desperate man, They
had more the expression of sanity. He
appeared to be upon the point of taking
down her dictation when he paused and
turned a suspicious gaze upon her.
why he asked, doubtfully, like one
who has been proffered something for
which he has had an almost insane cray
ing, and yet distrusts his right to ac-
cept it, why do you give me this fnd,
Miss Merriam? It's just in your line;
why don't you use it. yourself?"
The girl drew in her breath as one
does when; contemplating a desperate
plunge. Mortal diseases demand pow
erful remedies. Though her face was
crimson, her eyes rested steadily on his.
Because" said she, in brave. full
tone, Il love man with all my heart.
and l cannot bring myself to writing
publicly of the possible love of another
woman"
.Kenset dropped his pen. threw out his
hand and caught hers
You know was about to chuck it2,
he asked, with look towards the
hearth.
Her strong fingers twined themselves
about his
'I'm glad you did chuck it." she, re-
turned, with laugh, that had catch in
it. What should have done, if you
hadn't?"
For minute their steady glanulces
held each other passionately. Then he
raised her hand to his lips. which
tWitched convulsively. Then:
Nov, write,' said she, with a tear
full smile, and dropped into seat Be-
side him.