The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-09

l =,
wife for wishing TO claim her openly;
| With Claudia because he was standing IN IN
the way of Kentucky jim. and with the
dull company, he Joined the rest OF the
| guests.
And then, came the greatest sur
| prise of NIL.
At dinner Maggie sat not far from tho
! from his constant efforts 10 draw her
Into conversation and his genial manner
MS he did so, that she was In high favor
| with him.
Doverill could scarcely believe hls eyes
or his ears when he perceived that ~ WIS
10 Maggie that his uncle addressed the
greater part Of his conversation, to, Mag
gle lie paid his most long-windcd, old-
Cushioned commitments n1t ahet Mi
fcw words which seemed to afford q
clue TO the mystery.
Some ono asked Maggie, who, dressed
In the little cream and brown frock she
had worn at Brighton; atttraoted most .,sa
had ever been IN Italy. She answered
NO. adding that she would like TO 60
there when Sir Wilfred bonding forward
In his chair, and looking at her Win Ili, q
rled, Miss Brown could get her husband
to- take her to Italy on their honey
moon.
Maggie threw glance full Of alarm;
first nj Sir wlfred, then at Dovcrill, and
finally at Claudia who was nervous ana
uneasy throughout the whole OF the eve
ming. .,, .,
while the tears started to her eyes.
Devcrll, who was OH the opposite side
Of the table, and not very near her, Ut
tered an impatient exclamation.
Sir Winfred "A little bird, who knows
n great many secrets, has told me that
you are to be married In little moro
than a fortnight and
A''Who says so?" cried Deverlll, forget
ting his discretion in q sudden burst of
uncomfortable suspicion and indignation.
He felt that he was being trcked
played with, and 1t seemed as II there
were a conspiracy against him. IN which
Maggie, Claudia and his uncle were all
engaged.
Sir Winfrcd looked at him calmly, adj
justing his glasses to do SO with the
You may take it from me that IT is
So" he said quietly. And there is no
more to be said"
But Deverlll had great deal more to
say. and, with all the different emotions
that were struggling In his breast and
tearing al his heart-strings, he felt UNI
able ITO control himself. He was, indeed.
most important statement of the vital
fact that he was already Maggie's hus-
band, when the poor little bride herself.
pale as the dead, stretched out one of
her hands imploringly towards him, with
such an agonized plea for his silence in
her eyes that he checked himself by n
great effort, and passing one hand over
his forehead and hair In 4 sort Of dazed
way ms If trying to realize whore he
was, sank back again in the chair from
which he had half risen.
There was a general feeling OF uneas-
ness, and sense that something unconl-
Portable was going to happen, which.
ward silence reigned throughout the room,
In which the sound of knives and forks
was for some moments the only thing
to. be heard.
The host, conscious Of the unpleasant
sensation his own words had produced,
tried hard, by changing the subject and
best shots In the party upon his favorltes
topic, to dissipate the prevailing uneasi-
ness. But he did not succeed very well:
and Miss Pcttla,. who. deaf as she was.
disturb the general serenity, gave the
signal for. the ladies to retire as early as
they could.
Deverll slipped out after them. unable
he was suffering Whether his uncle re-
marked his action he neither knew nor
cared. His whole heart and brain were
filled with one thought-Maggie
When he appeared In the drawing
entering by a door which opened into
he saw at once that Maggie was in
the hands of her sister,, and that she
was enduring lecture Of some sort.
He made his way straight across to
Claudia, very short, very abrupt, he
turned to her sister, and laying his hand
upon her arm, said: ~
Maggie, ! want to speak to you. Come
| into the library, nm
She hesitated and an exclamation
broke from her lips.
Claudia, much alarmed. said: IT don't
know by what right. Mr.. Devernl, you
SPEAK naKor 11 my , sister in that tone"
very quietly, he said:
Don't YOU? Ask her, then"
there, was pause. Maggie said not
word, but she seemed to hold her
breath. and there stole into her grca
dark eyes, as she looked shyly up at the
fey hours, just that look Of half I'M J..
Willingness, half admring submission
which was the expression he wanted I'd
see IN them II made his own heart lea
up, and ne, stu With his hand upon her
mere was no need for him to utter an
| other word-a gesture was sufficient. And
20 the horror Of Claudia, who, with the
AYES ayes OF Hiss Letitla upon her. did not
| w iiihhc u scene, by attCmDting
any further protest Maggie let herself be
led towards the door. -
one short speech, uttered in low
voice TO Deverlll himself, was eli tht
elder sister dared to utter. -
. YOU re running your own prospects nnc
Ma)ggie's. too" she Kissed into the yount
man 8 ear as he went towards the door.
- nope not, but we must take oul
chahce, he answered shortly and grave
~ MS ne left the room.
/ a sudden fresh suspicion struck Deyeril
When he found Maggie standing outsd,
the library door. ~
ed quickly. "'''
Yes" said Maggie. with papa,"
lie opened tho door and went with he,
,nto the room. turned up the electric
iiEh!, and flung his arms round her.
Now said he. FIRST let mo have {
look at you; let mo look into your eyes
and, see whether you're glad or sorry tina
you're my wife,
nOh. hush, hush. Bob" WHISPERED She
Hut there was that in her tone which
showed him that his attitude OF reckless
defence, his impaticnce to tell what n
hnd done and to take the consequences
was more sympathetic to her than sin
would have cared to own. She said ISL
ence' with her lips. but her eyes ellis
tened and grew soft as he held her ii
| &