The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-28

Maggie was entirely monopcllzed by the
baronet. rs there any game you cant
hold your own ut
The Major looked round quickly, but
Mrs Brown broke in upon the Discus
sion with slvery little laugh
"Ill answer for 1t, there Isn't" said
she. Hes past master Mt marbles and
an authority on bridge"
'Ah. bridge is a ruinous gane," said
Sir Wilfred
II know It is." replied Mrs. Brown
earnestly, land that's why never have
1t played here IL ( can help It"
Bridge Is too scientific for me" said
tho third young man, who had spoken
very little. II like something that doesn't
want a Jolly lot OF thinking.
80 do II, said Mrs. Brown promptly.
: I like something that's easy to learn.
and that's soon over. Now bridge Is too
much OF q tax. played as It's played now
'Oh, It's not bad game" said the
major. .St
''well It's magnanimous Of you to say
so, for you've lost good deal OF money
at 1t, Hugh" said his WIFE
Lord William looked again at Granger,
and again raised his eyebrows. Deverill
grew Impatient; he was about to cross
the room to speak to Lord William, VINO
appeared to be slightly excited by tho
champagne no had drunk at dinner. when
the baronet Intercepted him, and push
Ing him gently aside, threw himself into
seat blythe voluble young man.
The major and Mrs. Brown exchanged
quick looks and Maggie, left moment
by herself. sprang up and glided, al
most unnoticed except by Deverill, into
., the next room. 81.
Deverll followed her at once, taking ad-
vantage Of the CONSERVATION which had
followed the baronet's movement
There was n Handsome velvet portiere.
| in the doorway through which the siri
had disappeared; and passing quickly 1n
pursuit, Deverill found himself IN n small
inner drawing roof filled with q womans
Inicknacks, which he had not yet seen
except for an occasional peep When the
curtain happened to be drawn back.
| He was shocked to find that Maggie, as
soon as she thought herself unseen. mad
changed her attitude. her look completely;
She was leaning against highbacKled
arm chair OF carved oak, rs y she coulu
scarcely stand without support
She did not hear him. come In; her back
2wos towards him, and she was leaning.
with her head bent, and her breath COM
ling fast, In a posture indicative either
| of weakness or Intense detection. f
maggie. are you Ill ~ whispered Dey-
GRILL.
look flash over her beautiful face Wnlcn
he had never; seen on 1T before, q iook
/ OF emotion so strong, so tender, tht i ne
! at once sprang forward ana ana nag Inc, n.s
| before she. sur1rnoning nll her courage
all her strength, pushed him from her,.
sobbing out hoarsely:ss 8 5{3, q I.
"Don't. Don't touch me; don't come me
near me. Ill forbid you.
.|s..You can't forbid me. maggie. on
| Maggie, you haven't even looked at me
before but now,5I think, can't help
| thinking. 81 see something in your face.
| Oh, D1aggie!''
ii was incoherent enough, this hoarse.
labroken whisper But she knew what ne
4 meant, knew that he, having caught her
unawares, had seen her face light up
at his voice and that he felt sure, Tor
1.-the first time. that the feeling he hau
/ for her was not all on one side.
r But she checked him sharply, With 2
gesture SO dgnifed, SO peremptory, that
I he could but obey, and stand back, qulN--
erfng, his eyes glowing worshpplng her
openly, in all the honest ferYor OF his
young manhood, but not daring to dis
] pute her will.
For q few moments she remained ST.
/ lent, with one hand held out in rebuke,
nanting, grave, imperial MS beautiful
woma n only can be. Then she let her
hand drop, and asked, not looking him
| in the face but with her eyes moving
why .,Why' have You followed me hero'
4 came here to be alone moment. I'm
','oh, Maggie, why arc you here r. r.
said he in a Whisper. II thought you
/ never came J." .4sf5
!. He had lost his head or no would
never have said these ill-chosen words
Her face changed. She raised t her. eyes
i ~
'E"Why shouldn't I come here, to my
/ fathers nat? I don't understand you!"
| flashed she.
He stammered. hesitatcd. He knew
! he had made a dreadful mistake, ana
though he guessed that she had made
some ugly discoveries. or q least nv. nv
she had some ugly doubts, since tna =,
| scene on tho previous evening. no stu
hoped that her eyes had not been fully
| opened. ~ ~
.'Of course not" said no at last.
don't know what I'm talking about.
! II only meant that I--that you-that
your sister told me you lived at Croy-
| dom" ,3
and square. ~
NATURALLY, when thought you were
Mt Croydon, 7 was surprised to find you
hero" stammered Deyerill.
/
i the face with an expression in her eyes
which no could not meet,
"Oh, no. you mean more than that' !
know" said she shortly.
He was silent moment. and then
raised his head and said desperately:
well. yes. do. y thought your
father who seemed so particular about
/ you girls, would not have allowed you
| to meet such cubs ms this Lord William
couldscn or whatever his name. Is and
Granger, and the other fellow"
ut wasn't his fault" said Masgie.
I earnestly, in low voice. 1T wasn't
| indeed. I came here to.day--unexpect-
/ edly."
What made You Gomez"
| They were flinging these short sem
tencos at each other as II they were
! bombs. both earnest, excited. yot putting
strong constrnint upon themselves, There
was a, short pause after his last cues
/ ton. fss sis5
,What made you come-wlh your
unclo! she asked suddenly.
ILLS there anything surprising ~