The Virginia enterprise., 1906-08-03
Flora Newdigate had other devotee,

hut none SO prominent as Proigne.
Sir Halph. her husband. by this
time, had ceased to be discussed at
all. Nobody ever said, nowadays,
Does he care?" "Is he bothered?'
Everybody realized that, even if he
hated the whole proceeding, he was
quite too emotionless a person (out-
Wardly) to give sign.<
Proigne "did nothing" and did it
with conspicuous luxury. Had not his
parents died genteel paupers? Who
gave him his sumptuors fiat in De
We're Gardens? It was his aunt, the
wealthy Mrs. Clavering. And evident
ly this lady didn't mind about Lady
Newdigate any more than Sir Ralph
minded about Proigne.
But Mrs. Caverley did min' She
had been London belle in her day,
and had cherished the man whom she
married.
In her Curzon street drawing-room
we find her slipping tea and talking
with the daughter OF dear dead
friend. .~.g : -. -
Nov, Amelia" she was saying, II
know that I can confide to you that
l detest the whole thing terribly. 1
want it to end. 1t must end"
81 think there might be way"
Lady Wheatsheaf mused aloud.
Then she told Proigne's aunt what
the way" was.
Mrs. Caverley was nodding somber-
ly when she finished Not at all bad,
my dear; not at all bad You're the
sort of woman who could bring them
together. Adela Strafford; of course;
yes; your, step-sister, and just ready
to appear in the world. Only 1S, too;
and Flora Newdigate is 80, If a day.
Is the resemblance so striking?"
ITS really wonderful; though Flora,
you know, is much more beautiful" {
Lady Wheatsheaf rose to 60.
Bring her here to tea ON Friday;
don't fall" pleaded Mrs. Caverley.
It'll have Cyril. l positively promise
him. And you must positively prom
ise me Adela."
Adela Strafford met Proigne at
many places besides his aunt's house
in the near future. Lady Wheatsheaf
had all the resources Of a gay, rich
woman. She sometimes contrived that
meetings which in reality had been
artfully arranged shouIA seem prod
ucts of mere coincidence and accident.
One day, at Belgravian afternoon
crush, Lady Wheatsheaf drew Mrs.
Caverley aside.
My treasured young sister has tall
ell in love-" she said.
What! With Cyril? So quickly?".
1T isn't so quickly, after ALL It's
been several weeks, you know"
She was sorrier when she went home
that afternoon, to her house in Port
man square.
You didn't go anywhere to-day,
then, Adela?" =,
The girl turned from window
through which she had been gazing
down at the fleet-driven cabs and VIC
torias. Her eyes were woe-begone,
but her gaze looked brave, though
harshly panied. -
Mrs. Pomfret has been here, Anne
liza. We have had quite a long talk"
"Merciless little scandal l-monger,"
thought Lady Wheatshea1. ;
''Sho has told me everything" Adela
W MT on.
"What-what?"
THAT Mrs. Caverley and you are
conspiring to steal from Lady Newdi-
gate her adorer, her vassal. That you
have been using ny so-called 'resem-
blance' to her as lure. That Lady
Newdigate laughs at the whole affair.
and has made 1t plain that she need
only lift finger to have him repent
antly back at her side''
Here Adela's wrath blazed out. II. 8
all true!" she cried. II don't blame
you, or Mrs. Caverley either. You
10th had your motives. You, Amelia.
have always wanted me to marry what
You call WELL Besides, IL love you
too much to blame you for anything"
The girl paused, and drew in a long
breath. But Cyril Proigne! l shouiI
like to meet him once more, and I
shall!"
"Adela! Why-why?"
ITO tell him how infinitely I desnise
him for having dared to use me as his
makeshift, hi cats paw" She gave a
laugh of piercing bitterness. "As If
the finger of his idol couldn't have
been lifted without employing a Door.
young country girl like myself as the
lever force!" She echoed her own
laugh again, and caught up mantle
and hat which had evidently lain in
readiness near by.
"Adela!" painted her sister. "whero
on earth are you going?= Surely not ct
to him!" -"
NO." shot the dogged reply, "as If
I would! I'm going to. her." ,...e:--
"One moment, Adela,"' threw <Gs 1 out mi
Lady Wheatsheaf s Ell ss$s ssEsss s3zs:s: RI : =,
But the girl darted away. .zsxs-~-, ,z,4.--..
= To Grosvenor square from Portman
was ouly a short drive. "
Il think, Miss. Stra:ford," said tho
butler, who had long-tried memorv
and recognized Adela as having called
one day with her sister, the ultra-
smart marchioness of Wheatsheaf
that Lady Newdigate is Just at snrea'