The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-09-07

| mason turned ghaStly Whlte ana
staggered backward. 1t was fortunate
the room was not lighter.
1.-THE agent has told me that my
brother received the money-has shown
me the-the receipt-the papers, and-I
had confided only in you and-and in
you dear This last addressed to her
lover.
Then the poor girl collapsed and shook
with sobs.
George! OGeorge! How could your
she cried.
The lover shot one glance toward
Mason; then, setting his teeth firmly,
spoke in low voice;
"'Miss Mason, please-please don't
blame your brother. lit was L.
"Grace jumped to her feet with an in
articulate cry.
"You!"
Eyes. impersonated your brother
for the purpose
"They were quiet for long moment,
Grace staring fixedly into her lovers
eyes, while the brother, very, very pale,
kept glancing nervously from one to the
other. At last the woman spoke slowly.
"'You would better go now. l am
glad, after all, that it was not in the
blood. IL" Here her voice quivered
bit, but she steadied it and continued
1T would have broken my heart the
other way. Now-now do not know.
l loved you-but please-go.'
THE man had begun to tremble during
her denuciation, and now he felt strange
ly ill.
"'I-will-pay you-some day. he
muttered.
You may SETTLE said she, very cold
ly. with my brother
Then she left the room. The self
accused man sank into a chair. The
guilty one walked to the window and
stood looking out, his fingers necessarily
drumming the sill. 1t was not the
brother who spoke first.
"'You must go-today. You must
get her away from here
mason broke down. He wept like
baby.
God, mani" he cried. Tcan't do this.
It's too much. IL must tell her the
truth. l can't let you do this for me-
"'For you? It's for her-for the sake
of the woman | love. For her to know
would kill her. She will-forget-me-
perhaps
After a moment Mason spoke again.
"'Tll never gamble after this he said.
And I'll pay her, in your name when my
money comes due. I'll never forget"
The speaker broke off, and lighted a
cigar. After a space of quiet one of the
others asked:
'And the woman
The man smiled.
THE woman" he said, went away
with the brother. Afterward Mason
paid the money and dropped the fellow
in Shanghi line to that effect. Itseens
be inherited some money at go"
They three sat watching the blue ex-
panse of water, smoking silently. At
last:
"And did they ever meet afterward?"
Once" said the man, years later. 1t
was on steamer She looked him in
the eyes when they came face to face. and
he saw she did not known the truth"
1t was very late. The decks were de-
serted, save for the three men and the
woman behind the funnel. Two of the
men went below, leaving the man who
had spoken alone to his thoughts. Far
ahead dim light blinked, and he, seeing
it, knew that the voyage was nearing its
end. Suddenly there was stir behind
him and the woman came from the shell
ter of the funnel. The man jumped to his
feet with low cry.
81 have heard ALL" said she, smiling
through a mist of tears.
The man turned his eyes away from
her
IL never meant you to know" he said,
slowly.
at would have made things so much
happier-if you had" she answered.
"Grace!" he cried, turning to her.
The ship steamed on in tr opic night.