The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-31
< OUR DAILY SHORT STORY

been the nature of your visit, should at once have discovered myself like | this I have been here but short ltime. and l came here to tell my old friend. Lady Newgate. somewhat im- portant matter.
 Adela's lip was curled.. Really. I am not interested in your condolences to Lady NewdigAte."
 For the best of all reasons" Pro- | igne answered somewhat sadly. T had hoped that you would be. My import ant matter was the deep wish that feel, Miss Adela. to ask you to become my wife, and my intention of approach { ing you tomorrow with this (to me) very momentous request" Adela crimsoned and dropped her eyes. When she raised them, Lady Newdigate's tlarge. ivory-lidded. azure. with dark rings in their pupils) were fixed upon her. And then, in a trice, the girl saw them change. They seem- ed to contract. malignly as they fo- cused her face. But like a dropped mask. it suddenly vanished, leaving Adeia in chills of dismay. why haven't you told me this?" Lady Newdigate said to Proignc, turn ing toward him with a fragmentary coo of laughter. and looking as beau tiful as he had ever seen her. Proigne took out his watch and glanced at 1t. T have been here just five minutes, dear lady. as you'll admit really haven't had time" But I have time," burst from Adela, "to tell you that, tomorrow or at any future day. Mir. Proigne. you need make no such request of me as that which you have just described" At once Adela slipped from the H. brary. Cyril Proigne made several swift pursuant steps. Then he receded A \. ~tt l.~ had passed. While Adela,s unheard cab rattled off along the big square. Cyril and Newdigate stood staring. so to speak. at one another's mutual stares.
 You mean itg" she said Absolutely"
 And now she has just refused you" T have hope-much hope. Eventu- ally, I am certain, she will pardon me-"
 Pardon you for what?" said Lady Newdigate, in her winsomest tones You know. Why do you ask? There was that quarrel. You were imperious; rebelled. Then, just at this time, when I was very angry 0hough am | not angry at all any more), met this
 fne-souled girl. They spoke of a re- ] semblance. They were right. A re- sembiance does exist, for l saw 1t at first. while laughing at its very ab- surdity. And yet she Is hardly even | pretty. while you are a wonder, a witchery, an ideal. But now I see no resemblance whatever: all that has passed. One thing see very clearly, however-that used the girl as a re- venge. It was horribly merciless of me, and she has found 1t out. But every | thing changed week or two ago. She had ceased to be a. revenge-she had become a liivng remorse." Presently she reached out a hand | and patted him on the shoulder. He I flushed scarlet and gnawed his under lip. But he did not recoil. Cyril" she went on, you mean that you really love her? Well, If you do,
 she's refused you. Pray. pray forgive me for laughing. but 1t struck me as so droll."
 50 droll7" he wavered. ITO think of you as a married man! And married to heri Why, she'd bore you to death in six weeks, with her
 moralities and proprieties. Am I not enough for you as regards both? hate her. I hate every one who would | separate us. No one shall;no one shall!
 Poor dear old Ralph Is ten years older than both of us. If he should die. III
 I'll wait year. and then I'll marry you--there"
 Tears glistened on the curved lashes of her richly magnetic eyes, but she dashed them away with speed. Prompt | ly, after that. she raised one hand, doubling all its fingers except the fore | finger. s5 70
 This giri---a nice girl. but trihe | bourgeoise. you must admit--said that | I'd boasted of how I need only lift my | finger to have you back again. It's not true. Still, lift my finger now, Cyril You've been terrible. didn't l dream you could, be so terrible. But never mind; I forgive you this once, and see: I lift my finger" Cyril stood quite motionless. But he might have made some answer if Sir Ralph Newdigate had not entered the library ten seconds later. red-fac ed 1 massive, persDiringly hot. Bless my soui," he cried. T met
 Lady Jenny smythe as I was coming home in my cab. and Lord Lymelynde was with her; he usually is, you know
 hal ha! ha! asked 'em to drop in
 for dinner-pot luck, you know--and go
 with us tonight. They accepted (in-
 cluding old Smythe, of course-hal ha!
 haD. How old Smythe can stand his
 goings-on with Lady Jenny, I'm bless
 ed If I--well. never mind. You will
 stay and dine, Cyril. that's a good old.
 chap!'
 TT was just trying to remember"
 murmured Proigne, pulling at his chest
 nut mustache nervously.
 His eyes again met Lady Newdi-
 gates.
 And Cyril Proigne stayed and dined
 that evening in Grosvenor Square