The Washington herald., 1906-10-12
CHAPTER ".
Two WOmen's Hear1s

Two WOmen's Hearts.
Yes, my lord, though you at first mis-
took me-" said Miss Elliott. with a point
ed smile. her cheeks were scarlet; she
looked straight at him, her eyes lumi-
nous as stars.
II beg your pardon. stammered
Cressingham, entirely discounted.
have come TO return a compliment.
This afternoon YOU warned me Of some
danger which you believed is threatening
me. It is now my turn to put you on
your guard against peril so real and
imminent that I have disregarded hour
and place
How good you are!" he muttered, still
halfdazed with his surprise
1t was after the concert. I went with
some Of my girls to call upon one who is
ill and IN want It was at a tenement
house in Soho. a very poor place indeed
where the rooms are small and have only
thin partitions between them While
waiting by the sick bed for a surgeon for
whom / had sent, I overheard a conversa-
ton between two foreigners in an adjoin-
ing room. They spoke in Swedish and
quite unreservediy. thinking. I suppose.
that they Incurred no risk of being under
stood Luckily for you, my lord, I spent
etWo years IN Stockholm. I think that
they are niMlists; at any rate. they
are acting under the orders given them
by the head Of some mysterious society
whose enemy apparently you are. They
spoke of a Madame Viyella and a man
called Uljen-or something like that-frst
and then mentioned your name. It seems
that you were seen issuing late one night
quite recently frem a certain house IN
London, a house occupied by enemies Of
their society. This fact. taken In con-
Junction with your intimacy with Madame
Niyella, as aroused the fears Of their mas
tr, and your removal has been planned IN
consequence. This very night an attempt
viii be made TO murder you. A forged
letter viii be brought entreating your
immediate presence at the house / have
mentioned, which house I gathered has
now changed ownership and is under their
control If you go YOU viii be stabbed
and your body buried ia the cellar
low tapping at that moment sounded
on the outer door. Miss Elliott stopped
speaking and looked. at Cressingham In
quiringly
His face was white and miserable. he
stood wringing his hands a moment, then,
turning TO the girl mUttered in a low
passionate whisper: Miss Elliott, / am
aecursed tonight it would have. been al
most better that you had left me 10 my
fate. There IS one without there who If
she sees you here would-My God! who
can tell what she would do? Your fair
name tO-morTOw-ah, what am I saving.
what shall I dO?"
Who IS it?' imperiously.
MADAME Viyella-"
"Ah, the woman they spoke Of"
You do not understand; it is the Coun-
tess of Hobenstein."
rf~ iii
giistened in her eyes. Il am properly
punished" she muttered; then. You
must not let her see meat least, not
that I should die of shame. Oh, I
might have guessed
The tapping recommended. Lord
CTeSsingham swiftly crossed the room
and drew aside some curtains. 1T breaks
my heart" he almost groaned. but I
must ask you to wait here: it is my
dressing room.
Butts there no other exit?"
None"
Through that door thereY"
My bedroom; there IS man in it al
ready"
"A mani
"Ah. trust mo a little. Miss Elliott. I
am less black than I appear"
she gave him a burning glance
Madame waits she said her voice
full Of bitter satire. He fell back, and
she closed the door in his face The tap
ping was louder now and more imperious.
Drawing the curtains into place again
he swiftly and noiselessly returned TO
his chair before the fire.
Come In he called in drowsy tones.
The handle was tried 7 can't" replied
voice without.
Cressingham got noisily to his feet. and
stumbling 10 the door pushed the latch
aside.
a thousand pardons.' lie cried: Il
fancy l must have been doing"
Dozingl yoG slept like the dead my
boy I have been hammering there Tor
quite time"
Cressingham rubbed his eyes and pre-
tended to yawn. Tn awfuIly sorry"
he said sleepiiy.
The countess swept into the room and
round it with long, Undulating strides.
shedding coat cloak. and wraps 10 the
fiOor as she proceeded Tho man IeisureIv
followed her. picking up each article In
turn. Madame was now appareled Ike q
queen. \ splendid dress OF shimmering
Jet work on a ground Of black brocade
enveloped her luscious figure tightly.
and above II her alahaster shoulders and
milk white bosom shone forth in bold
relief A single band Of diamonds en-
bTaced the rounded column of her neck.
and from her COTsage swung a chain of
brilliants almost 10 her knees.
Proudly conscious Of her beauty. she
faced the man as a queen might her sub
9ect; Tnoveless, family scOTnfGl smile
upon her lips. We'll, my boy. I've
taken the measure OF your English baby
face"
Cressingham shrugged his shoulders.
And them"
Bah, I am not Jealous any more. She
s. pretty. yes, and good-good. all Eng
lsh women are pretty and good She
may be even little more SO than the
rest, but she could no. content you
FTank-for long She is too cold. too
sensible, too much always conscious Of
herself, too proud. TOO self-restraiued 1
Did you ever think she could love YOU
Frank? Ha, ha, ha. My poor bov. II
makes me laugh 10 think 0f YOU married /
10 that woman. You would love her Ter
d week. and then-bah. you would freeze
and come TO me TO warm YOU bacl, 10 lifo
again. What does she know Of love-
know her, tell you and her class.
Bah! YOU are biushing ike the girI her /
self If she could hear me ] tell YOU
stop. I forbid you
Why should ] sIop2 ] am "a woman I
Of The world. ard you-do you fear 10 4
hear lhpSp rbiuuE2 DO thaV eb,..t. 49, I