Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02

shades of sken flowers with her clever fingers
! her thoughts were far away from her present
home in the stately old house, where she lived
a life of quiet if uneventful comfort as Lady
Marcia Bellows companion.
II was not often that she allowed her thoughts
to stray back into past which were better for
gotten, but the wound she had thought was
healed had opened again at Lady Marca's care
less words, and as the girl sat and worked 81
lently and mechanically at her embroideres she
saw before her. not the pile of gailycolored
silks, but just those words:
"a string of amethystsl"
What memories they coniured up.
She remembered-could she ever forget ?--the
day when Humphrey Erlstoke Che had no title
in those days, no wealth postion) had
brought her string Of amethysts and slung
them round her white throat with all lovers
fondness. They had been ridiculousy happy,
in spite Of their hopeless engagement. There
was no money either side, but in the conf
dence OF their mutual love and trust they were
both content to wait.
To wait-and he had thrown her over with.
but world She had sent back that string of
amethysts in fierce despair and anger, and now
she had to sit and listen to tho recital of the
gifts he had showered upon his bride, and
amongst them string of amethystsi He
might have kept that back. He had come into
the title, great wealth, power and position, but
he had forgotten all the past, that was evident
A strange tangle of Fate had sent her here,
Of all places in the world, when stress of cir.
cumstances forced her to earn her own living
and fight her own way in the world. She had
never guessed that Lady Marcia aunt by
marriage to Humphrey Erstoke If-she had,
would she have taken the situation readily?
1t was question she often asked herself and
could find no satisfactory answer to it.
eff you could spare me, Lady Marcia"
Lady Marcia looked sharply at her compan.
ion; the girl interested her.
cat this juncture? 1t is not convenient
but if there is any special reason why you must
go away, tell me. l particularly wished you to
be here during the visit of my nephew and his
wife"
''I must 90 now if can,'' said Katherine, in
low voice.
There was subdued restlessness in her man
ner which did not escape Lady Marcias notice,
and it puzzled the elder woman.
Every WE'LL" she said you go tomorrow
morning for a week / cannot spare you for
longer at present"
1t was with eager. feverish haste that Kath
crime Manners packed bag and made ready to
depart the next day. By so doing she would
avoid any meeting with the bride and bride
groom, who were expected visit for a week
She felt she could not face that yet.
She could fly for her brief holiday to a little
sea coast place where an old school friend was
living, and wait there till they had gone. Then
she might come back safely, for she knew that
Sir Humphrey and his wife were about to start
on a tour round the world, and it was unlikely
that she would ever see them at the manor
house-not, at least, for very long time.
But the Fates were against her. AS she
packed, boy on bicycle came spinning up
the avenue. He handed in telegram addressed
to Lady Marcia, who, on reading its contents
and sending back the reply, mo answer''-ran
at once for her companion.
"Here is pretty thingl" she said wrathfully
"a wire from that graceless nephew of mine to
say they coming tonight instead of tomor-
row! They'll arrive about six. viii you be
good enough my DEAR to order the brougham
to fetch them from the station, and L suppose
the luggagecart had better go, too. Ernestine
is sure to bring stack of luggage, although