Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-09
Lady Newdigate's
 Finger
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.l
By EDGAR FAwcRrr


 Out none so prominent as Proigne.
 DIT Ralph, her husband, by thi! ume. had ceased to be discussed al aii. Nobody ever said, nowadays Does he care?' "Is he bothered ?, Everybody realized that. even If hs hated the whole proceeding, he was quite too emotionless a person tout. wardly) to give a sign.
 Proigne did nothing" and did il with conspicuous luxury. Had not his parents died genteel paupers? Who gave him his sumptuous flat in Dt were 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 mind. 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 a dear dead friend.
 Now, Amelia" she was saying, q know that can confide to you that l detest the whole thing terribly. want 1t to end. It must end"
 T think there might be a way Lady Wheatsheaf unused aloud.
 Then she told Proigne's aunt what the way" was.
 Mrs. Caverley was holding somber. ly when she finished. Not at all bad my dear; not at all bad. You're the sort of woman who could bring then together. Adela Strafford; of course; yes; your step-sister, and just ready to appear in the world. Only IS. too: and Flora Newdigate is 30, if a day Is the resemblance so striking?"
 Its really wonderful; though Flora you know, is much more beautiful"
 Lady Wheatsheaf rose to go.
 Bring her here to tea on Friday: don't fail!" pleaded Mrs. Caverley "I'll have Cyril. positively promise him. And you must positively prom. ise me Adela"
 Adela Strafford met Proigne al many places besides his aunt's house in the near future. Lady Wheatsheai had all the resources of a gay, rich woman. She sometimes contrived that meetings which in reality had been artfully arranged shouiu 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 fall en In love-" she said.
 What! With Cyril? So quickly?'
 Tt 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 a window through which she had been gazing down at the feet-driyen cabs and vic torias. Her eyes were woe-begone, but her gaze looked brave. though harshly pained.
 Mrs. Pomfret has been here, Ame- lia. We have had quite long talk. " "Merciless little scandal al-monger, '' thought Lady WheatsheaI.
 She has told me everything" Adela went on. "What-what?'
 "That Mrs. Caverley and you are eonspiring to steal from Lady Newdi- gate her adorer, her vassal. That you have been using my so-called 'resem- blance' to her as a 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. "Il s all true," she cried. "I don't blame you. or Mrs. Caverley either. You both had your motives. You. Amelia, have always wanted to marry what you call we'll Besides. I-I love you too much to blame you for anything" The girl paused. and drew in long breath. But Cyril Proigne! should like to meet him once more. and shall!"
 "Adela! why-why?"
 "To tell him how infinitely I despise him for having dared to use me as his makeshift, his cats paw!" She gave a laugh of piercing bitterness. "As if the finger of his idol couldn't have been lifted without employing a poor, young country girl like myself as the lever force," She echoed her own laugh again, and caught up a mantle and hat which had evidently lain In readiness near by.
 "Adela," panted her sister. where on earth are you going? Surely not to him."
 "No." shot the dogged reply. "as If I would, I'm going to her"
 "One moment, Adela." threw out Lady wheatsheaf.
 But the girl darted away.
 To Grosvenor square from Portman was only a short drive.
 q think, Miss Stra1ord," said the butler. who had a long-tried memory and recognized Adela as having called one day with her sister. the ultra smart marchioness of wheatsheaf, that Lady Newdigate Is just at pres ent in the library"
 Lady Newdigate. a dream of loveli- pess fin clinging violet silks. rose as