The Washington herald., 1907-10-13


adoring dark eyes; but the look upon Sir
Percy's face sobered her.
1T IS this: To have enough faith in me
to accept my word. There is something in
my past life. something which the world
might think of no great consequence,
something | will tell you all about when
we are married 1t will be a confession,
but / repented OF it long before / ever
met you, and have repented Of It a
! thousand times more since"
1 could not marry any man whose
word ] could disbelieYe. replied Lucy.
with calm confidence.
/ They walked together until within a
square Of the hotel. when Lucy demanded
that Sir Percy should leave her
The evening Of the embassy dinner
came, and Sir Percy Carlyon, who always
'-'---a as assistant host. was the first
guest to arrive Almost Immediately Gen.
/ Ialbott and Alicia Vernon followed.
/ Alicia, Ike moss Englishwomen. was at
her best IN the evening She was one
/ OF those rare women who could wear
jewels in her hair and look well, and to-
( night she sp9rkled with gems. 10 woman
could cross a draWing-roon n0or with
more grace than Alicia Vetnon. or could
{ slt and rise and bow with greater dignity.
She was more like an enthroned queen
/ than pretty princess. such as Lucy
! Armytdge's air and manner suggested
Wnen size entered the drawing-roOm
/ NeFertheleSs. their charms were 50 dir
/ Ierent that they enhanced rather than
1 outshone each other. Lucy carried in
/ her hands 2 large bouquet OF violets.
They had been Sir Percy's gift. and a
whispered word Of thanks. unnoiiced bv
any one. repaid him Alicia VernOn an
/ parently absorbed in conversation win
various persons who were introduced to
/ her, after the American fashion. watched
closely every woman as she entered the
room She was the last woman in the
world 70 underrate her rival, and, with
discernment, saw that this biack-haired
slFl with milk-whitc skin was easily the
most attractive woman present Mrs.
Chantrey and Eleanor We're the last 10
arrive. The former wore at least q quart
Of large diamonds strewn over her per
son. and, recalling with triumph that
this was her third dinner at the en-
bassy during the season. considered her
SELF as good as married TO Lord Baude-
sert and adopted cOndescending airs to-
ward weak Mrs. Vereker. Alicia had
claimed a woman's prescience in matters
Of the heart She felt instinctively that
the beautiful Eleanor Chantrey was not
the woman Sir Percy loved.
Not soul. except herself. at the long.
brilliant dinner table, suspected anything
between Sir Percy Carlyon and Lucy
Armyt3ge. who sat opposite each other
But Alicia Vernons violet eyes saw
everything without watching She knew
the English habit Of not conversing across
the table, but she observed that Sir Percy
CariyOn spoke 10 Lucy Armytage once or
twice. Lucy, herself, instead OF answer
ing him with the gayety and spirit she
showed In her conversation with her
neighbOTs, replied to Sir Percy with only
a brilliant smile and word or two. The
indications were so slight that not even
the hawk-eyed Lord Baudesert noticed
them. but nothing escapes a Jealous
woman Meanwhile. never had Alicia
vernon exerted herself more 10 please.
she sat on Lord Baudesert's right hand
and on her left was Senator March. Mrs.
vernon was a better listener than talker
she had not the naive e1ervescence Of the
American women. but she had softness.
a charming air Of listening with profound
attention, which few Americaa women
ever acquire. Senator March, struck from
the beginning by her manner Of the high
est breeding. admiring her mature beauty.
and charmed by her subtle and even 81
lent 1attery, thought il the pieasantest
dinner he had ever attended. Eleanor
ChantFey sat on the other side of him.
ana ne experienced a glow Of pleasure {
which man feels when he basks in /
beauty light. But Eleanor Chantrey was /
not much older than Lucy Armytage. and /
ner range Of conversation was strictly /
limited 10 what had happened since she I
came out IN society. Senator March had
passed hls nfueth birthday and liked 10 1
talk about things which happened (
twenty-five years before. He had an
agreeable feeling with Mrs. Vernon OF. he
ing contemporaries, which he could not
feel with younger woman. Alicia Yer ,
non, on her part. recognized Senator /
Marchs virtues as a dinner man and 4
was tactful enough to keep 10 herself the 4
surprise she felt at finding an American
so accomplished.
When the ladies left the table and the
gentemen's ranks were closed I'D for that
comfortable after-dinner conversation
which is still the heritage OF the English
man, Lord Baudesert tool. pains 10 bring
zen. Talbot and Senator March into
conversation together Between the two
men q good understanding was Instantly
established Gen. Talbot did not lose in
-erest IN Senator Marchs eyes for being
ne father of the charming woman who
lad sat next him. With the frank friend
ineSs Of the American. he made greater
Roadway IN Gen. Talb0tts acduaiufa,ce-
'hlp during their half-hOur's talk than
many EnSlishmen make in a months
'ompanlOnShip- simultaneously Senator
March asked permission TO call. and Gen
Ialbott gave cordial invitation 10 him
% 90 So Lord Baudesert was in high
Gather The dinner had been pleasant
md agreeable and he was pleased that
zen Talbot should Zee what admirable
Inner guests Americans Of the best sort
made. Sir Percy Carlyon appeared 10
De IN his usual form, but. as he sat smok-
ng and talking pleasantly. the thought
hat Lucy Armytage and Alicia Vernon
we're at that moment in the same room
N the same terms. and reckoned 10 he
Il the same Sort gnawed him Ike some
ayenOUs beast.
Mrs. Vernon, at that very time was
ltung on sofa with Lucy Armytage.
nd with perfect art and tact was find
ng out from Lucy many things which
ne girl was quite unconscious of betrav-
ng- Alicia Vernon was puzzled by the
act OF secret engagement, because Sir
'ercy had told her that the glrl ne loved ,
a0 promised TO marry him, and this was
Fidently unknown 10 the rest of the !
iorld. Without the least trouble By ask
lg a few half-laughing questions about