The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-16

CHAPTER yII.-Continued.

Gollapsing is an exaggeration
perhaps, laughed Lady Mounts,uarr
But, instead OF keeping us standing
here, come up to our sitting-room and
have little falkland whiskey and
soda"
Yes, do come. Dundas.p her nus
| band added.
Thank you both" l stammered. try
ing not to look embarrassed Butt
know you're all tired, and
And perhaps you have some nice en-
gagement," piped Lisa.
Its too late for respectable British
young men TO have engagements in
naughty Paris" said Lady Mount
stuart. laughing again (she looks very
handsome when she laughs. and knows
iD. isn't that true, MIR. Dundas?"
1T depends upon the engagement,
managed to smile calmly. But t,.en
as Di suddenly turned and looked
straight at me with igarked coldness
the blood sprang mp to my face.
began to stammer again like Young
ass of a schoolboy I'm afraid that
I--er-the fact is I am engaged. A
matter OF business. I wish could get
out of it. but can't, and--er--I shall
have to run off, or I will he late. Good
by--Sood- by Then I mumbled some
thing about hoping to see them again
before they left Paris. and escaped
knowing that / had made horrid
| mess of my excuses. III was Laughing
at something West said. as ! turned
away, and though perhaps his remark
and her laugh had nothing to do with
me, my ears burned. and there was a
cold lump of iron or something that
felt like It. where my heart ought To
have been.
Now was Lord Roberts time to pro-
Lpose-now, when she believed me- faith
less and unworthy--if he but knew Il
And was afraid that ne would know
FIT.
got out into the open Sair, feeling
half dazed as one of the under porters
called me cab. ] gave the name of a
street in the direction, but at some dis
lance from Maxine's. lest ears should
hear which ought MOTTO hear; and II
was only when we We're we'll away
from the hotel that amended my first
instructions. Even then, mentioned
1.-the street leading into the one where
/ was due. not the street itself.
"Depechezvous." / added. for i had
delayed eight or ten minutes longer
than ought. and this had upset the
exactness of my calculations. The man
obeyed; nevertheless, instead Of reach
ling the top Of Maxine's street at two
or three minutes befoVe twelve. as ]
had intended, it was nearly ten min
utes past when I got out Of my cab
at the corner; and when ] came to the
gate of the house, n clock somewhere
was striking the quarter hour after
midnight.
MAxINE DC RIsNZIE's PART.
CHAPTERS VIII.
Maxine Acts ON the StnEe ana or.
Howl got through the play on that
awful night, ] don't know.
When 4 went onto the stage to take
up my cue, soon after the beginning
of the first act, my brain was a blank
I i could not remember a single line that
III had to say, couldn't even see
through the dazzling mist which .5oat-
ed before my eyes, to recognize Raolll
Lin the box where / knew he would be
sitting Understanding had nap
pened, hut presently.I was conscious
Of one pair OF hands clanping moro
than all the rest. Yes Raoul was
there I felt his love reaching QUITO
LIME andswarming my chilled heart like
~ ray Of sunshine that finds It's way
Through shadows. I must not fail For
Ehis sake. II mustsSno fail. never had
failed, and would not noW7-abovc
Eull not now.
IN Iii was the thought OF; RaonlS that
gave me bacls my couragc; and though
| i couldn't have said one word of my
part before came on the stage to
answer that first cue, by the time. tho
applause had died down enough to let
mo speak each line seemed to spring
into my mind MS 1t was needed Then
Ia got out Of myself and into the part
as II always do, nut had feared not 70
do tonight. The audiepee was mine
| Ttosplay with as i i ked. to NAL e slauE p