The Washington herald., 1907-10-13
BY
FLORENCE WARDEN

on her face, sent Marie Densley to the
piano and gave = cold glance at st. Quin-
tin, which he took to T. an ungracious
permission 10 90 too
de found the girl trembling and uneasy.
Evidently something had been said 10
her to put her on her guard against him.
Ihere was an entire absence Of all the
girlish brightness, the charming cO0uetrv
Of her manner when he gave her the
watch, as he leaned across the piano and
asked her, as she began to play some
thing she knew by heart:
Marie, don't you want me TO speak TO
yOu?"
She looked up quickly and down again.
II really don't exactly know what
10 say. We've managed, both Of US. to
offend my aunt and uncle. We are not
stiff enough. not reserved enough. for
their notions Of propriety So that feel
rather wicked, rather uncomfortable. and
begin to wish
She hesitated.
Come, say it at once if you really
mean IL. Are you sorry you-vou did
what you did; you let me do what I did
this afternOOn-in the kitchen-gardep2
Are you afraid I shall take advantage
OF il. and-and-'
looked diligently at her fingers. She was.
ne could see. struggling between. her
pleasure in her lovers society and her
remorse for having vexed her relations.
We'll, I'm bound 10 consider their feel
ings, even their prejudices/ They've been
very, very good TO me. and but for them
/ should be still living a narrow little life
In miserable little suburban road with
no prospects in life ar all but a future
as companion, or something of that
sort"
'Oh, yes yes. Surely you don't think
/ want you 10 be ungrateful. But I want
ed chance Of asking you whether it's
true that you care for me, or whether
you We're carried away-this evening. so
that you said-what you didn't quite
mean. Now tell me, Marie, do you care
for me, or do you not?''
No answer.
We'll. I'll put il lin another way. Do
you Ike me better than old Marbeau?"
She looked up quickly. her face puck
cred with mischievous smiles
Monsieur MaTbeau." And she burst
into a peal OF laughter Really. it
wouldn't be fair-to you, Of course.-to
compare you with him"
Do You wear his bracelet"
She grefT quite suddenly pale, puzzled.
What bracelet"
Your uncle showed me a bracelet
Marbeau had given him for you"
She shook her head
He hasn't dared 10 show il 10 ne"
she said with decision. 7 suppose. that
was why he made such fuss about your
giving ne the watch. because he knew
he had promised 10 give me the bracelet.
and he didn't quite know how 10 get out
Of his difficulty. You see / couldn't take
presents from both, and he had bound
himself 70 do his best for the other
She bubbled over with merriment as
she put this. her view Of the case. and
81 Quintin' though he saw the matter dif-
ferently, laughed too.
And while they did so, Nine. Leblanc.
who had no intention Of allowing the
tete-a-tete 70 be a long one. came up
quietly behind them. and. laying a plump
hand upon her niece's shoulder. told her
she vas wanted to PLAY bridge.
ST. Quintin retTeated uneasily from the
piano. where Miss Stanley, who could
turn her hand TO anything, sat down to
play
He hated and mistrusted the colorless
discreet elderly lady with her downcast
eyes, and never spoke more 10 her than
courtesy made necessary. He wanted
10 ind Ince, to learn. if he could. what
impression the occupants of Rriar Lodge
had made upon him. But he had no
opportunity Of speaking to him until
they had left the house.
James Ince, TO all appearances. was. en-
1oying himself exceedingly. He and Afr
Alverthorpe were both good takers. and
the evening passed so pleasantly that
nobody joining the party would have
guessed that there were any dark fears.
suspicious, or doubts, in the mind OF anv
one present concerning any other mem
Der Of the agreeable circle.
when the party broke UP St Quintin
offered the vicar a seat in his own car
back TO town, as the remaining guest. old
Mrs. Mortimer. with whom he had come
down, was going TO stay the night at
Briar Lodge
When they were all in the hall. pre-
pairing for departure. James Ince. who
was being helped into his overcoat by
one OF the foOtmen, suddenly faced the
man and said quietly.
1 know your face Where have I
seen you befOreg"
The footman looked at him. turned pale.
and muttered under his breath:
"Oh, Lord"'
James Ince's face changed.
know, said he. 1t was in the law
courts. and you were, unless I'm much
mistaken. in the dock"
The man. under cover OF. arranging the
coat he had put on him, said implor-
ngly:
Don't let on about it. sir. for mercys $
sake. I'm going straight now. indeed
am. And If you was to tell, I should lose
my place"
James Ince hesitated. He had artfuny
stepped back a little way until they were
~ distant corner Of the hall far
enough from the rest and the hustle and
ne laIk TO have their conversation un-
heard The fOotman was sharp enourb
IN his SIDE to busy himself with the gen
lemans hat and coat, so that there was
nothing in the manner Of either 10 at
ract attention.
II l keep your secret" said Ince At
ast, looking the man steadily in the
ace, VIII you, in return. answer a cues
ion I'm going TO put TO you-truIy-the
absolute truth. mind?''
That I will, sir"
Well, then. said Ince. stoppjnp n
AXE his hat and his stick, and speaking
'ery low, these people you're with-are
hey-aH right? You know what ! mean.
Are they straight, eh?"
The man looked rather startled He
'oughed, hesitated. and then. below his
'reath, answered in two short words:
NO, sir
no BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY
Copyright, 1907, by the North American Compauy)