The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-06
,,u,. U. N h.d xone. Tsnkerlane cross.

vuhen he had Eone. Tankerlane cross- v over to the writing table py the >vindow and looked at the sheet cf pa per. bearing tho date in his wife's hana-
 ..ra whom are you writing, Lanrier' he asked quietly; but there was a ~iance Of suspicion in his eyes that did sof accord with the indifferent tone of
 .oh. to Elise." Laura replied: that new frock she is making for me--they ere so slow, these dressmakers. can +hsnL how they employ their time.
 she flung herself in q chair with her hack to him, and turned over the pages uf new book.
 He glanced at her, shrugged his shoulders, and then, bending aown. picked up the two torn halves of an en- yeiope from the waste basket As he read the address, a hot flush of anger came into his sallow facs.
 Laurie he said sternly.
 "Yss." she replied. wFxaeut looking round at him.
 you lied to me just now. you were writing to your father in direct oppo- bition to my wishes"
 My whole life Is a lie." she answered uuietly; lone faisehvoo more or less Noes not matter"
 He came over to her side. with the pieces of the envelope crushed tightly an his hands.
 Laurie he said Gercely. T know that you do not love me. but treat you , as if you did. I allow you 60 do as you please. l only ask tnat you shall he loyal to me aud not do things behind my back"
 she rose to her feet and faced him. white and trembling.
 T am fulhlling my part of the bar Eain," she said coldly. We have not oven quarelled yet. l am your wife. will do what you wish me to do."
 Then she turned and moved slowly Towards the door.
 Laurie he cried passionately. flor give me-"
 But she did not answer him, and, passing out of the room. closed the Nicer ssza<zsessss HsesAzzsssssa sesAzzsssssa E er - He had asked for his due and he had obtained it.
 CHAPTER TX. La Petite Jackson. Laura Tankerlane took especial pains over her toilet for the theatre that night In spite of the shadow which had come over her life. and of the serious matters which were for ever uppermost in her mind, she was woman who made the most of such small pleasures as life could still afford her. She was sensible enough to see that only strict attention 10 the trival details of existence could save hev from insanity or death.
 Laura Tankerlane was a beautiful woman and rich woman, and 1t stands to her credit that she made the best of @uch advantages as fortune, none too kind 10 her in the more important things of life, he'd bestowed upon her Face.
 She had indeed. every reason to be eatished with her appearance. as she looked at herself in the long mirror in her bedroom before going downstairs to dinner. Art and nature alike had done all in their power to produce the per- feet picture that was reflected in the glass. Her face was pale and cold. Her magniflcient hair had been roped and twined and arranged by one of theflrst artists in Paris. Her dress, one of Pa quins most marvellous and gorgeous creations, was in itself sufficient to ex- cite the envy of every woman who set eyes upon 1t. A tiara of diamonds gilt tered on her head, string of the same cold, sparkling jewels enhanced the soft whiteness of her throat, and line of diamond stars scintillated along the corsage of her dress. She wore no gems but rismonds, and had always refused to accept anything else from her hus- band. Perhaps she looked upon them as the hard emblems of her life.
 She looked at herself a few moments
  thought of the contrast between this picture and the one she had seen every day in her little white bedroom at home Her maid, French girl. stood behind her with a rapturous look In her dark eyes.
 Laura Tankerlane went down to din- ner, and the meal was a pleasant one For all parties concerned. Lord Portling- 2on brought with him an atmosphere of boyish geniality. Tankerlane himself. proud of his wife's beauty and of the evident effect 1t produced on his friend, was in the best of spirits. while Laura was only too glad of this change from the daily tete-a-tete meal with her hus- band, and exerted herself to appear as happy and charming as possible.
 When the meal was over, they drove to the Colonnade, and entered the box swhich Lord Portlington had secured for khem. The piece had not yet eommenc- ed, but the more fashionable part of khe house were nearly full. A new actress was appearing in Paris that night. For weeks past the papers had teemed with pufis and paragraphs about her beauty her genius, and the Bowels which were rumoured to have Eome from the scion of a Royal house.