The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-10

old, of majestic stature and with q complexion of untinged purity, Her features were Grecian and her express sion dignihed without pride, and re- served without the harshness of aus terity, Her companion was younger, not so tall and, of slender form. Though exquisitely beautiful. there was about her delicacy that spoke of i'll health.
 Yet. magnificent as was the style of the widowed Lady Madeline Trevor there were few who preferred even her commanding graces to the softer beau ties of Violet Fane. The young man who accompanied theNtwo beauties was Mir. St. George, Lady Madeline's broth CT. From the little start the Baron < gave. Vivian saw that he knew the iparty. The diplomat admitted 1t with reluctance, saying that he had known them once in London-long ago.
 AS they passed the Baron bowed; but the bow was returned in a cold and distant manner, which showed plainly that the envoy sNattempt to renew the acquaintance would not be looked on with favor. But Vivian speedily pro- cured an introduction for himself and promptly fell in love with Violet Zane.
 He was of the world again. and new hope eprung up within him. Perhaps after all the past was not to blight him forever. He found that Lady Ire vor and her companions knew his fam ily--felt sure that they. knew some thing of his own history-but their companionship soothed and comforted him and In the presence of Violet his wasted, disastrous youth seemed like an evil dream from which he had at last awakened.
 Suppose we throw away a dollar or two" said the Baron as be and Vivian strolied in the gorgeous and brilliantly lighted gambling hall of the "Redoute." Come, shall l put, down a couple of Napoleons ons joint account? I don't care for play myself, but at Ems sup pose we must make up our minds to risk little"
 The joint account grew and grew. There was steady run on the red. At last the bank was broken. and Vivian and the Baron vastly the richer there- by. After that, against his will, he found himself often at the gaming ta- ble.
 There was a Russian prince-an Inn perial Grand Duke-stopplng at Ems and hisNhouse, to which everybody went, was the scene of high play every night The Baron played heavily. as did his friends. St. George soon be- came one of this gay company. and Vivian saw that Madeline and Violet were troubled. The Baron affected the company of the youth and 1t was easy to see that this increased their uneasi- ness But neither Violet nor Lady Madeline would speak to the Baron, When his name was mentioned they looked palned and were silent.
 At last, -howeveh, Lady Trevor spoke alone and at length with Vivian con- cerning Konigstein. She confessed that the intimacy between him and her brother deeply grieved her. Six years before when the Baron had been re- siding as a diplomat in London, he had been intimate with her husband. MT. Trevor had ward living with him. young man given to wildness, and the Baron had been asked to keep watch- full eye over the young man, One day a messenger came to tell MT. Trevor that his ward was lying dead in a hotel where he had gone after losing his last shilling to a party of gam- blers of which the Baron had made one The card-sharpers had been scarcely known to the young man; they were friends of the Baron. Tn despair the youth had cut his throat.
 The affair took wind and Baron won Konigstein left England suddenly af- ter vainly protesting his innocence. Lady Trevor begged Vivian to watch over her brother that he might not meet the fate of her husbands ward The boy had heard tn C story, of course. ! but he thought that women always nxagRarated" and he was infatuated