New-York tribune., 1907-05-19

such fears had vanished 1t was not her beauty
alone that had persuaded him. Tor he knew
that beauty was too often only 4 snare. but
he had found IN her pleading eyes, IN her trem-
bling hps, and IN her halt shrinking yielding u
his request the sureSt proof that She was a
woman 10 toe revered and protected That he
had ever seen her before Va unthinkable, he
could not have forgotten that face. Whether
she really thought She knew him. he did not
know care All that could be explained IN
good time.
She met him smiingy. with a slightly
heightened color which vastly became her.
and he found her a very different person from
the forlor1 little woman who had claimed HIM
so unConveutionallv and used HIM so dellbcr-
ate!v.
The diuu-- passed mcrrily IN talk Of incon-
sequential things. but there were some things
which he must know, and when they were
dallving over their dessert he leaned across the
table with friendly inviting smile
And now don't YOU think You nad better
tell me who You really are
The grI gave him a startled glar-~, and 4
wave Of color swept across her face Why,
II have told YOU She began falterjngy
That You are Mr.. Wilton, yes. But that
is impossible
What do YOU mean"
MY dear girl" he answered, rather re-
proaChful because of her persistence, that hb
was altogether unp4rdonable. because II wts
So useless. The newspapers have gwen Us
but they all agree in describing her as woman
old enough TO be your mother.
She Shrank perceptbly. and Shivered. in
spite of his easy kindness. and her ewes wldcned
and darkened under his quIzzIcal gaze When
at last she spoke. 1t was with an evident effort
At hghtnesS. And YOU have known al the
time that was living To yOu-and vet YOU have
treated me like this with a little nod that IN
cluded the coy table and ms friendly attitude.
why not" he asked laughinglv. " our
distress and helpleSSneSS were genuine enough.
and it was quite evident that YOU were Mrs.
Witon'S representative. II YOU chose u
masquerade under her name. YOU probably had
her permission to do so
His ready answer did much TO put her al her
ease again, and she asked. with = teasing smile,
" Then who do YOU think am
Il don't know-and I've studied my hardest
to figure it out. You are not he heSltated
Just moment YOU are not her CompdulOns'
Yes. and her daughter
Granger stared AT her blankly- " beg par
dom"
Il am Miss James. You Will remember that
Mrs Wilton's name WAS James before this mar
rage"
But" he protested. with the same blank
look. Mrs. James had no daughter
Oh. yes, she had-only the newspapers
have failed to find it out; and that daughter
Is responsible for all this wretched business
I'm afraid | don't quite understand"
Its very simple" She bent toward him
and spoke eagerly, and aS If she knew that the
truth would Justify her NV father died
when was a child, and left us with practically
nothing. Mama was fortunate enough 10 get
a position with Mr.. Wilton as houSekeeper and
to please him. but he was too cranky an old
bachelor to have child about the place. ST. was
sent West to live with distant relatives: and
when | grew older. Scorn and outraged pride
Choked her for a moment. " he seemed To- fear
that some of his precious nephewS might fall IN
love with me, and SO was put into school, still
in the West. Mama made me a short visit
twice a year: but Mr. Wilton wouldn't hear 10
my coming to New York Yet he was kind
enough To us in his way; he paid mama
generously and continually making me
little presents through her. Finally he per-
suaded mama to marry him secretly. There
was real love either side, though they
liked one another well enough he looked upon
the marriage life contract with an ideal
housekeeper, and mama agreed in order To
provide for me. There was surely nothing
wrong in it, except the secrecy-even didn't
know of 1t until after Mr.. Wilton died"
But why the secrecy And how do YOU
explain your own escape from much unpleasant
nOtoriety?"
She shrugged her shoulders a little i'm
patiently. "All due To the whms of a selfish
old man. He had been bachelor for so long
and had Dragged of his independence, that
he was ashamed To confess that he was married
1aet b,-h h.,,,