The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-15

spoke in the contour of the face, in it's coloring and it's expression, but theso elementals were forgotten in the amazing grace of the girls movements. the dig nifty of her gestures and the vitality which animated her Returning to the house un- expectedly, even a lad was shrewd enough to see that she returned also under the stress of an agitation she could conceal from none Her very questions to the servants were so quick and incoherent that they could moi be answered. The letters which the butler put into her hands were torn from the envelopes but were not read. When she opened the boudoir window and so permitted Alban to overhear her hurried words, 1t was as one who found the atmosphere of house insupportable and must breathe fresh air at any cost.
 Has my father returned, Fellows?"'
 No, miss, he is not expected until late"
 Why did you not send the carriage to the station?"
 "Mr. Gessner said that you were com ing tomorrow, miss"
 She flushed slightly al the retort and made as though to step out Into the garden-but hesitating an instant, she said:
 "l have had nothing to eat since 1 o'clock, Fellows. I must have some sup per" A
 "Yes, miss"
 Anything will do-tell cook it does not matter Has Lord Portculls called?"
 NO, miss-not since yesterday.
 GOT Mrs. Melville?"
 This afternoon. She asked for your address, miss-but l did not give it.
 quite right suppose that Captain Forrest did not come?" She turned away as though not wishing to look the man in the face-a gesture which Alban quick eyes instantly perceived.
 Fellows, on the other hand, permitted a smile to turk for an instant about the corners of his mouth before he said
 T understood that Captain Forrest was at Brighton miss.
 The girls face clouded perceptibly, and she loosened her cloak and threw 1t from her shoulders as though it had become an insupportable burden.
 "If he calls tomorrow, I do not wish to see him. Please tell them all will not see him..
 Anna Gessner herself, still hestating upon the threshold suddenly remembered another interest and referred to 1t with no less ardor.
 .sOh that reminds me, Fellows. Has my father spoken again of that dread full silly busness?"
 Concerning the young gentleman, mss?"
 She heard him with unutterable con- tempt.
 ''The beggar-boy that he wishes to bring to this house. Did he speak of him tonight?'
 Fellows came step nearer and, hush ing his voice, he said, with a servant s love of n dramatic reply:
 l.. tt4 1rJn miss-indeed, I think he's sitting near the vestibule."
 She looked at him astonished Ugly pas sions Of disappointment and thwarted de- sire betrayed themselves In the swift turn and the angry pursing of her lips Of her fathers intentions in bringing this beggar. boy to the house, she knew noth- ing at all It seemed to her one of those mad acts for which no sane apology could be offered.
 'He is here now, Fellowsl Who brought him then2'
 "Mr Geary-at o'clock"
 MT. Geary Is a hateful busybody-I suppose I must speak to the boy"
 T think that MT. Gessner would wish it. miss"
 She hesitated a brief instant, her an noyance giving battle to her fathers well known desire. Curiosity in the end helped her decision. She must see the object of a charity so eccentric.
 You say that he Is in the garden?" she continued taking two steps across the vestibule.
 But this time Alban answered for himself.
 "The beggar- boy is here" he said.
 He had risen from his chair and the two confronted each other in the au- reole of light cast out from the open window Just twenty four hours ago, Alban had been sitting by little Lois Boriskoffs side In the second gallery at the Aldgate Empire. Tonight he wore a suit of good dress clothes had diner at a millionaire's table and all ready recovered much of that polish and confident manner which an Eng fish public sch ool rarely fails to be- stow. Anna Gessner, in her turn, re- garded him as though he were the agent of trick which had been played upon her To her amazement hot flush of anger succeeded She knew not how to meet him or what excuses to make.
 My fath CT has not told mo the truth p she exclaimed presently. 'I am sorry that you overheard me--but I said what I meant. If he had told me that you were coming"
 
 abashed. He understood the circum- stances and delighted in them.
 'I am glad that you meant it." he rejoined, "of course, 1t Is in some way true. Those who have no money are always beggars to those who have. Let mo say that l don't know at all why I am here, and that I shall go unless I find out. We need not quarrel about 1t at all"
 Anna. however, had recovered her composure. Mistress of herself to a remarkable degree when her passions were not aroused. she suddenly held out her hand to Alban as though she would apologiZe-but not by the spoken word.
 "They have played trick upon me |" she cried. T shall have 1t out with MT. Geary when he comes. Of course l am very sorry. My father said that you were distant relative, but he tried to frighten me by telling me that you lived in Whiteohapel and were working in a factory. l was silly enough to believe it-you would have done so yourself"
 Most certainly-for it is quite true. have been living in Whitechapel since my mother died, and l worked in O factory until yesterday. If you had come here a few hours back, you would have run away from the beggar- boy or offered him sixpence. I wonder which it would have been."
 She would not admit the truth of 1t, and a little peevishly contested her point.
 q shall never believe 1t. This is just the kind of thing MT. Geary would do. He is the most foolish man I have ever known. To leave you all alone here when he brought you as a stranger to our house. l wonder what my father would say to that"
 She had drawn her cloak about her white throat again and seated herself near Albans chair. Initiating her. he