The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

the custom Of engagements in America.
Alicia Vernon discovered that such things
as Cnannouneed engagements existed and
were not c0nslde-ed discreditable Lucy
answered readily, but in speaKng her
pale checks took on "a color like the faint
pink OF The azalea Alicia ied her on
without questions. but with clever sug-
gesti0ns, to tell Of her empl0yments. Of
the books she read. and many other
things, which Lucy told Eraakly and
without the slightest suspicion that she
was being crOss-eXamined, ana was add
ing link by link TO the chain o. evidence
wnicil had begun with the mere proDabili-
ties of guess Alicia Vernoas heart
burned within her She would ike %
have forgotten Sir Percy Carlyon long
ago, as she had forgotten many others.
She knew that her feeling ior him was
an inlatuaticu ies IN some strange man
neT ne had dominated her Imagination
from the beginning IL was the most
dangerous. On account Of Gen Talbot,
OF all Tie affairs in which she had ever
been engaged; but ali women like Alicia
Yernon have one tragic love. The Old
Greek superstition that those who defy
love are punished works out ia a Gif-
feront civilization with those who dis
honor love paying for it in blood and
tears
Alicia Vernon had said to Lucy.
Sir Percy Carlyon and I are Old
friends. We met first in india twelve
years ago"
Lucy had enough mother vii not to ex-
press surprise or 10 betray how much she
knew of the incidents Of Sir Percy's life.
But she was no match in finesse for All
cia Vernon, who found out, without the
least trouble. that the girl knew certain
dates. places, and events which she could
not know except from Sir Percy CarIyon
The sight which greeted Sir Percy when
he entered the drawng-TOOm was Alicia
Vernon and Lucy Armytaee, still sitting
upon the small sofa together, apparently
conversing with intimacy. a tail. red
shaded lamp cast d rosy glow over the
woman and the girl, anC fell upon Alicia
Fernon's rich hair, in which a few gray
threads showed Her beautiful eyes were
fixed upon Lucy With au expression
which Sir Percy Carlyon knew perfectly
we'll He surmised in a moment what
mad happened. Lucy was clever as girls
are clever, but with Alicia Vernon she
was as bird in the snare Of the fowler.
His poor little Lucy,
The irruption of gentlemen into the
was greeted with enthusi-
asm, as it always is. Mrs CHantrey made
a dive for the ambassador. and, wedgiag
him into a corner with a chair. leaned
over II giTlishly and ogled him. much TO
Lord Baudesert's delight. Nothing ne
had ever known in MS life HAD diverted
him quite so much as Mrs Cnantreys
determination TO become Lady Baudesert
If she could possibly cOntrive it. Lord
Baudesert. as usual. made plant Of his
poverty outside Of his Official income, and
omitted 20 mention that his private in
come was something like $1,000 a year.
Mrs Chantrey then held forth eloquently
upon the worthlessnesS Of money. except
TO help those one loves. Lord Baudesert,
with malice pTepense. led hrr to the verge
OF an offer Of marriage before making
his escape
Sir Percy Carlyon drew Up a chair close
to the sofa on which sat the woman h-
hated and the woman he loved, and smil-
ing and outwardly al ease talked with
both Of them Senator March. TOO. soon
Sravitated that way. He wished TO see
more OF his late neighbor with her low,
delicious voice and her beautiful melan-
choiy eyes. Then quite naturally came
but the story Of the late house party at
his country home, and what the guests
lid TO amuse themselves
1t is very quiet up there" said Sena-
or March: we are in the Maryland
mountains, you see, and there are no
'uined abbeys 20 visit, no hunt balls or
.nything Of the sort We simply walk
md read, and rest, and talk; but my
rlends who give me the privilege Of their
,Ompany are so kind that I feel that they
njoy their visits almost as much as I
To-"
Lucy hastened TO CorrobOrate this. and
Sir Percy added pleasantly.
The pleasure you offer us is Just what
We like best I remember those country
walks in which the ladies sometimes did 70
IS the honor 70 join us. Don't you re-
member them. Miss Armytage?"
Alicia Nernon understood this as
ool defiance of her.
You must pay me another visit as
Don as possible" cried Senator March.
The country is looking beautiful now
hat spring is approaching. Perhaps Mrs.
-ernon and Gen. Talbot VIII do me the
onor TO Join US? OF course. I count
pom you. Miss Armytage, and Sir Percy
Lucy accepted promptly. So did Sir
'ercy. with the mental reservation that
.ucy should stay away from any house
arty Of which Alicia Vernon was 10 be
member
As the guests were leaving Alicia passed
ir Percy and said TO him, uuheard BY
ny one else:
1t is she"
Driving back in the carriage, Gen. Tai
OFT expressed TO Alicia his enjoyment
the evening.
Il have not been 10 a pleasanter party
DR. q long time. What q 1ne fellow Sen
tor March is He has an enormous for
me, Lord Baudesert tells me. but lives
cry simply. He has 10 capacity for
and the beginning of his
1rtune was an inheritance. and he be-
3me rich rather by accident than effort.
has been years since I have met a
ian who pleased me so well.
Then Alicia told the thought which had
cCurTed to her many times during the
vening:
u didn't think that Americans could
ave such good manners as some of those
eople had"
But even while she was speaking her
lind was upon that strange problem,
hy could she not cast of the memory.
le passion for Sir Percy Carlyon2 he
ateG her and she knew iJ, but that only
ade her love him the more. as she
.ckoned love-so curious a thing is the
cart Of a woman.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.