Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

lowed by the salow man of forty-fve He was
well-bred rather plain somewhat melancholy, and
doggad Mrs. Otway thought the girl fortunate In
having secured such fiance-by every indication
born to make devoted husband and father.
"I au expecting agent every minute" said
vvien, gliby; $50 will you show Mrs. Otway the
Square while see him? He won't stay long"
Bembridge could but say that he would be too
happy to walk with Mrs otway in the garden.
This is too kind Of you," said the actress, when
Bembridge had led her to some chairs, under a tree
"Let us talk about that dear, clever child. Must
she go into public life? 1t will never suit her,"
Bembridges countenance lit up:
"1 hate the whole business" said he; II wish to
goodness I could take her away from it ALL
Cant manage to do that?" said Mrs. Otway,
and they began to consider the case
CHAPTER VI
vivien, meanwhile, had barely time to take of
her hat-Paget preferred her hatIess, as he ad-
mired her brow and the shape Of her head-before
Paget himself announced. The sight of his
wifes brougham being driven slowly up and down
the Crescent had given him many misgivings. But
he knew she had number of acquatntances, and
he inferred that she calling in
that street. That she could be calling on Viven
was suspicion which never occurred to him. Still,
the coincidence had disturbed his temper, and as
he shown into the drawing-room, Vivien's
semblance to Cara struck him for the first time.
"Good Lord!" he thought; now I know why
seem to know her we'll. She's a dark thin.
cry took away his breath and his presence Of mind.
He stood gazing at Vivien as though she were
ghost.
What is the matter with me?" she asked.
ri have found out-you are the image-in some
amazing way-of woman I know blonde,
utterly different woman with pink cheeks and blue
eyes"
"You mean Mrs. Otway?"
He was too startled to reply.
every one says look like Mrs Otway," said
vivien with impatience. Have you never heard
that before? And 1t isn't surprising We are
sisters"
"Mercifu1 Heavens!''
The human countenance can be so swept by cer-
tain inner emotions that it becomes blank. Pagets
face really seemed to fade before the girls eyes.
and she was aware only of a most unhappy presence
in the room.
What is the matter?" she asked again almost In
1T is dreadful" he said; too dreadful! o,
am sorry I'm mortaly, bitterly sorry l can
never forgive myself. But it's the fault Of the
type"
"The what?"
"The type" he repeated.
She paused moment before replying
"You say that as though was nothing at ALL and
you didn't love me any more"
Don't try to make me explain. Forget all about
I'll go on loving you, but must never see
you again"
The girl had spent her whole life among men and
women Of the artistic temperament. She never
thought them mad and she accepted their vagaries
calmly as the Phiistines accept false sentiment.
Nevertheless she fixed her dark yearning eyes on
his and said with sob:
TITS so extreme to part forever just because
look like Mrs. Otway."
There other reasons"
She shrugged her shoulders:
"You have got some idea on your nerves."
"No-it's more serious than any idea! Good-by,
dear little girl! Sweet little Vivien!"
But she brushed away her tears
you're heartless, or you wouldn't sacrifice
for the sake of fad. l must say what think.
All the same, you made yourself quite ILL., You
look nalf-dead. I asked Mrs Otway to wait and
see you. was so proud of you"
His jaw fell:
''Is she here?"
Eyes; in the Square. I'll call her up She
knows you with me-"
Before he could stop her, she moved to the win
dow and beckoned to the pair in the garden.
II don't want to see her." he exclaimed, when he
could trust his voice. she's the last person want
at this moment"
"she's my sister, and you've got to see her." said
Vivien; II won't be treated in this offhand, casual
way. You must make it seem though had
broken with you. That's only gentlemanly."
But don't you understand, won't you?"
II can't pretend to understand Still, you must
let mo save self-respect.
Mrs. Otway entered the room. She was paler,
AMI yet more merry than usual
"Ah, it is Mr. Paget!" said she, holding out her
hand; 1--WE rarely meet nowadays"
81 was thinking" said vivien, "that you could
give him lift in your carriage He's got nervous
headache"
She had forgotten Bembridge, till his form
loomed behind Mrs. Otway's in the doorway. Mrs
Otway was all graciousness and concern for Mr.
Paget's headache Before he could realize the
difficulty, the inconceivabty, the desperation OF
the situation he sitting by Cara's side In her
single brougham.
''IIow much does that poor little thing knowf" he
whispered at last.
Nothing, said Cara.
'Who can tell herr"
"Mr. Bembridge.'
This reply reused him from the torpor Of his
humiliation
"Who is Bembridge?"
The man." said Mrs. Otway, "who has been
waiting to marry her for nearly five years But
he won't tell her till they are married"
Mrs. Otway, who had heart OF tender kindness.
nodded her head and looked away from the sufferer
out of the window.
"How she deceived me-" he said, with ndigna
tion
Even then Mrs. Otway never smiled. She
touched his hand lightly, and glanced at the sunset
What can expect she asked, from human
nature2 It hurts everybody"