Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

he sighed.
What does it all mean, Beatrice?' he asked
For that nan to lay hands upon you and so
soon after you are-but cannot bring myself to
say the word"
"He was not altogether without excuse, Mark"
Beatrice said. 1--WE have come to an understand
ing. Never shall / stay under the same roof
with Stephen Richford"
"Wel thank God for that" Mark said fervent-
, ~. Something unexpected has happened"
In few words Beatrice told the story to which
Mark listened with vivid interest. An expires.
tion of the, deepest disgust came over his face
as Beatrice finished her story and handed over
the telegram. At the time the feeling near
est her heart was one of relief
ut was the act of scoundrel darling" he
said. "And yet things might have been worse
For instance you might not have found that
telegram. But since you have done so, the game
is all in your hands You are quite right to defy
that fellow and refuse to live with him. But
what arel you going to do?"
II have not thought of that yet" Beatrice
said with faint SMILE "For a day or two
shall get the Rashboroughs to give me home
When my fathers affairs come to be settled nm
there will be little less than nothing fer me to
have. Still, have some jewels which NAV bring
me in few hundred pounds. But I shall fnd
something to do
Mark shut his teeth tightly together to keen
back the protestations of love that rose to his
lips. 1t was no time to speak of that kind of
thing.
II will come and see you in few days, dear
est" he said. Though you are bound to that
man by the cruel sport of chance, you still be.
long to me. There can be no harm in nv helm
ing you. And may God bless and keep YOU
wherever you CO. darling"
Mark bent and kissed Beatrice's hand tenderly.
and made his way down the stairs There was
nothing to stay for Beatrice would 90 to
her friends, and the strange ending of the Rich.
ford-Darryll marriage would be food for the
scandalmongers for many day to come. All
these thoughts crowded into Marks mind as he
made his way down into the big dinng-room for
luncheon. 1t did not look as If he could eat
here at present, for every table was filed The
last seat had fallen to Richford who found him.
self seated opposite to Colonel Bennington. Rich.
ford would far rather have been anywhere else,
but there was no help for it.
The Colonel bowed coldly to the others surly
nod. Richford belonged to class that the cal.
liant soldier frankly detested. He expressed no
surprise at seeing Riehford here it was natural
under the circumstances that Beatrice should
keep to her own room.
ooh, never mind all that rubbish" Richford
said testify, as the waiter passed the menu with
its imposing array of dishes whats the good
of all that foreign cats meat to an honest Eng.
hshman? Give me steak and plain potatoes
and decanter Of brandy"
The brandy came before the steak and Rich
ford h(ped himself literally to the liquid
BerringtCp was little astonished. He had more
than once heard Richford boast that he was posi-
lively teetotaller.
what time they keep you here" Richford
growled. Oh, here the fellow comes, Now
then, T."
Rchford paused in His growing, and contem,
plated the red hot plate which the steak was
displayed with queer gleam in his eyes and a