The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-20

| gentleman" returned Ellen, but per
haps that's because he's not married
to me-"
you insult my friends" cried Car.
rington, trying to give the converse
ton a different turn.
81 only follow your lead my lord"
Yes, I saw his consideration in
carrying you up the terrace steps a
| few moments after you eavesdropped.
| What heard you in the arbor?"
Not one word" answered Ellen.
But | saw you in the moonlight, and
that was enough, my lord | swear
to you that unless you promise me
on your word that you will dismiss
Lady Cecily tomorrow l shall never
| be wife to you again"
Il cannot be discourteous to my
guests" returned Darlington with sud.
den dignity.
And does courtesy to your guests
involve taking them in your arms and
kissing them? Have you tried it
with Mrs. Monbrant, or with the Ouch.
ess of Outward? Now, she, indeed,
would be a fit object for your kind
attentions"
There is one guest that l shall
dismiss in the morning, ay, two" re
turned my lord, white with anger
And who are those, pray?"
"Strathgate and Seton"
MY friend and your friend. That's
well thought on, and you will have
me defenseless, then, at your mercy,
compelled to look upon your love
/ ,,,ith hot a1,
But I'll not stand it. I'll go back to
| America"
You would never dare"
Would 1 not?" cried Ellen, man
fully. Watch me in the morning"
1t was ono by the great clock in the
hall when she withdrew from her bou-
doir and entered her own bedroom.
| Opening a closet she drew therefrom
underneath pile of feminine apparel
a certain sailors dress which she had
sometimes used in cruising and boat
ing expeditions with her husband
since her marriage. and which she had
often used before in long cruises on
her fathers ships. There were stout,
| heavy buckskin shoes. soft, wooden
stockings, trousers wide and fiaring
at the knee and belted at the whist,
soft shirt of blue, a rough pea-jacket.
| Slipping off her own clothes, she trans
formed herself with rapid fingers into
a sailor lad. She undid her hair and
! tied 1t behind in mans queue. From
| the same closet she took slender
sword and a pair of heavy pistols.
She went back softly into the bou-
/ I,i,. n,,I a. hon. loci IRON
a secret drawer she drew purse filled
with gold pieces, sovereigns of Eng
land. On the table lay a cheque
book. Her balance at the bank she
found was a trifle over 100000, the
amount she owed my lord.
Fortunately, there was another exit
from her suite Of apartments besides
that which led through my lords dress
ing room. She unlocked the door and
stepped into the corridor
Deborah was light sleeper She
woke instantly, terrified beyond meas
ure to see tall, dark figure bending
over her. She opened her mouth to
scream, but Ellen had the quickness to
clap her hand over the mouth and
stife the noise. Her familiar voice
treasured Mistress Deborah. The girl
sat up in bed and stared in amaze
ment.
What do you want?"
81 am leaving the CASTLE" returned
Ellen, land you must come with me-"
"Oh." said Deborah. And where
are you going?"
Back to America"
But Sir Charles?"
IF Sir Charles cares anything for
you" said Ellen authoritatively, che
will follow you to the end of the
world"
with whom do you go?"
Lord Strathgate."
"Oh, Lllen!" exclaimed Deborah In
horror-stricken accents.
Peace, grill" said Lady Ellen, "he
Gets, or he shall act, as my coach
man alone, but l must have you with
me- We can talk no longer. Dress
yourself. Would that l had boys
clothes for you!"
Il should never wear them! never"
well, dress yourself in the clothes
in which you came from America,
then DO you know where they aref"
Il have them always at hand"
And l will assist you," said Ellen
Fortune favored them. They stole
down the stairs through the great hall
and found the door unbarred, much to
Ellen's satisfaction, for it indicated
that Strathgate had been before them
is that you, my lord?" she asked In
q low voice.