The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-07

do, especially as Bertha had twice seen
Patty since the day Of their momeutary
meeting in Oxford street, and her
thoughts were considerably engrossed
by he to her u-naccountable story of
Max Schippheim's disappearance.
Could Christian Meyer have bad any
thing to do with his disappearance, in
order that by preventing his uneIe's
marriage he might enjoy his fortune?
Could Lady Muriel be assisting him TO
gain this end because she loved him?
If this were so-and Bertha dreaded
it, though she did not suggest IL even
to Angey-but If it were so, how she
hated both Christian and Lady Muriel
for their baseness. Bertha's was ono
of those noble natures that cannot go
on loving the being it has learned to
despise.
1t was about 8 o'clock one afternoon
when the friends, driven from their
favorite walk about the grounds by tho
more thar usual tempest the younger
members of the family had evoked, de-
termined to go out at a little side gate
that led into a Jack lane which would
eventually bring them to the riverside.
They had scarcely got into the lane
before they saw two men coming to-
ward them at a bflSk pace.
Felix Elton and Christian Meyeri
They had not time to %onoun their
names before they were close to them.
Of course, ere many minutes had
elapsed the ~particarre merged into
tete-a-tetes, and while the other two
were really forgetting everything on
earth but the pleasure of each others
society. Bertha had a full opportunity
/ Af n, nI=itaa h.. ar.a4r- aIau-- 49,
Christian.
Poor Christian, He was so happy,
thinking he had done a good work that
day, for not only had he himself come
down to Richmond to see his sweet
Bertha, but he had persuaded Felix
Elton that his behavior was of the most
selfish and absurd nature, and that he
was in duty bound to accompany him
to Barrack Grange, own all the love
he had for Angey and ask her to be his
wife, without any ridiculous conditions,
while Christian himself-well, it was
very certain he intenued to make hay
| while the sun of Lady Muriel's pres
ence was set.
What then was his surprise at being
Indignantly asked by Bertha how he
: could have been SO base and worthless
f as to lend himself to Max Schippheim's
l abduction?
, "Uncle Max abducted Really, Bertha,
{ you must be joking-the idea is toe
funny"
He believed him to be still at Arun-
IL dale, in all probability married TO Patty
IL by this time.
Bertha was as astounded at his ig
o %norance as he was that anything 81
startling had happened at all. Bot
their calculations had been thorough,
upset. and as for lovemaking. for thu
present, at all events, it had not (
t chance.
over and over all Patty had told
her Bertha was condemned to go fifty
times, rewarded, however. at the las
t by the exclamation from Christian:
SOL will have an explanation with
my lady; she is at the bottom of this
: Had you not better go and see Patty
t and this MI. Peter Swift. who seems te
have taken up the case for hero
5 "Ay, will I-this very day. And you
will believe, Bertha, will you not, that
l have nothing to do with this business,
and when / have made every inquiry,
and Uncle Max is found-as of course
t he will be-you will try to love me just
81 little, and viii consent to-
, She did not let him finish the sem
%tence. for she put her hand in his.
Il am sorry l doubted you for one
2 moment, Christian. Go and do all you
5 can in this matter. and believe -
well, dearest Bertha"
II will never forget YOU"
He caught her for a moment in his
arms, and imprinted a kiss on her
calm, sweet brow, while she did not
A &c., - xnaf- o@ .EI1a xxrr1fl1 Ia Nh
4 done an hour & Another minute or
1 two and he was gone pack to town by
4 the next train, Bertha having con-
1 scented to accompany him to the station,
and leaving Felix Elton and Angey to
the uninterrupted bliss of their first
real love confidence.
Meanwhile Christian went on his
thoughtful way>to town straight to his
club, where he sat down INK wrote az
indignant letter to Lady Muriel. accus-
ing her of being the instigator of oil
this trouble and disgrace, and request
ing TO be told at once everything shs
knew of Max Sehippheim's disappear
ance.
By the time he reached Peter Swift:
quarters in the court off the Strand |
was tolerably late.
Il am not a rich man, being merely
a captain in a marching regiment will
a limited allowance, but only put me OF
the track to find my uncle and discovel
who or what has detained him, and
will make it worth your while"
Then you think he has been de
~tained-has not gone off to avoid thi-
MARRIAGE"
"If you knew Uncle Max 0 would
not ask this question"
IL will go to Arundale tomorrow anC
return on the evening of the followin,
day, when, perhaps. you will kindly cal
on me about this hour"
Christian agreed to this arrangement