Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-13

and stood now on the threshold. with puzzled, distressed look on her face.
 I'm sorry, Mile. Sophie. to tell you, but my lady has gone"
 "Gone! Where to?"
 ITO England, l believe. This morn- ing after you had gone. out she ordered everything to be packed. It was done. She paid us here off, bidding me alone stay till orders reached me from NJ. le Marquis. Then she went, Only the coachman accompanied her. think she started for Calais. At least, she is gone"
 "She said-said nothing about mel"
 You'll see there's letter for you on the small table in the window there"
 "Oh, yes! Thank you"
 "Your room is ready for you tonight"
 i've dined. I shall want nothing. Good night"
 Sophy walked over to the little table fin the window and for few moments stood looking at the envelope which lay there. addressed to her in Lady Meg's sprawling hand. The stately room in the Rue de Grenelle seemed filled with picture which its walls had never seen. Old words re-echoed in Sophys ears: If want you to go I'll put hundred pound note in an envelope and send it to you, upon which you'll go, and no reasons given! Is it agreed?" As if from long way off she heard servant girl answer. Tt sounds all right" She saw the old elm trees at Morpingham and heard the wind murmur A their boughs. Pindar chuckled, and Julia Robins eyes were wet with tears.
 And no reasons given"' It had sounded all right-before five years of intimacy and life transformed. 1t sounded different now. Yet the agree ment had been made between the strange lady and the eager girl. Nor were reasons hard to find. They stood out brutally plain. Having sent her prophet to the right about, Lady Meg wanted no more of her me- dium-her most disappointing medium. "They" would not speak through So- phy. Perhaps Lady Meg did not now want them to speak at all.
 Sophy tore the envelope right across its breadth and shook out the f1imsy paper within. It was folded in four. She did not trouble to open it. Lady Meg was a woman of her word, and here was the hundred pound note of the Bank of England-"Upon which you'll go, and no reasons given" With a bitter smile she noticed that the note was soiled, the Holdings old, the edges black where they were exposed. She had no doubt that all these years Lady Meg had carried it about, so as to be ready for the literal fulfllment of her bond.
 Upon which," said Sophy, T go."
 The bitter smile lasted perhaps a minute more, then the girl flung herself into chair in fit of tears as bitter. She had served-or failed to serve Lady Meg's mad purpose, and she was flung aside. Very likely she had grown hateful-she. the witness of in- sane whims now past and out of fa- vor The dismissal might not be un- natural; but, for all their bargain. the manner was inhuman. They had lived and eaten and drunk together for so long. Had there been no touch of af- lection, no softening of the heart? It seemed not-it seemed not. Sophy wept and wondered. "Oh. that I had never left you. Juliaw she cries in her letter, and no doubt cried now, for Julia had given her friends love. If Lady Meg had given her only what one spares for dog-a kind word before he is banished, friendly lament at parting!