The Washington herald., 1908-03-25

norance of his motive IN inviting her, and
as she sat before him she became filled
with apprehension. Hers was, she knew,
an adventure OF which neither Charlie
nor Max would approve
The clever old man read the girls
mind like an open hook. and at once
sought to allay her misgivings
Il see he said. smiling, that you are
not altogether at your ease. You're
afraid of what people might say-eh?
Your fellow-assistants wouldn't approve
of you coming TO see me at this hour,
suppose. Yes" he laughed. what is
considered discredltable among the mid
die classes Is deemed quite admissible in
society. But who need know unless you
yourself tell them?r
1T will be known tomorrow morning
that l was absent" she said.
Leave that to me. Only one person
will know-CunningtO himself So make
your mind quite easy upon that point.
my dear young lady I can quite under
stand your hesitation In coming here II
is of course. only natural But you must
remember i'm what high esteem ] hello
your father and how for the sake Of
his memory ! have taken your brother
into my service
Before we go further. Mr. Statham."
exclaimed the girl, II would ike to take
this opportunity of thanking you for all
you've done for both of us. Had il not
been for your generosity I'm sure Charlie
would never have been in such a posi-
ton"
"Ah, you're very fond Of your brother
eh?' he asked in his quick. brusque way.
leaning back in his armchair and placing
his hands together.
Yes. He is so very good to me-
IL
of his affairs?"
Very little He doesn't tell me much. -
He talks Of me sometimes, I suppose?v
remarked the old man with good-hu-
mored smile
with the greatest admiration always.
Mr.. Statham. he is devoted TO YOU"
she declared.
The old man moved uneasily, and gave
sniff OF suspicion combined with low
grunt Of satisfaction.
He's engaged to some foreign woman.
hear he said you know her. Of
course.
You mean Maud Petrovitch. Yes she
is my friend
"Petroyiteh-P -Petroyitch." he repeated.
as though in ignorance OF the fact. i've
heard that name before. Sounds like
Russian name.
IT.
Petrovitch. the wel-known Servian
statesman.
"Of course. recollect now He's been
in the ministry once or twice ! recollect
having some dealings with him over the
Servian loan. He was finance minister
then. And so he is in love with her, he
said, refiectively. IF I remember Alright.
shes the only daughter. His excellencv
invited me TO dine at his house i'm Bel
grade one night few years ago. and
saw her-a very pretty. dark haired girl:
she locked more French than Servian."
Her mother was English.
An"
And dead silence fell. broken only by
the low tinkle Of A cab bell outside
SO your brother is in love with the
pretty daughter Of the ex-minister, What
a happy circumstance is youth" sighed
the old man. And YOU yourself?" he
went on. staring straight al her you
have a lover, also! How can / ask? OF
course, a beautiful girl like you must
have lover"
Marion blushed Geeply-dropping her
eyes from his She was annoyed that he
should make such an outspoken com
ment, and yet she f0rgave him. knowing
full well what an eccentric person he
was
".
for the first time. realized how extremely
good-looking was the sister Of his secre-
tary. He had been told so by Mr. Cum
nington on one occasion, but he had
heard without paying attention Yet as
he now sat with his gaze fastened upon
her he saw how uneasy she was. and
now anxious TO escape from his presence
This rather piqued him. He had a sus-
picion that her brother n.gnt have said
something to prejudice him in her estf-
nation; therefore ne exerted al his ef-
forts 10 place her at her ease-efforts
which, alas. had but little avail. The
silence Of that SOmber but gorgeous room.
the weird mystery of the house itself.
and the thin-faced man of millions him
self all combined to I'LL her with some in
stinctive dread. Alone there at that hour
she felt herself completely in that mans
power
Only three days before she had read a
paragraph in NJ. A. p. regarding his enor-
nous wealth and his far-reaching power
and influence. The writer said that Sam
uel Statham was a man who seldom
smiled. and whose own secretary scarce
ly knew him, so alOOf did he hold him
self from the world And Il was added
that he, possessor Of millions. preferred
hot baked potatoes on winters night
10 the finest dishes which a French chef
could contrive
lie was a man OF simplest tastes. vet
strangely erratic In his movements. a
man whose foresight in business. matters
was little short of miraculous. and whose
very touch seemed to turn dross to gold
lie had declined half a dozen invitatfons
10 meet royalty at royaltys express wish.
and when offered peerage by the prine
minister before the late government went
out OF Office he had respectfully declined
the pronered honor. Sam Statham sneer-
ed at society. and turned a cold shoulder
70 ia fact which caused society 10 hA
all the more eager to know him
Marion recollected every word Of this
as she sat in wonder at the actual motive
of her visit Her eyes wandered around
the fine room with its beautiful pictures
its priceless pieces of statuarv. and its
great Chinese vases that were loot from
the Summer Palace at Pekin The air
of wealth and luxury impressed her
While even the arrangement of the elee-
trio lights. placed out OF sight hebind
the book cases and reflected into the CEN
ter of the apartment. was so cunnin1lv
devised that the Illumination was bright
without being glaring.
And so you have a lover in secret
eh2' he laughed, leaning back and ra-
garding her with half-closed ewes. Ifke
every other girl you dream OF marriage
and happiness-a shadowy dream. car
assure you. Happiness is as Tangible as
the moonbeams. and love as heeting as
the sunset. But you are young, and viii
f1f r1.-1f