The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
CHAPTER I.

WelL first she's evidently q lady-th.
daughter OF man who has come down !,
the world. most probably; and. second
ly-'
"Ah. You mean the secret lover-th,
man who was here yesterday ana bopgb
twenty-suinea evening gown OF her I,
send to his sister-eh?'' exclaimed Mr.
Warner. buyer OF the costume DEPART
ment Of the great drapery house OF Gun.
nington's. in Oxford street. that hug,
store which. as everybody knows. com
petes with Whiteley's and Harrod's foI
the premier place Of the middle-clas,
trade In London.
Yes" laughed Miss Thomas. the rather
stout, middle-aged woman who was head
salsswoman OF the department. as she
stood IN the small. s-partitioned office
OF the buyer, a pleasant-faced man oil
forty-1ve. who was an expert IN ladies'
costumes and twice yearly bought his
stock personally in Paris and IN Berlin
Yes She's really nice girl. but can't
quite make her out. although she's been
here for over a year now"
And the lover?" asked the buyer with
a glance across the long. square room
where autumn costumes Of every descrip-
ten were displayed upon stands. or hang
ing by the hundred in long rows, while
ranged round the walls were many ex-
pensive evening dresses exhibited in glass
cases. Il was afternoon, and the place
was full OF customers, the assistants. in
their neat black. holding ready-made
skirts to their sides to Try the effect, OF
conducting the prospective purchaser to
the ftting-rooms. And yet they were not
what Mr. Warner termed busy"
The man, too, is mystery. like Miss
Rolfe. Nobody knows his name. He
comes in sometimes, goes Up 70 her. and
asks to be served with a skirt or some
thing, and has It sent 20 Mr. Evans. a,
some chambers In Dover street. The
name is, OF course. not the right one, -
said the head assistant.
But Miss Rolfe knows It, OF course?''
Probably she does"
And she meets him after business
hcurs?''
I think so. But she keeps herself very
much to herself, and is always at home
early
Mr.. Warner glanced across at the tall,
fair-haired. handsome girl, whose figure
showed TO such advantage in her black
satin gown. AT that moment she was
displaying a cheap tweed SKIRT 10 two
middle-aged women. Her face. as he
caught its profile was very soft and re-
fined. the contour OF her cheeks perfect,
and the stray wisp OF hair across the
brow gave a softness 70 her countenance
that was charming. Many a stage girl
whose photograph was displayed in the
shop windows was not half SO beautiful
as the demure. hard-worklng shop assist
ant. Marion ROlfe.
The air Of mystery surrounding her, Mr..
Warner found interesting. and the love
romance now in progress he intended to
watch. Toward his assistants. he was al
ways lenient Unlike some buyers" he
was never hard and never bullied them.
lie believed that By treating them with
kindliness and with the courtes, every
man should show toward a Cman he
obtained the best OF their business abili-
ties, as no doubt he did. Warner OF the
Costumes" was known through the whole
house" as one Of the most considerate
Of men. and one OF the most trusted OF
old Mr. Cunnington's advisers. Those in
other seven hundred-odd assistants IN the
employment Of the great firm.
While Mr.. Warner and Miss Thomas
were speaking. a smart-looking. fair
haired, fair-mustached young man OF
about twenty-five. in frock coat and silk
hat entered, and. walking up to the little
Office, greeted the buyer. saying:
Mr. Warner, I'm sorry 10 worry you.
but may I speak to my sister for a mo-
ment on some important family business?
won't keep her but few moments. for
/ see she's busy
Why, certainly. Mr.. Rolfe." was the
good-humored reply. as Miss Thomas
went away 10 serve & customer It's
against our rules. as you know, but for
my own part 1 can never see why a young
lady need be debarred from speaking to
her own brother"
You're always very good. III. War
ner," responded the young man "and
I'd Ike to thank you for many Httle
kindnesses you've shown 20 Marion"
"Oh. nothing. nothing. my dear 1Ir
Rolfe," Warner said Your sister is an
excellent business woman-one Of the best
have, may tell you. But look, She's
disengaged now. Go TO her" And ne
watched the young man crossing the de-
partment
Marion. surprised when her brother
stood before her. Immediately asked
whether no had received Mr.. Warmers
permission.
"Of course I have" was his quick re-
ply In rather an excited manner. she
thought, Il just ran up TO tell you that
have TO go abroad suddenly tonight,
and to say good-by. Old Sam Statham is
sending me out 70 Servia- He only told
me at l O'Clock that I must 90, and I've
been buying some things necessary"
ITO Serviai" exclaimed the girl amaz-
ed that her brother. to whom she was
devoted, was 70 90 so far from her.
Yes. We have some mining interests
and some other things oct there, and old
Sam suddenly decided to send me out 70
make certain inquiries I shall be away
a month or two. caresay, as have to
go to see a new mine in the course Of
preparation down on the banks OF the
Danube somewhere"
But do take care OF yourself, Charlie"
urged the girl. looking up into her broth
ers face. I've heard that It's an un-
safe country
''Unsafel Why, that's quite a faIlacy.
Servia Is as safe as the Strand nowadays.
Bland, our chief clerk. was out there a
year, and he's been telling me how de-
lightfui the people are. servia Is entirely
by US"
Then you'll go to-night?"
Yes, By the mail from Charing Cross.
he replied. But don't come and see me
on. I hate people TO DO that And when
you see dear old Max. tell him thar I'm
sorry had no time TO go round before
leaving. I've just telephoned. and his
man says he won't be back til z That
Will be 100 late for me"
Very we'll replied his sister. But
But what7'
We'll. Charlie. I'm sorry you're going.
! fsel-wsll. ] feel that you are going to