The Prescott daily news., 1909-09-23
WHEATLEY'S
 PLAY
By Barbara Carus. Wilson

lS~ch tO Ier. She imEulsiyely threw her arms around his neck and raised her face to his. Their lips met. { She hurriedly extricatcd herself from his embrace 7 What utter folly! must marry the duke.''
 You shan't" lie slipped his arms around her | again. but she moved resolutely away. T must. I shall be sorry for ever and ever afterwards if 1 don't. It's
 been the dream of my life to wear a ducal coronet."
 l "Nonsense!" he said sternly. Lady Joan threw herself petulantly | down on the sofa. ! @"Oh> you don't know woman's
 mind," she moaned. Yes. 1 do. know your mind is
 weighing love against social ambi-
 tion and know love will weigh down
 the scales"
 You don't know how weak we sometimes are." she went on, unheed. | ing. ''It's foolish and horrid and | wicked. but if l marry any one but l thes duke now shall make him
 wretched'
 -'I will chance it." r
 Four hours later Lady Joan, exquia
 itely gowned, went up the staircase at
 Mrs. Tattersley- -Smythe's. She had
 only been widow for year, and al
 ways wore white or mauve still be.
 cause she knew it suited her better
 than anything else. Her beautiful | face was flushed with triumph. dia-
 moads sparkled in her hair, and at her | breast.
 | It took long time to get up the
 staircase, but she did not mind be
 cause the duke was at her side. When they reached the top he was
 obliged to leave ner, because of an important debate in the house of
 lords.
 He said something to her in a low | tone, which no one else could hear. and fingered reluctantly, but he was
 a man who always prided himself on
 doing his duty to his country When he had gone. Wheatley ap- peared.
 Don't come near me-" she cried, | petulantly. Hes coming tomorrow
 morning at II o'clock for my answer; can never forgive you for this after noon."
 Wheatley raised his eyebrows in-
 credulously, which increased her an,
 noyance.
 "I hate you" she said, vehemently What time do you leave this l crush?" he asked her carelessly.
 "I ordered my brougham for 10: 30 1 want to get to the opera for the last
 act and then go on to the countess
 ball. Now go and talk to some one
 else. A dear friend has just told me
 our names begin to be bracketed, and
 one can't be too careful" They seemed a long while getting
 to Covent Garden. She looked out of the window. Ev- erything was strangely dark outside,
 and they seemed to be travelling with
 unusual speed. Where are you going?" she asked, 1, but no answer came to her repeated summons.
 Lady Joan became suddenly uneasy Horrid stories about people going sud denly mad flashed through her mind. "Stop!" she cried. Stop at once. | Do you not hear?" The man looked round. drew up the car and sprang down. Under the | e, ffeur's cap she recognized Wheat
 ley's face.
 "You." she cried with sudden glad relief. "Oh. I was so frightened. | feel safe now you're here. But why
 are you driving my broughsm? Where are you taking me! Surely 1t Is some trick
 Lady Joan," he answered quietly,
 q told you this afternoon you should not marry the duke" What do you mean?" she asked.
 Are you running away with mel?
 something rather like It."
 How dare you" she cried passion ately. How dare you." "A man dares anything when he loves as I do. l love you with my whole soul" he went on boldly. "I would do or dare anything to win you.
 I hoped if could get you away alone somewhere you might listen to me be fore you promised the duke"
 How dare you" she said again.
 Lady Joan." he answered coolly. T dare anything, as l have told you.
 You are very cruel" and there was n .ol In har yDicp "YOu think you