The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-09


the tall clumps of waving palms, and
of dark-leaved. India rubber trees, the
profuslon of flowers on every side, and
as a background to it all. the deep
dark blue of the tideless Mediterran-
ean-all seemed to soothe her pain as
much as they charmed her senses
Irene was not perfectly convinced
that Rupert Carroll was dead. Her
aunt still persisted that she had seen
and spoken to him and that he had de-
MED all knowledge or remembrance OF
her, but that must have been because
someone had turned his heart against
her.
Irene learnt from her aunt for the
first time a secret which her mother
had never revealed to her. Lady Gar
land told her that her father, when she
herself was quite an infant, had desert
ed his wife and child. and that it was
only when he was on his deathbed that
he had sent for her mother, who had
some to him at once. and with Chris
tan charity had nursed him to the end
and had forgiven him at the last
She believed that it was on account
of this. Of which someone must have
told him. that Rupert Carroll hal
thought it his duty to repudiate her.
But he might have written,-at least
he might have written,
1t was fortnight after Lady Gar
lands supposed meeting with him. that
she had seen that vision of him in the
night, that his eyes had seemed to look
at her yearningly-that his voice had
rung in her ears. Well. there was but
one possible Interpretation to it. Ru-
pert must be dead, and in his dying
moments. his spirit, filled with love
and conjunction, had appeared to her
for one brief moment ere it had quit
ted this world forever.
A little variety began TO creep into
the lives of the two ladies. Lady Car
land adored society. Gossip and after
noon visits were the joy of her exist
ence. and she began to fret after the
frivokties of life. 1t was she who first
proposed that they should go over &C.
casionaIly to listen to the world famed
orchestral concerts in the rooms at
Monte Carlo.
The ladies took the short journey OF
twenty minutes by train two or three
times week; and whilst Irene sat
listening TO the music, Lady Garland
would stink away into the gambling
rooms at the other side of the spacious
building. and risk her five franc pieces
with varying success upon the rou,-.te
tables.
One day Irene was left by herself in
a secluded corner of the concert room
The music came to an end. the must
clans rose noisily in their places: it
was the end of the first part, and there
was an interval OF ten minutes. A
group of persons stood talking and
laughing a few rows in front of her.
A pretty. but rather over-dressed
woman standing amongst some other
ladies, first attracted her attention
She had golden hair. much too golden
in fact. and more than a suspicion of
rouge on her cheeks. but she was pref
ty and very animated In manner. She
reached over the backs of two rows Of
the stalls before her. and tapped a
gentleman who was sitting down on
the shoulder with her fan
Comet" she cried, take me out for
little walk. please. and get me cup
OF tea. 1 am furnishing for tea-come
along at once"
The gentleman addressed stood up
and turned round. The beautiful con-
cert-room with its massive gliding, and
it's domed frescoed ceiling, suddenly
swan and danced before Irenes eyes.
She uttered faint, smothered cry, and
half rose in her place. 1t was Rupert
Carroll.
Her breath came quick and fast, her
heart was beating wildly, a crimson
flush flooded her pale, sensitive face
from brow TO chin. He came saur err
ing along His face was turned to-
wards the lady by his side-she was
talking volubly to him. When he came
quite close. he raised his head, and his
eyes met Irene's fully. There was not
a vestige of recognition in them She
tried to speak, but it was 3 though
she was choking. her lips refused 10
frame a word. 1t was her betrothed.
the man who had taught her to love.
who had asked her to be his wife.
whose parting kisses in the moonlight
were still craven in her heart, whose
parting words of love still rang in her
ears. and yet-he passed her by with
out seeming to see her.
Wildly she thrust forth one hand as
though to stop him; If she could have
spoken she would have called his name
aloud. but her throat was dry and
parched and she could not utter a
sound. She heard the woman who was
with him say as they went on togeth-
er
who is that girl? She stared at
do hay
She lid not hear the answer They
passed on togett~- all of them, out of
the concert room. and presently among
the few people who were left, there
arose a little commotion, for a young
lady i'm black had suddenly fallen
down.
Lady Garland coming back oppor-
tunely to look after her niece, was hor-
rified to find her stretched i'm the mar
row passage in a dead faint. supported
| in the arms of a charitable lady who
was perfect stranger. whilst another
| kneeling on the floor beside her was
holding a salts bottle to her nose.
1T is so hot in here" said one of
| them, as Lady Garland hustled up and
claimed the unconscious girl as her
4
body fainting. the atmosphere is sim
ply awful; they never air these rooms
| properly"
She revived a little at last. and Lady
Garland sent for carriage. and they
| drove all the way back to Mentone in
stead Of returning by ruin. The air
revived her, but she did not speak dur
| ing the drive at all, save to thank her
! INT for her Kindness. She was pals
as death. and there was a look in her
eyes tina. Lady Garland had never seen
in them before. 1t half frightened her.
/ IL was the look of a desperate woman.
a-ate that evening Irene came into
/ her aunts room. Her color had come
4 hack a little. her lips shone with an
unnatural brilliancy. and her lips were
set and hard.
Il have come to tell you something,
Aunt Anna" said Irene. not noticing