The Irish standard., 1909-10-16

ing to credulous young woman who
had let herself fall In love! But for
her friend Lady Maud she would still
be their victim. Her heart went out
to the woman who had saved her
from her fate, and with the thought
came the impulse to send message
of gratitude; and the first fury Of her
anger subsidized with the impulse to do
so. BY and by 1t would cool and har-
den to lasting resentment that would
not soften again.
Her hand still shook SO that she
could hardly hold the pen steady
while she wrote the telegram.
"Unspeakably grateful. II can join
me here will gladly wait for you.
Must see you at once. Do come"
She felt better as she rose from the
table, and when she looked at herself
in the mirror she saw that her face
had changed again and that her
! natural color was returning. She
rang for Potts. remembering that the
half-hour must be, almost up.
POTTS." Margaret said, I've been
in a rage, but I'm only angry now. Do
look like human being again?"
Eyes. ma'am," answered the maid,
inspecting her gravely "You are still
a bit pale, ma'am, and your eye is
trifle wild. may: say. A motor veil.
perhaps, if you are thinking Of going
out. ma'am."
II haven't got such a. thing. have
I? 1never motor now"
Potts smiled the smile of the very
superior maid, and moved towards a
perfectly new leather hat-box that
stood in the corner
II always put in two for sea,
ma'am,"' she said. "You wore one
when we crossed the channel the last
time, II you remember"
Potts, you're a treasured"
Yes, ma'am," Potts answered
vaguely in her meek voice. as she
dived into one Of the curious secret
| pockets of the hat-box. THAT is,
ma'am," she said, correcting herself,
Il mean, it's very kind of you to
say So"
Without further consulting Marga-
| ret, who had seated herself before
the dressing-table Potts proceeded to
| fasten a broadbrimmed black straw
hat on the thick brown hair; she then
4: spread an immense white veil over it,
/! drew it under her mistress chin and
i knotted it in way that would have
amazed seaman.
uYhar
gloves, Mrs Rushmore herself came
to the door, knocked and opened dis.
creetly before there was any answer.
"My dear child" she asked, what
in the world is the matter? Nothing
| serious, trust?"
ooh, nothing" Margaret answered,
f, going forward to meet her, and find
ing her natural voice. I'm sorry If
I've kept you waiting"
ITS go unlike you, my DEAR" Mrs.
Rushmore said, with emphasis; "aad
Potts looked quite grave when she
brought me your message half an hour
ago."
you would have been more sur
prised IL she had burst out laughing"
Margaret said yiciously.
my DEAR" Mrs. Rushmore an
awered, I'm astonished at you!
know something has happened.
know It. You are not, yourself this
morning"
This was . statement so evidently
absurd that Il could not be answered
except by fiat contradiction; so
Margaret said nothing, and went on
working her hand into . perfectly
new glove.
| II see that you have not even
J opened your letters" Mrs. Rushmore
continued severely. Except that"
she added, noticing the loose sheets
Of Lady Maud's letter on the toilet
table. ~.
Margaret gathered them up hastily,
folded them into crumpled package
and thrust them into the empty en-.
velope. For once, she had forgotten
her caution. but she retrieved herself
by pushing the thick letter into her
long glove, much to Potts distress,
for 1t made an ugly lump. She made
It worse by forcing in the second
envelope, which contained tho news.
paper cutting.
I'm ready now" she said.
Mrs. Rushmore turned and led the
way with stately steps; she was al.
ways imposing. but when she was Of.
Tended she was monumental. The two
went out in silence. ana walkly slowly
down the strc..' IT, dull street-sid. ~