Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-01-29
On the Edqe.
BY BARRY PRESTON.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

tnquHSu. not without q certain doubt
fui note In her tone. which seemed &c
hint that such possibly might not he
the case.
The girl who stood by the window
looking out at the uneven payemepts
or the Roman street turned SLOWLY
ana smiled. In that smile were weari.
ness and subtle understanding and pa.
tient resignation.
YES. L am very much I'm love with
him. Aunt Elinor," she said In n col
orless voice. rs If she were saving the
words more because they were expect
ed of her than for any other reason.
Mrs. Brevort smiled her open ap-
prevail The little frown of doubt
which for the past few moments had
wrinkled her brow suddenly disap-
peared. She crossed the room to the
girls side and threw an arm about
her.
"Of course, dearie," she cooed, "your
happiness is my. first might almost
say my only, concern No one realizes
better than the portent of this step
that all your future, ali your lifelong
happiness depends upon 1t. No one. I
think you'll admit. too. is more averse
to the majority Of these marriages
than L am, but the duke Is so utterly
different from all the other eligible
men we have met. He Is not seeking
your money. dear, for he is immensely
wealthy In his own right. He Is nm
upright honest, splendid type Of an
more like our own men In America 7
think. than any one we have seen.
Isn't that your Impression of himY,
Yes" said the girl In the same COL
orless voice
Mrs Brevorts pale face grew rather
eager. Somehow have felt from the
first that your destinies were linked.
yours and his" said she. 'ebut when
he talked with me this afternoon 7
gave him no definite answer. LET him
understand that the matter rested pri-
marily with you. that IL was your hap
piness that was Mt stake.
He didn't seem quite to understand
my attitude at first, but he was per-
recuy charming about It. rs he 10 In
everything. He said T was TO speak TO
you and that he would call for me this
afternoon at 4 In the road car and
while we went out to the auueduct
could give him ray final decision. or
rather. yours"
The girl had turned again TO the
window. She was looking distracted
iy at the passing crowd IN the stree,
below. Her brow was furrowed hv 8
little disfiCuring frown. Her lips were
set tightly together Her eyes were
troubled.
so suppose am to give him In
vorable answer, am notg' Mrs. Bro.
wort suggested tentatively.
The girl was silent The troubled
look IN her eyes grew more pronounc-
cd. Her aunt watched her narrowly
and with growing Impotence.
Peggy. dear. I asked you ques-
ton, she reminded her niece. 'Is It q
favorable answer | am to give?"
The girl shrugged her dainty shout.
ders. Yes. yes; oh. yesr she said
hurriedly. ut doesn't matter" Her
voice suddenly choked. Nothing mat
tersr'
Mrs. Brevort elevated her brows.
Really. Peggy she began chidinely.
But the girl turned swiftly and lcft
the room, waving back the older wom-
an, who started TO follow her. Some.
thing like a smothered sob sounded rs
the door closed behind her.
Mrs. Brevort looked rather angry for
a moment. Then she recovered her
usual composure and smiled. But there
was something distinctly unpleasant In
that smile.
She glanced at the bronze clock tick.
Ing unobtrusively on the mantel. II
pointed TO half after 3. She went to a
desk near the front window and from
q drawer drew out bundle OF letters
They were all directed In the same
hand-Peggy's hand. And they were
all addressed to Mr.. William Hale, at
some outlandIsh Spanish sounding
town In Ecuador, South America.
Mrs Brevort smiled again. 1t had
cost her pretty penny to circumvent
the mailing of those letters, but there
are many itching palms in Rome, and
what good money will not accomplish.
II 1t is Judiciously placed. Is not worth
accomplishing.
An open fire burned DULY In the
crate beneath the mantel. Mrs. Bre
wort stepped briskly over to 1t and fed
the bundle OF letters to the flames.
She watched grimly until there was
nothing left OF them save few gray
white ashes.
Then from another drawer she took
out another bundle OF letters. They |
were thick letters. all of them. The
sprawiing superscriptions were all for |
Peggy. and they we're postmarke6 with |
the name OF the Spanish town in Ecua |
dor.
Other itohing Roman palms had been |
soothed In the conventional way to |
bring those epistles into Mrs. Brevort's |
possession.
These. too. she consigned to the |
crate. watched them burn and then
arrayed herself for her appointment, |
with the duke.
at precisely he came In the roac |
car. She descended the stairs. greeted |
him effusirely, and together they whirl |
ed OF toward the aQueduct.
Scarcely had Mrs. Brevcrt taken her
Departure when there came to the no.
tel brisk, broad shouldered young
man. Enthusiastically he was American.
and Enthusiastically he had been endur-
Ing recently all the dfseomforts Of
continental travel when such travel
haste.
de glanced at the register, saw
hereon certain name and heaved q
mighty sigh of relief. but even as he
earched his pockets for his cardcase
he owner of the name that had caus-
d his recent sigh came tripping down
he stairs arrayed for walk through
he autumn streets, and, turning