The Washington herald., 1910-12-31

YES uncle: you are so very good 10
me" A moment later she rose and left
the room.
Paul stood up and faced the master of
/ the house
It find it very difficult 10 bury my iden-
/ tity. Tonight Rachel Falk has reeog-
nized me-" he said
/ Rachel Fax is quite safe" Clifford
| replied Like most OF her nation. she
/ loves money. but she viii be silent II you
wish IT,"
I'm the days Of my poverty she bought
4 the garments I could i'll spare. said
Paul
/ Just so. Do sou mind telling me what
/ passed between you?" asked Clifford
mot In the least. / prefer doing so p
and Paul related the conversation that
/ had taken place in the summer house.
/, Mr.. Clifford nodded,
I II will see Rachel. She win be silent
as the grave"
/ Paul held out his hand.
! Il am going now. ] want to think mat
4 ters over. Good night"
/ a few minutes later Clifford rang the
/ bell and told the butler to tell Mrs. Falk
/ that he wished TO speak 10 her.
/ Very soon the door was quietly opened
and the little JeWess with the strongly
/ marked features entered. shutting the
! door behind her.
paul Clelland tells me you have known
him under other circumstances. You are
never to mention the fact or reveal any
! thing YOU know about him." said Cliff
/ ford IN "a tone OF quiet command.
You can trust me. sir; but it's puz-
/ zle TO me why he shouldn't claim that
money" she answered.
Because it would not suit me. He was
poor and I befri lded him. and have
work for him TO do"
/ The woman drew nearer
He tells me he is going TO marry Judge
/ ShenstOne's daughter"
"He is engaged 10 her, but he viii
never marry her" said Mr. Clifford
''Then-then--" and she stopped, fixing
( her eyes inquiriHgly on him
The engagement is part OF my scheme.
( You understand. Rachel Falk?'
Her eyes cleaned with satisfaction.
7 understand, and I'm glad" With
these words she crossed the room and in
another moment the door shut after her
In the midst Of his great happiness
Paul forgot as the DAYS went on the mys-
terry that surrounded him; almost forgot
indeed. that his life was at another
mans disposal Sometimes he would
vaguely wonder when Clifford would
want him to set about this work Of
vengeance, and his whole soul shranIz
from il; then he would put the thought
from him.
April had come; in a week il would be
Easter, and the lovers were talking OF il
as they walked up and down the Veranda
after dinner one evening. Mrs Shen-
stone had gone upstairs directly after
dinner saying her head ached and she
would go 10 bed telling Margaret not 10
come upstairs. as she hoped to sleep so
Paul and his sweetheart had a delightful
evening. For the last half hour they
had been pacing up and down under shell
ter. yet enjoying the mild spring night
Margaret had wrapped herself in a long
white coat and Paul had donned his
OYercoat preparatory 10 going home.
Il am glad your father will be at home
at Easter. I'm going 10 ask him to let
me claim You in June. August seems a
long way Off" he said. as he looked
down at her beautiful face that was as
noble as it was fair.
Il don't think my father viii change
his mind he rarely does, and think he
objects to very short engagements. After
ALL it is not long to August, and we are
very happy" she said, looking at him
with a smile
4 want you, Margaret I'm sometimes
afraid Of losing you, and / couldn't give
you up" he said.
Dear Paul, l don't think you need fear
that We love each other too well for
God to let us be parted" she answered.
He looked at her beautiful eyes so fun
of love and trust.
I think you have a wonderful faith in
Gods care,' he said with a sigh.
''Of course / have-and you?" she said
in a questioning tone
'I? Oh, a mans faith is never the
same as a woman's, but when / get YOU
for my very own I shall learn of you,
and / am glad Easter and your father
are coming"
AT that moment the church clock struck
10
Il must be going in should like to
know if mother has slept Perhaps Hor-
tense. her maid. can tell me-" said Mar
garet.
Then I'll go. Good night, darling"
and drawing her into his arms Paul
kissed her passionately.
Nov so In sweetheart, or You will
take cold; the night is turning chilly"
he said as he went down the steps on to
the lawn, crossing in the direction of the
where a path branched of. finally lead
ing through a gate into a field. across
which a fOotpath ran It was a nearer
way to Castlesteads but Paul seldom
used it, yet this evening he felt strongly
disposed 10 take the shorter cut.
When he had gone some distance he
remembered that the gate would prob
ably be locked. Then he reflected that
he could easily climb the ratings. The
safe was locked, bur Paul was over il in
second or two and went quickly for
ward Crossing three fields. he entered
a wood through which the path ran,
when he came suddenly on a man and
woman, and the words:
~ : life is a misery" fell on his ears.
making him pause as he recognized Mrs.
ShenstOne's voice.
Evidently he. too, had been recognized.
as she laid her hand on Ter companions
arm and drew him farther into the wood
but not hef0ra Daal had ea,,eyhf ogfv.-,n