The Washington herald., 1910-11-08
The House of Ill-Luck
BY BLANCHE EARDLEY.


"oh. it was such a lovely night we
didn't really mind" Craven laughed. 1T
amused as TO be locked out, though"
During breakfast Rosemary sat per-
forming her duties with quiet grace The
flush of happiness that her lovers words
had brought to her cheeks had faded,
and che looked pale and big-eyed. She
had abandoned her attempts at disguise
OF the night before. After all, what did
IL matter? Philip Craven knew her, and
only waited to tell her so. After break
fast she made an excuse and slipped
away. Miss Craven was breakfasting
upstairs, and Rosemary was glad 10 es-
cape her cold, supercilious eyes. When
she was in her own room she went to
her box. and. unlocking IL, took out the
miniature that she had guarded so jeal-
ousiy since that fateful day. The story
her lover had told her about II contain
ing the chart TO the supposed treasure
OF Luck House had fired her imagination,
and she gazed at the flashing mascot with
thoughtful eyes. She could not return
II TO him personally without telling him
where she had picked II up. and yet she
could not bear the idea of his thinking
Il was lost Suddenly a thought flashed
across her brains. and she sprang to her
should she not try TO find the luck" for
him. Surely no one would be better than
the person who loved him best. Besides,
what did the legend say?
But Il he stay and hold his OWE
Ia face Of hardship and of hate.
The love Of maiden shall atone.
And st his luck forever straight
Yes. that must mean that the woman
who loved Mallaby. through his hard
ships and the hate OF his enemies. would
be the one to put his luck straight.
Il WILL" she whispered; for his dear
sake I Will try my hardest; but. oh. II
only l had some one TO help me-some
one I could trust!''
She replaced the miniature IN her box
and locked Il, putting the key on a rib
bon, which she tied round her neck. A
few minutes later she dressed to so out
for a walk and when she went down
stairs she found Sir Douglas and Stephen
Usher talking In the hall. Usher's face
wore a worried expression on It. and he
was explaining something TO his host
that certainly didn't seem 10 give Sir
| Douglas much pleasure.
L al awfully sorry to be such nuis-
ance Mallaby," he was saying. but
something has gone wrong with the car
| that can't possibly be put right without
| practiced mechanic. Do you mind our
! trespassing further on your hospitality
until I send for a man2''
Not in the least" Sir Douglas said I
hope, though. you don't mind pot luck.
Take me 70 see the car; / may be able
10 suggest something"
! As she strolled along Rosemary knew
| that the story OF the car was either false
or that IL lad been disabled on purpose.
! and then a little further on she came
! face to face with Philip Craven. smoking
cigarette. Good morning. Miss
| French" he said smilingly. Have you
| heard OF our mishap with the carp
She looked al his cOldly, all her pride
! UP in arms against his callous persecu-
/ ton
y have heard-yes-Mr. Craven" she
said: and the story Sir Douglas cousin
tells is in keeping with the rest OF your
| conduct
He smiled lnsolently. Pray explain.
| Miss Ffreneh, You seem annoyed"
II mean" Rosemary went on, that II
you behaved Ike a coward before in max
I ing ne go through a mock marriage with
man who was not dying. you are even
more cowsrdly now In silently threaten
/ ing me"
/ He looked at her narrowly Her cour-
/ age In carrying the war into the enemy's
camp was not what he had expected from
/ her fear OF the night before.
so you admit you are Rosemary Fen
/ CHESTER" he said.
/ She nodded. Yes. and II I tell Sir
/ Douglas the real cause OF my changing
/ my name he will know how 10 deal with
/ you"
IF you tell him the real story" he
/ smiled. Sir Douglas VIII hate you as his
bitterest foe, instead of loving you, as
| he obviously does now"
| What do you mean?" Rosemary ex-
/ claimed
Merely that the man YOU were married
/ 10 that fOggy day was his own cousin,
| Stephen Usher. and through YOU Sir
/ Douglas has lost the fortune he might
1 have hadt'
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
| Copyright. 100. BY The North American Company