Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-24


"A lodging house." Hylton explained;
zone of the big places for men which
have sprung up in the past few years"
'T will go with you," Mildred said
quietly.
Neither she nor Hylton saw that a
pair of eyes in a group only yard
away were fixed upon them. They
were not pleasing eyes. though their
owner, Kenneth Harlow, was the pos
SCISSOR of a handsome face of the hard
kind.
And now, though Mildred little
dreamed of 1t, there was danger. For
Harlow knew of her early love for his
cousin, Richard Wellingham. On her
mothers side-she having been Judith
Wellingham-he was next of kin In the
inheritance of the Wellingham estates,
which, as the son Of a younger brother,
Richard Wellingham had never hoped
to possess. Although Harlow could
never wear the title of Viscount Hind
lesleigh, Ii was no interest of his that
Richard should return to claim the
title and estates. Still less had he
cause to welcome the temperance of
his cousin now, when, seven years
being nearly past, application was
about to be made to the law courts to
assume Richard Wellinghams death.
Presently the Dowager Lady Con-
hurst took possession of Hylton, and
Harlow seized his opportunity, for the
same moment left him free to secure
Mildred alone.
Good evening. Lady Mildred" he
greeted her, in his pleasantest man
ner. 81 have hoped for this moment.
Am I too bold to claim you, all to
myself for this once? I want to tell
you something that l can say only to
you
For a moment he paused, while he
looked boldly into her face.
"It Is something that means every
thing to a man." he went on. "Who
knows how 1t is? We can't tell, but I
love you. And tonight could not hold
back any longer. I wanted to ask you
whether you would be my wife?"
Harlow had phrased himself well, but
his skillful words had only had the ef-
feet of bearing down Mildred's gaze
to the floor.
"Mr. Harlow" she said, "T think you
must have heard that I laid all your
cousins misfortunes to my fault. !
cannot forget him. Don't you think II
would be kinder to let me be alone?
know you have tried to press me many
times, but II pains me. ] could not
marry you. Please do not think me
unmndful-and I do not wish to hurt
you-but that must be my answer" AL
though Harlow inclined his head in ac-
quiescence. his face was dark.
every well, Lady Mildred" he said.
submissively. "But while there's life
there's hope" he added, In a curious,
significant tone.
Then he left her; and the next mo-
ment, although he hardly recalled the
object in It a strange prompting came
to him. He looked around the COM
pany for Hylton and then made his
way toward the clergyman, as II to
come face to face with him casually.
"Hallo, Hylton" he said. cordially,
as they met; "still busy I suppose
Where will you be preaching next Sun
day-at your own church,"
NO" Hylton replied, ST am taking
a party to conduct a mission at Loro-
fray house"
"That will be interesting" Harlow
returned at once. "Lorofray house is
one of the new lodging houses, isn't
It? May I conner"
Were always pleased to have help
ers." assented the simple Hylton un-
suspectingly.
And while all these things were
passing in the rich warmth OF May
fair, the man whom Hankns had
called Charles Bayham was walking
the cheerless streets Not once, but a
number of times, Hankins had anath-
ematized the porter who had shouted
out: "Come. now: time. please" For
the next night had not seen Barbara
an inmate of Lornfray house. Nor had
several nights
Yet the wheels of fate were moving
fast Thursday night came. bringing
Bayham back to Lornfray house. with