The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-12
CHAPTER XVI.
Lnnrn Is sntisfed.

asked Sir Douglas for some advance on
her salary. and she could not do that.
When she reached her little sitting room
she flung herself into an arm chair, and
buried her head in a cushion-one OF the
cushions that still had that intangible
odor OF tobacco about IL.
What can ! do2" she moaned. This
is terrible-terrible. Instead Of eating
better, things are worse, and don't know
what 20 do!''
knock at the door made her raise
her head and listen. Should she say,
Come In" or keep silent? She felt
she could not bear 10 meet Mr.. Craven
or any one who knew the story OF that
hateful marriage. But she had no oppor-
tunity OF doing either 5or after a pause
the door was pushed half open, and Sir
Douglas stood on the threshold.
May I come IN? I want TO have a
chat with YOU" he said gently,
She sprang 10 her feet and looked at
him with frightened eyes. What Is it2"
she said breathlessly. Have you. too,
come to torture me as others dor
He flushed at her words. The bitter
ness IN her young voice hurt him more
than anything else could have. 1t was
almost as If she mistrusted him. and yet
he loved her as deeply as before.
Don't talk Ike that" he said. quickly.
II love you, Rose-you know that, surely
and l have come TO ask IL you VIII let
me help you out OF any trouble. You
know. darling. that I would give my life
to see you happy." he continued. passion
ateiy. since yesterday have lived in
the depths OF despair"
why since yesterday" she said in a
low voice.
Because I was on the other side OF
the rose garden and heard part OF your
with your brother" he an
swered. gravely.
Tho color ran up into her cheeks as
she listened 10 him.
''You heard how much? Oh. don't spare
me-teII me what you really know"
u didn't hear very much he answered:
''Only that the man. Sidney French. was
you for money. and you refused
TO ask me: and then he said something
about your having "a secret. and that II
you could tell one lie 70 ne you could
tell another. You see. L have a good
memory"
Yes" she said bitterly. I see that.
Then il you heard that conversation.
what do you think OF itr'
II thought IN some way or other you had
got caught in the clutches or a black
mailing BLACKBOARD" he answered. and
that what I had suspected the day before
was true-that you were not that man ;
sister. in spite of his evidence. and I was
glad of it. Now. surely. you viii trust
me. darling" ho added, tenderly taking
her hands in his and drawing her 10 him
with a protecting gesture. You know
you have given me the right 10 protect
you, for you are 10 be my little wife,
and we must have no secrets between
each other"
For a moment she swayed toward him.
and then she drew back with a cry. II
was impossible; she was already the wife
though only In name, OK the man who had
wrested his money from him.
1T is all changed she said. family
II cannot marry you'll meant to tell you
so yesterday. but I had no chance"
"Then you don't love ms?' he asked
quietly.
She raised her eyes TO his. and though
she didn't speak he read his answer re-
Elected in their clear depths.
You can't say it, ne cried triumphant
ly. you dare not tell me such a cruel
lie as that"'
And yet I told you lie the other
day. she murmured.
Simply because that scamp tortured
you," he laughed. happily. why. darl-
ing. / would forgive you any lie so long
as II was true that you loved me-
But If / am not his sister," she went
on; Il must be some one else"
'Of course" ne answered; that Is what
I expected You may tell me when We
have more time TO spare what your rea
name Is, and how you came to take Miss
Ffrench's place here. What / want L
know now is what that scamp said L
brighten you so; 1 am longing 10 go and
thrash him."
She put her hand on his arm. PLEASE
let him CO." she murmured. IL dom
want you to see him-besides, 1 think h
has gone away
He looked at her amusedly. Now tina
he knew she was not that unspeakabl,
young cad 5 sister. his spirits had risen
He had feared that some barrier nigh
stand between them-that the ghost o.
some former tie might forbid the mar
riage that he hoped to realize.
so much the better If he has gone
away" he said, tenderly; then he won
trouble you You mustn't be frightened
at anything in future. Just come and tel
me if you are worried by any one and
will deal with them, Are you quite sur,
this chap went away last night?"
Rosemary flushed nervously. u
think So he said he was going she
whispered. "Oh, please don't ask ms
anything more about him, Douglas.
want to try and forget hiHl--and the III
he made me tell you because l was afraid
of being sent away by you and Lady
Mallaby when you knew that had taker
the place of the real companion she en-
gaged.'
Foolish darling!" he laughed; ''ot
course not How did you come to tak'
her name. thought
Il was crossing the road one foggy
afternoon" Rosemary began quickly
'and just In front of me was a girl whC
fell underneath a motor van. and / mus
have tainted. because on coming round
I found that her bag had been exchanged
for my own, and on examining 1t / founC
Lady Mallaby's letter" She went on witt
tears in her eyes. 81 thought that as sh,
was dead It could not hurt her for me t
take the place she had left vacant i
was wrong, I know-but was afraid OF
being alone IN London any longer. AND
when the man found out I was not his
sister he made me promise TO give hin
money!
You poor darling" he murmured, 'af
had only known. And now, dearest,
must go. ] have a disagreeable duty &c
attend to-Miss Craven's lost rendantF'