St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-01
Half a
Chance
BY FREDERIC S. ISHAM.
Author of THE StroIIers. % ''Un-
der the Rose" THE Lady
of the Mount" Etc.
Copyright, 1909, by the Bobbs-
MSrrill Company.
CONTINUED
1909, by the Bobbs-
MSrrIIl Company.


about stepping out of the routine.
routine that makes slaves OF men,!
with an accent slightly hooking.
"And stepping into what? Society
the bugbear of so many men! Poor
society! What filings it has to en-
dure! By the way. did your convict
get off?'
"Get off? What
''The one you represented that
the word ?-when we were in court"
Eyes. He was acquitted"
II am glad. Somehow you made me
feel he was innocent"
81 believed In him." said John Steele.
"And yet the evidence was very
strong against him. If some one else
had appeared for him Do you think
many innocent people have been
hanged or sent out Of the country, Mr..
Steele?" Her eyes looked brighter, her
face more earnest now.
Evidence can play odd caprices."
"Still, your average English jury
man is to be depended on put in
Lord Ronsdale quickly.
do you think so?" An instant
Steele's eyes rested on the speaker.
"No doubt you are right" A sardonic
flash seemed to play on the nobleman.
cat all events you voice the accepted
belief"
''I'm glad you defend, don't prose
cute, people, Mr.. Steele" said the girl
irrelevantIy.
"a pleasanter task perhaps"
speaking Of sending prisoners out
of the country" broke in Sir Charles.
II am not in favor Of the penal sys-
TEN myself"
Rather simple way of getting rid
Of undesirables- transportation-it has
always seemed to me-" dissented Lord
Ronsdale.
Don't they sometimes escape and
come back to England?" asked the
girl.
mot apt to when death for return
ing stares them in the face" remarked
the nobleman.
Death The girl shivered slightly.
John Steele smiled. The penalty
should certainly prove esficacious," he
observed lightly.
"Is not such a penalty-for returning.
l mean-very severe. Mr.. Steele?''
asked Jocelyn Wray.
''That," he laughed, depends some
what on the point of view, the crimi-
nails or society's" His gaze returned
to her. The bright bit of color in her
hair again seemed to catch and hold
his glance.
Lord Ronsdale regarded both quick
~. A frown crossed his face. and he
looked away to conceal the singularly
cold and vindictive CLEAN that sprang
to his eyes.
One evening about fortnight later
Lord Ronsdale in a dissatisfied frame
of mind strolled along Piccadilly. He
had begun to fatter himself that the
fowery way to all ha desired lay be-
fore him and that he had but to tread
it when another. as the soothsayers
put it, had crossed his path.
A plain man, a man without title.
Lord Ronsdale told himself Miss Joce-
Ign Wray was no better than an ar
rant coQuette, but the next moment
questioned this conclusion. Had she
not really been a little taken by the
fellow? Certainly she seemed not
averse to his company. When she
willed, and she willed often, she sum-
moned him to her side. Nor did he
now appear reluctant to come at her
bidding Self assertive though he ha0
shown himself to be, he Obeyed. sans
demur, the wave Of my lady's little
hand Was it a certain largeness and
reserve about him that had awakened
her curiosity? From her high social
position had she wished merely to test
her own power and amuse herself aft
er light fashion. surely youths and
beauty's privilege?
But, whatever the girls motive. her
conduct in the matter reacted on my
lord. The fellow was in the way
very much so. How could he himself
pay court to her when she frivolously
if only for the moment, preferred this
commoner's company?
What made the situation even more
anomalous to Ronsdale and the less
patiently to be borne was that Sir
Charles understood and sympathized
with his desires and position in the
matter And why not? Ronsdale's
father and Sir Charles had been old
and close friends. There were rea
sons that pointed to the match as
suitable one, and Sir Charles by his
general manner and attitude had long
shown he would put no obstacle in the
way of the nobleman's suit for the
hand of his fair niece. AS for Lady
Wray, Lord Ronsdale knew that he
had in that practical and worldly per-
son stanch ally Of his wishes. These
had not become less ardent since he
had witnessed the unqualified success
of the beautiful colonial girl IN Lon
don, noted how men illustrious in va
rious walks of life. grave diplomats,
stately ambassadors. were swayed By
her light charm and impulsive frank
ness of youth. And to have her who
could have all London at her feet. In
Guiding his distinguished self. show a