The Washington herald., 1910-12-27
CHAPTER ".



it and read;
Dear clelland: WIN you o1ms and dine with US
t0Hiehtf ! want yoa and Hagar 20 become
aoluaIuted- Dinner Al prompt Yours ancerely
j. CLIFFORD.
With the open letter in his hand, Paul
turned into the library bordering wheth-
ct he should accept the invitation or not.
Then he remembered that no was not
a free agent Probably instead OF win
you Gomez" he ought 10 read You must
come and the reason given was that
he might be introduced TO Hagar. tho girl
who was not allowed TO make friends.
Paul began 10 think that as ne was a
bondman, so she was a bondwoman. 1t
had been an awful thing for him TO sell
himself. body and soul. but a girl-Lady
Lasceles had said she was beautiful-for
such girl it was absolute degradation,
and he wondered if anything. even abiect
poverty. could justify it; but perhaps she
was merely Clinord's niece, as he had
said. Well he would dine at The Her
mitage, and probably he would learn
something.
Ringing the bell. he told the footman
that he was going out 10 dianer. and did
not require tea-this in answer TO the
mans query. The carriage must be al
the door in time to allow him to reach
The Hermitage a few minutes before :.
Then, looking at his watch, he saw it
was time 10 dress and as he went up
stairs he smiled 10 think OF the time
he had spent at The Rookery.
Half an hour later he descended the
bgr-
clever person to recognize in the tall.
weil-set-up man. who held himself as
though he had been born 10 the position
ne now Med. the starved, would-be sui
eide whom John Clifford had saved from
death, 10 make him his bondslave. The
months ease and luxurious living that
had elapsed between the night OF the bar
gam and his coming down TO Castlesteads
had wrought change lie had gained
hesh and insensibly acquired the manners
OF the moneyed class, with an air OF dis
tnction that many Of them would have
gwen much 10 possess, and John Clifford
had not had any reason to regret his
choice Of the man who was TO be the
instrument OF his revenge.
During the time they had spent In Lon
don Clifford had acted mentor 10 the
young man. initiating him into many
things to which he was stranger. and
ignorance of which would have BETRAYED
the fact that he belonged 10 a different
class, The man Of the world had been
amazed al the aptitude with which his
pupil had fitted into his new position
They had been sociable, and Clifford had
shown disposition 10 be friendly. but
Paul could never forget the relation in
which he stood TO the other man.
He thought of il as ne entered The
hermitage. and as the butler assisted him
TO remove his overcoat, he noticed that
the hall was not nearly so large as at
Castlesteads. In fact, the whole house
was on a smaller scale.
The footman threw open the drawing
room door and announced
Mr.. Clelland"
clifford was standing on the hearthrug,
talking 20 a girl who was seated in a low
chair at one side Of the fire. but as Paul
advanced he came forward to meet him.
Il am glad YOU found il convenient TO
come he said as they shook hands. and
IN his own mind Paul interpreted the
phrase 10 mean:
IT'S we'll you came or there might have
been trouble, and the thought Influenced
his reply:
Your wish is a command" he said in
such tane that an outsider might have
thought he was paying his host a COM
pliment
Clifford laughed, a grim kind OF laugh.
without any real enjoyment IN il.
You are very polite. And now I want
10 Introduce you 10 my niece. and adopted
daughter Hagar Herries All. there is
the dinner bell" he said, moving toward
The door You young people can follow.
The girl rose showing a tail. well-de-
velOped figure, that in maturity might be-
come stout Now there was an undulat-
ing grace in every movement Her skin
was that OF a brunette, but very clear,
and her large, dark brown eyes appeared
almost to speak
II have heard so much Of you that YOU
scarcely seem a stranger" she said, as
they shook hands
Your uncle spoke of you to me-" he
said. as they followed Mr.. Clifford To the
dining-roOm.
IT was a very lonely time while he Was
in London, she said. with a faint sigh
why didn't you come up to town, too?'
Paul asked. as he took his seat at the
table
Uncle didn't want me. but from what
he said you had a good time What do
you think OF London? I Ike 10 hear a
strangers impressions"
Paul glacned at Mr.. Clifford, but not the
slightest sign of perturbation was visible.
Il think 1t is a wonderful city The
West End is a revelation to an outsider,
and / should imagine the East would
also be"
She gave him a quick look.
You mean that poverty abounds there,
as riches do in the other end?"
YES"
Here Clifford gave the conversation a
turn by asking Paul what he thought OF
the Conservatives at Castleheads, and
from that it passed 20 various other mat
tiers, the master OF the house showing
himself an able conyersationalist, while
the dinner would have satisfied an cpl
cure.
AT last Hagar rose and left them. and
Clifford passed the bottle to Paul. as no
said:
well, how are you getting along?
suppose you feel lonely"
I've not had much chance I had tea
at The Rookery and am here now; it's
not bad for the first day"
Clifford looked slightly surprised as he
said:
i knew Lady Lascelles was enterpris- |
Ing, but / scarcely thought she would |
have sot hold Of you so soon.
She helped me out OF a difficulty" |
and Paul related how they met
She's wonderfully sharp; she told me
] was either the man. or his twin broth |
er, whom she had seen when Summing
with friend. BY chance they had got I
into rather a better neighborhood. and /
had paid visit to young fellow in a 1
garnet, who was wFoth at the intrusion. /"
And she declared you were the man /
or his twin brother? Was there any
truth in ito"
Paul nodded
,,'She hit the right nail on the head" /
s'What answer did You give her9l asked |