The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-09

time had Sir Charles fast horse over the numbering old coach
 The report was only too true MT Vane, the good, the decent, the church. man-Mr. Vane whom Mrs. Wellington had selected to improve her morals MT. Vane was a manfred man! He had married sweet, good country girl some 12 months before he had come up to London. This news filled Sir Charles with iendish joy. Mrs. Vane would ar rive in Bloomsbury square at about the time of the dinner, he calculated and he would arrange the rest. Like Iago, he saw the distinct outline of q most malicious plot.
 When Sir Charles reached Blooms bury square he found the whole com pany assembled. They were in the gar den-a very fine one. He therefore or dered his servant to parade before the door. and If he saw Mrs. Yane's car riage enter the square to let him know at once. He himself joined the other guests in the garden. Now. Mrs, Vane having become very lonely down in Shropshire and believing that her dear est Ernest, detained so long on busi- ness in London. would be cheered by her presence, had written him letter saying that she would join him at once. Dearest Ernest is so self-denying," she thought, "he would have sent for me long ago but that he does not want me to travel so far alone" She was a country woman, you see.
 This letter preceded her arrival by a few hours-and Vane had not opened it. It was put into his hands at the same time as a note from Mrs. Woffing- ton. He read Peggy's letter, looked at that from his wife and, as his guests were about to arrive, laid the letter aside unopened. In MT. Vane's London establishment was an old servant of Mrs. vane's family who called Ter Miss Mabel" He was named James BurdocK and had watched with wrathful eyes the "goings on' of his master in Lon don-he had an idea that Miss Ma bel was not being treated right. It was James Burdock who opened the door of the Bloomsbury square house
 
 he cried. and where are your trunks, Miss Mabel? and where is the coach with Darby and Joan-the two old | horses-to think of their drawing you | all this way. "Oh, the stupid old coacn broke down at Islington, James, and so 1 came on by myself. Now is Ern- est-Mr. Vane, I mean--he Is well and happy, of course? I want to surprise him." If sitting down and crying would | help her, I'd do it," thought James.
 Poor Triplet sat down and began to vaunt the goodness of Mrs. Woffington. He had known her when she was an orange girl in the theatres and had now and then given her a shilling. A while ago he accidentally found the orange girl and the famous actress were one and the same And since then she had been d good angel to his family. Had she not once, when the family was starving, come to their poor tenement, brought provls- ions, given him a sum of money and more than all lifted them from their tears and their despair by making him take down his fiddle and play ''The Wind That Shakes the Barley" which she danced as none but an Irish girl could dance 1t, until the whole family, catch ing the infection, were all. dacing, even his invalid wife. Oh, Mrs. Warrington was without doubt An angel! And Triplet had, at MT. Vane's order, written some verses to the honor of Ms. Wonington, which he had brought, as or dered. to Bloomsbury Square, as this day l Mir. yane entertained Mrs Warrington and her friends. 'I am Mrs. vane," said
 Mabel, ..I am sorry. but do not think MT. vane can see you tonight. Tomor- row. perhaps.' Then, seeing that he