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

l ing and Vane wondered and became more and more enamored and be- wildered in his love for the fair actress who had captured his heart. It was the beginning of an intimate though in nocent connection between them
 The next time Vane visited the green room-and he went this time without Sir Charles Pomander-Peggy took him aside and said: Do you know your friend Sir Charles Pomander? No, I am sure you do not. Well, he is a man I do not like. He is deceitful, besides he is a wicked man. When you came here before I knew he was watching us, so I would not know who you were or anything about you" But you looked as if you had never seen me before 'Of course I did" Well Sir Charles has left Lon don for fortnight, so If he Is the only obstacle I hope you will know me every night" You sent me no flowers yes- terday."- But I will tonight" The next night when they met Mrs. Woffington ] brought and placed in Vane's hands all the jewels which he had sent her. T will not give you back single flower" said she, flor I love flowers, but these I cannot accept"
 His protestations were useless: he had to take back his jewels. After this Vane made no more struggles. He surrendered himself to Peg Warrington entirely. They wrote letters to each other every day; they went to church together on Sunday; | they called each other Margaret and Ernest. It was happy time for Vane- and yet he was frequently distressed and moody; something would now and then come across his happiness. Perhaps it was the remebrance of the scandals he had heard about Peggy; perhaps the in- situations of Sir Charles, who had drop ped his poison as frequently as he might | into Vane's ear. .....F- In the next fortnight Vane thought he | fathomed this woman's character. Fatn- I om a woman's character? AS well plumb | the Atlantic with an eighty fathom linel 1 One day she made a little request of him. 'I don't want you to think me better than I am. Some day I will tell you my whole story" "When?' When I am sure you love me-" ''Do not love you now?" T think so, but am not sure I will tell you all-when you have a right to know"
 l Sir Charles Pomander had been detained in the country longer than he had antici- pated but Ernest and Margaret did not regret his absence-had almost forgotten him. Our friend Sir Charles had made a | gift to Mrs. Wellington of little black l slave page-they had such for fashionable ladies in England in those days-and this Pompey was given to her that he might | act as a spy upon her. Sir Charles money rendered him faithful in this duty. And the truth was Pompey did not like his mistressl She was whimsical like most ladies. About twice week she would sit and cry for two hours. Then she would go abroad and make round of visits among certain sick and poo1 proteges of hers, whose miserable lot was frightened by her bounty and her cheer | fitness.
 | On other occasions she would fall into | fits of rage, and when in such, shocking I as it may appear, any dereliction on the part of the page procured him a sound whipping. His mistress, who did every thing well, whipped him with energy and skill Pompey in a brief period of 1O seconds found himself dusted and polished off. The sacred principle of justice was as strong in Mrs. Wellington as in the rest of her sex-she had not a grain of 1t.
 There came a day wher, Vane was to l entertain at his own house in Bloomsbury square his adored Peggy. To do her honor he had invited MT. Cibber. Mr., Quin and other actors and actresses and critics. The good Sir Charles had been several | hours in London before he announced his presence to friends--he first wanted to | know the lay of the land, and in this Pompey helped him. Also Sir Charles had had an adventure. As he cantered up to London he had come upon an antedilu- vian coach stuck fast in the mud of a country road He looked in and saw there young lady of surpassing beauty. At once he offered his service rode ID . | neighboring farm house, got horses and ropes and extricated the ancient coach and the young lady from their predioa- ment. The young lady thanked him with tears in her eyes. Sir Charles had one of his mounted servants to follow and find out who she was and where she came