Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-03-15


was staying with Lady Pamela
her lovely house in town.
+ Lady Pamela and / had been
school together and later had speu
two years finishing" in. France an
Germany
Then we had come home: and tn
next time heard from her she wa
engaged to Lord Gerald Lumley. Sd
months later they were married. anl
after seemingly endless globe-tr
ting, had settled down at Lunfe
Court in Kent.
That was fifteen years ago, an
since then Lady Pamela has neve
missed having me with her for
month or so during the London ses
son.
LET us have quiet evening I'd
gether, Helen she had said one aftei
noon. And had heartily agreed, fo
the hustle and fatigue of dinner pal
ties, theaters and balls during the Las
three weeks had thoroughly tired md
L drifted into Lady Pamelas bot
doir and found her gazing wit
thoughtful eyes at a little siIvs
casket she held in her hand.
Slowly she opened the delicate ST
yer box and took from it visitin
card. Then she put it back and close
the box with tiny snap.
PAMELA" L said You look quit
serious. There must be some tragi
tale connected with that card"
Lady Pamela started. Then sh
smiled.
There is a story, Helen, but it
hardly tragic-at least to the persc
most concerned. 1t happened eigI
years ago. Gerald and / were sta
ing in this very house, and | was 81
ing a dance-one of the biggest of til
season.
Il had staying with me at the tim
a very beautiful girl Her name WI
Cynthia Carruthers. 1t was her firs
season and London had gone VIII
over her. On the night of the be
Cynthia came to me. | knew she W:
in trouble or difficulty, but had n
asked her anything, knowing that
would all come out sooner or late
And it did that evening.
'1t appeared there were two men
only two-whom she really cared fc
Both were to be at the ball and bot
she expected, would propose to her.
''The poor girl was nearly distrac
accept and came to me as helpless
a baby.
1.-THE two men were Major BewshH
and Lieutenant Carstairs. Both we
handsome. Carstairs was young, al
poor as a rat Bewsher had none
OF him had my suspicious. Mon
rlo-drink-cards. Nothing serioI
of course, but there all the same.
Il liked the boy Carstairs, b
knew little about him.
"'Well, Cynthia remember So
ing, you must take Major BewshS
and give up Carstairs' oh. no, N
no. she had cried, and when l sa
Very well, then take Carstairs, yd
silly girl she burst into sobs al
said she could not give up Bewshe
and so on.
''In fact the girl simply did nj
know her own mind, and begged n
to decide for her.
every WE'LL l said, I will do so
or rather / shall help you to deci8
for yourself But you must promtI
to abide by whatever decision
come to-
"She promised.
"'You see this box, / explainds
and you see these two cards. n
them have written the names
your two admirers. You will drsN
one from the box and you must
cept the man whose name you dray
"She turned very pale; then WI
an effort she reached for the box
with trembling fingers drew out 0
of the cards.
"sWell,' l said, and who is Il
lucky man. And she whisper
'Carstairs'
"That evening Carstairs propos
O1utult dCCORICQ lucy NOAO
ried shortly afterward. Then his re
ment was ordered out to India
she went with him. Five years lat
when Carstairs had come into NOM
and title, and Bewsher had, well
shot himself in the Casino Gardens
met Cynthia.
From beautiful girl she h
grown into a beautiful woman.
had two darling boys and was as hf
by as a woman can be. invited
down to Lumley Court.
Zone evening she showed me
iting card 1t was one of my on
and on it was written the name 'CH
stairs 1t was the card she had ORA
on the evening of the ball. She Il
me she treasured 1t as her mt
priceless possession, and-and "a
Helen, is the other"
81 see,' said, ''the other, on viii
you had written the name of Ma'
Bewsher."
sNop said Lady Pamela quiet