The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-06-14
Lady Pamela 5
Dishonorablc
!. Deed
Wo2yrsonk Mdi, b Assoeaased Usssaly PrseaJ

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her lovely house in town.
Lady Pamela and I had been at
school together and later had spent
two years finishing in France and
Germany.
Then we had come home; and the
next time I heard from her she wal
engaged to Lord Gerald Lumley. Six
months later they were married, and.
after seemingly endless globe-trot.
ting, had settled down at Lumley
Court in Kent.
That was fifteen years ago, and
since then Lady Pamela has never
missed having me with her for a
month or so during the London sea.
son.
LET us have a quiet evening to.
gether. Helen" she had said n after
oon And I had heartily agreed. for
the hustle and fatigue of dinner par.
ties, theaters and balls during the last
three weeks had thoroughly tired me.
l drifted into Lady Pamela's bou.
doir and found her gazing with
thoughtful eyes at a little silver
casket she held in her hand.
Slowly she opened the delicate sill.
yer box and took from it q visiting
card. Then she put it back and closed
the box with a tiny snap.
"Pamela!" I said. "You look quite
serious. There must be some tragic
tale connected with that card"
Lady Pamela started. Then she
smiled.
There is a story. Helen. but it is
hardly tragic-at least to the person
most concerned. It happened eight
years ago.. Gerald and / g stay
ing in this very house. and l was CIV
ing a dance-one Of the biggest Of the
season.
II had staying with me at the time
a very beautiful girl. Her name vas
Cynthia Carruthers. It was her irst
season and London had gone wild
over her. On the night Of the ball
Cynthia came to me. I knew she vas
in trouble or difficulty. but had not
asked her anything. knowing that it
would all come out sooner or later.
And it did that evening.
"1t appeared there were two men
only two-whom she really cared for.
Both were to be at the ball and both.
she expected. would propose to her.
The poor girl was nearly distract
ed. She could not decide which to
accept and came to me as helpless as
q baby.
1.-THE two men were Major Bewsher
and Lieutenant C~arstairs. Both were
handsome. Carstairs. was young, and
poor as q rat. Bewsher had money.
OF him I had my suspicious. Monte
Carlo-drink-cards. Nothing serious.
Of course, but there all the same.
81 liked the boy Carstairs. but
knew little about him.
"'Weu, CYNTHIA I remember say.
ing. you must take Major Bewsher
and give up Carstairs.' oh! no. no.
no. she had cried, and when I said
Very we'll. then take Carstairs, you
silly girl.' she burst into sobs and
said she could not give up Bewsher.
and 90 on.
I'm fact the girl simply did not
know her own mind. and begged me
to decide for her.
.svery WE'LL ! said. I will do Co.
or rather I shall help You to decide
for yourself. But you must promise
to abide by whatever decision We
come to-
"she promised.
"'You see this box I explained.
and you Q these two cards. On
them I have written the names Of
yosr two admirers. You win draw
one from the box and You must &C.
cept the man whose name you draw
'she turned very pale; then with
an effort she reached for the box and
with trembling fingers. drew out n
Of the cards.
ssVell,' I said. and who u the
lucky mani. And she whispered
'Carstairs.'
'"That. evening Carstairs proposed.
Cynthia accepted and they were MAJ.
ried shortly aftefward. Then his reg1.
ment was ordered out to India and
she went with him. Five years later.
when Carstairs had come into money
and q title. and Bewsher had, well-
shot himself IN the Casino Gardens. &
met Cynthia.
From Z beautiful girl she had
grown into Q beautiful woman. She
had two darling boys and wa g hap
py as.a woman can be. I invited her
down 70 Lumley Court