The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-20
Gontinuad.l
CHAPTER II.


 A Lovers Quarrel. TAT HEN Stuart reached the Gra AMs mercy park house a maid w answered at last and ush
 cred him into the dimlI lighted parlor.
 Miss Nan is at home, Berta ?" he asked eagerly.
 The little Danish maid smiled know ingly:
 ''Na, but Meesis Primrose"-
 With a groan Stuart sank to chair. The entire house had been redecorat- ed. An oriental rug of dazzling me dal1ion pattern was on the newly pol isI1ed floor. Instead of the set of Chip pendale mahogany the Primroses had brought from the south complete outfit of stately gilded stuff filled the room, and heavy draperies to match hung from the tall windows and fold ing doors. The mothers velvet hand he saw at once. Of course she had nof borrowed the money from Bivens. She was too shrewd for that But she had borrowed it beyond a doubt. and she had evidently gone the limit of her credit without moments heSita tion He wondered how far she had got with Rivens. Could it be possible that Nan was WlCn nm IOllRuLS NO-PE0ROStGT ousl
 Mrs Primrose greeted him with un usual effusion:
 'Oh. Jim. this is such a glorious sur priseI Nan didn't expect you till morn Ming, and she will be heartbroken to have missed you even for a half hour. My dear. dear boy. you have no idea how lonely both of us have been with ont VOU the DaSt two weeks
 You missed me. too, Mrs. Prim- rosew
 ''Of course I missed you, Jim! YoSye come to be like one of US. You know I've always loved you next to Nan.''
 She spoke with such fervor that Stu art shiyered. It was sinister. She evi- dently felt sure of his ruin.
 eve needed you here SO much to help us fix up. We've had the good luck to rent our second floor to young millionaire''-
 'fMr. Rivens. yes'- =
 "Why, how did you know~ she ask ed with a start.
 ''Dr. Woodman has just received an important letter from him, dated here. and he asked my advice about ito
 "Oh"-
 .'Where's Nan?" Stuart asked. with sudden anger in spite Of his effort to keep cool.
 "Why. she's giving little box party at the theater tonight
 And our mutual friend, John c. Calhoun Bivens, is presidingT"
 ''Why, Jim. how could you be so absurd?" she protested indignantly. "I've been saving money for month to give Nan this chance to return S0roo he hos roCoivod froyr, rich friends. I need MT. Bivens mon ey to pay the rent of this big house. But any attention on his part to Nan would be disgusting to me beyond measure"
 ''Yet he's the sensation in high finance just now," Stuart said. with an unconscious sheer. 'They say he's destined to become a multi-mi1lion- aire."
 Come, come, Jim, it's not like you to be nasty to me. You know as we'll as do his origin in North Carolina. His people are the veriest trash. He was at college with you
 '.And how did you know thatT
 "Not from you, of course. You've never mentioned his name in your life. He told me. He thinks you are going to be the greatest lawyer in New . OLA. <Al0 I :Lolu 4i1A NS U hAO" that for long time.''
 Stuart turned his head to hide a smile.
 s'But of course he's not in Mans so- cial set. I told her the day he came that we would treat him politely, but draw the line strictly on any efforts he may make to pass the limits of ac- quaintance."
 A carriage stopped at the door.
 There's Nan now!' the mother ex- claimed, rising to go. t.I'u leave you to surprise her, Jim.''
 Stuart heard the carriage door slam, and in moment the girl he loved stood in the hall, the joy of an even fng's perfect happiness shining in her great dark. eyes. He watched her a moment unobserved as she laid aside her opera cloak and stood before the big mirror proudly and calmly survey, ing her figure. Never had her beauty seemed to nm so dazzling. The smile was one of conscious power. The cor ners of the full sensuous lips curved the slightest bit as the smile faded and a gleam of something like cruelty flash ed from the depths of her eyes as her head lifted
 Stuart, unable to wait longer, was about to spring to her side when she caught the flash of his laughing face in the mirror and turned
 ''Oh, you rascal. To surprise me like this" she cried. with joyous laughter.
 Tn all your pride and vanityp'
 tYou can't help being a little vain yourself, Jim. any more than I can You know you're a stunning looking fellow. These Yankee girls all love