The Washington herald., 1912-05-05
oHAPTER ".
A Murder.

H5 NASAC Lazy OliNc Nds SSat~
before the piano, playing softly. Sh
rose as he entered, and came to NEE
him.
4 have barely quarter of an houi
Stirling" she said. .sIt was too sbsur
of you to be sitting there talking t
father all the time. Come and say mic
things to me Mother has gone upstair
to put on her tiara"
He held her at arms length for
moment looking at her. She was no
very tall, but she was graceful, and sh
carried herself as the women Of he
family had done since the days of Eliz
abeth. Her face was little cold, ex
oept when she smiled, and her eye
were large and brilliant There wa!
about her toilette and her features ;
sort of trim perfection, which left M
room for criticism. She was consider.
ed, amongst those whom she called hel
friends, handsome rather than beauti
ful, and ambitious rather than affec,
tionate Nevertheless, she blusheS
most becomingiy when Deane STOPPED
to kiss her, and her face certainly
, seemed to lose for the time its some
what cold expression.
''You are going to the Waldrons,
suppose he remarked. you look
charming, dear
She made little grimace. "Its toe
bad that you won't be there. How
ever, IN few days that will be all
right Now that our engagement is an
nounced. everyone viii send you cards,
of course, for everywhere go."
He smiled a little doubtfully. "You
won't expect too much of me in that
way. will you?" he asked "My after
moons, for instance, are nearly always
occupied"
You will not find me exacting," she
said, with a Teassuring nod. Il don't
expect you to play the part of social
butterfly at all, and although we must
be seen together sometimes, of course,
/ haven't the least desire to keep you
dangling at my heels. Tell me, what
has father been talking to you about"
He has been urging me to leave
the city" Deane said, "snd buy an es-
tate"
Lady Olive looked thoughtful. "That
is very interesting" she said.
What have you to say about it 7" he
asked.
at depends" she answered, Every
much upon circumstances. am not
sure that / approve of a man having
nothing whatever to do. Besides,
have no idea how rich you are, Stir
ling. think / ought to warn you that
/ am very extravagant"
q am delighted to hear II, he as
sured her. Il should dislike wife
who wouldn't spend my money"
They were sitting side by side upon
a sofa, and she toyed with her fan for
several moments. Then she held out
her right hand to him, and allowed 1t
ITO remain in his grasp. For Lady Olive,
this was distinctly lover-like proceed
ing. She was not at all sure IN her
own mind whether such a liberty was
judicious, having been brought up al
ways to consider any display of sffec-
ton as utterly bourgeois.
1T seems a curious question to ask"
she said thoughtfully; but, after all,
il would be only affection to pretend
that l was not interested. Tell me what
your income is-about, Stirling"
In round figures" he answered, 'it
is to-day, l should think, trife over
twenty-five thousand year"
She nodded approvingly, and yet
without a great deal of enthusiasm.
I'VE ought to be able to make that do"
she said. do you mean that it would
be as much as that if you gave up BUSH
ness? Perhaps you could give it up
partially, and keep a few directorships,
or something of that sort?"
i could not give up my work at
all" he told her, "for two years. |
get a very large income from my COM
pany, and / have an agreement with
them. Besides, my own interests are
so woven up with theirs that / could
not run the risk of having anyone at
the head of affairs in whom had not
complete confidence"
She nodded That is quite reason
able" she admitted 'You get holi-
days, Of course?"
Naturally" he answered.
There was a short silence Lady
Olive was half inclined to wonder why,
having possessed himself of her hand,
he made none of the other overtures
which she had always understood were
usual. Deane, however, was in no
humor for love-making She had rep
resented to him, only few days ago,
part of his future life which was al
together inevitable, and which he could
easily come to find pleasant enough, but
just now there seemed to be barrier |
between them. Notwithstanding Lord
Nunneleys kindness, and his wife's |
approval, he knew very well that It was |
not only Stirling Deane who had been
accepted as a suitor. 1t was the mil
lionsire, the man of great affairs, the
man of untarnished reputation. Dick /
Sinclair's threats were still ringing in |
his ears He somehow felt that me
was not even playing the game to be
sitting there, holding the hand of this
most exclusive young lady.
you are little quiet tonight" she
remarked.
Perhaps" he answered, smiling. Il
am little shy"
She was inclined to take his words
seriously There had been moments
before their engagement when he had
looked at her in a very differ
ent manner, when she had realized that
il she really did say yes" to him, she
might find herself in danger Of having
10 submit to something a little more
vigorous than the ordinary Iove-making
she knew anything Of She had even
made up her mind, with faint blush,
70 submit to it-had grown to expect
L Somehow although she would
have found the admission distinctly
lumiliating, she was a trifle disaP-
oointed.