Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12

instant the flmy fabric shot up into
flames!
There was wild scream. but at the
same instant May dashed for~ar /.
seized the poor distracted lady in her
arms. and crushed out the fire. II was
all done so swiftly that half Of those in
the room had not realized what had
| happened. until they saw Mrs. Faussett
! half fainting. her dress blackened and
| ruined. while May sank into chair
| white and with lips tortured into "A
! smile that would fain have hidden the
pain she was suffering. for one arm had
| been severely burned.
"A doctor. You're hurt: by heavens
| IL was wonderful. your presence Of
mind exclaimed Col. Warford hoarsely
! Miss WOODBURY. you saved Mrs. Faus-
| setts life: there's no doubt about IL.
You've hurt yourself.
But May rose to her feet With determi-
nation. and moved away.
Il must get out of this. and home"
she whispered. and the colonel contr.vet
| to help her away from all the curious
| eyes that were fixed upon her. and to the
comparative quiet of the cloakroom.
| Here the colonel left her to search out
| doctor from among the guests. and
| then May seized the opportunity tn slip
out and home by the back wav. When
the colonel returned il was to find his
! treasure vanished.
But we'll call on her the first thing
tomorrow ana mo out now Sfe rs. ne
/ told his friend Carton. It's Thredlv
| Hall. isn't it. that her fathers taken
| She's a splendid girl. Her puck and
presence of mind were wonderful
j Indeed they were" agreed Carton.
She was wonderful.
The next morning saw the colonel and
/ Carton. together with the latter's sister
Irene. at Thredly Hall. and on inauiring
| for Miss WOODBURY. they were shown int,
\ a drawing room. where a tall. sandy
| haired girl in glasses looked at them in
! amazement. Irene Carton. who was ~
an impulsive nature. rushed forward and
seized their hostess by the hand.
IT wanted to tell you how wonderful
think you. and how plucky 1t was Of you
| to put ont the fire. when poor Mrs Faus-
| sett might have been burned to death
she said. breathlessly: my brother and
| the colonel can talk of nothing else but
| Of at the bali last night
Irene. what are YOU doing?" broke IN
Carton, angrily: this isn't Miss Wood
burn.
Indeed it is'' said the sandy-hair
girl. "and what you're talking about
don't know. I've never saved Mrs. Faue
sett or any one else from burning
wasn't at the ball last night
| Have YOU a sister," asked the colonel
eagerly. "a lovely girl. blue eyes. golden
hair. and"
mo. indeed. I'm an only child said
Miss WOODBURY. tartly. somebody's been
playing trick on you. pretending to be
me-.
| And though Col Warford at first We
| hemently refused to credit this later.
when fresh INQUIRIES had been made I'm
| Dorcaster itself. he was Obliged to own
that it was the truth The lovely strang-
err who had unprecedented Nav Woodburn
was not to be found She had presum-
| ably vanished and to his grief he could
not discover where she had taken refuge
You'll come across her by chance,
Carton told him consolingly. as they mo-
/ h ocfn fnx fJQ q "a
and-why. what's wrong?"
| For the colonel had suddenly shouted
| to the chauffeur to stop: then. the car
| slowed down. he leaped out, dashed
across the pavement and into the splen-
did premises above which was inscribed
the legend. Mime Carine. Court Dress
maker" Carton followed him. to find the
colonel grasping the left hand OF Miss
| WOODBURY. for her right was in sling
while he exclaimed in delight at having
found her.
Looking for you all this time. I've
nearly gone mad he told her. If
hadn't seen you go in here l should have
done something desperate. I can't talk
here: come in my car and let's discuss IT,,
I'm just going" said May, hesitating.
IL hoped you'd never find me, Col.
Warford. l was so ashamed of having
pretended to be Miss WOODBURY. 1t was
so silly of me-"
SILLY. by Jove. it was a blessed
chance" he answered fervently. Come.
I'm waiting. and Carton-heIl walk
| home
Because she wanted to set herself right
! in the eyes of the colonel May agreed.
and then from her lips he learned how
it had been nothing but girlish esca-
pade
Just for an evening | wanted to pre-
| tend l was rich.' she said wistfully
| Doris didn't want me to. but I would
! Thank goodness you did said the
colonel fervently. He took her hands and
| held them. Darling, | fell head over
ears in love with you the first moment j
| saw you. / knew then that you were the
| only woman in the world for me. II I'd
| never seen You again 1 should have died
1 a bachelor. Dearest, will you be my
wife,"
| May, her eyes misty with happy tears.
answered yes, and thus, through a stolen
| evenings pleasure, came the Joy of her
| life, and few weeks later MAY Yorley
ceased to exist, and Mrs. George Warford
took her place.
| THE END