The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-03-13
The Fair CreoIe'S Fortune
BY SIR WALTER BESAWT and JAMES RICE
The Scheming Of a Desperate
Woman For the Sake of a
Profligate Brother and the
Resulting Adventures Of
Winsome Virginie ferrier:

Lord Ferrier. telling them that the en-
gagcment is broken. Fol their sake l
am very. very sorry. For my own
For your own, dear"
For my own l can never be suf1i-
GENTLY grateful and happy
Mrs. Hallowes said no more. Tt was
clearly no mere lovers quarrel. Be
sides, Captain Ferrier was not in love
with Nirginie, al she had the sharp
ness to have perceived very clearly
from the beginning. The man wanted
her fortune. and she had learned some
thing Of his character.
She was fairly puzzled.
Their little dinner that evening. usu-
ally so full of cheerfulncss. was silent
and dull. Presently they went to
some party, where Nirginie danced
more than was usual with her. Mrs.
%11allowes. obedient to Instructions,
whispered the news, which was car
ricd round. 50 that by the next morll-
ing there was not Il person interested
in the career of the Hon. Guy Ferricr.
who did not know that his brilliant
match was broken of. Eirginie's let
ters to Lord Ferrier and to Maude
We're nearly alike. To the former she
said:
Dear Lord E'errier-Because you wished
it and because YOU have been SO kind to
me-kinder than I could ever lave looked
for or hoped-I am very sorry that Guy
has broken off our engagement. He will
perhaps tell you why. Your grateful and
atfectionate cousin. \lRGlNlE.
And t 0 Maude she wrote:
My Dear Maude-Guy has broken tho
engagement. He will, if he pleases, tell
YOU why. but do not ask me. For your
sake and your ather's sake l am very
sorry that it was ever entered upon. l
will write to my guardian by the next
mail. Meantime please understand that
it is impossible for us to renew the prom
Use. I mean impossible in the literal sense
of the word. 1t Is not a matter OF senti-
ment at all. Impossible. Thank YOU most
sincerely for your kindness and your
friendship. Yours affectionately.
v1RGINIE.
They received these letters sitting
together after dinner. Lord Terrier
had been talking Of Virginie-of the
pleasant times they would have when
she would be with them for good;
making plans for their residence alto
gether: Guy settling down to a coun-
try gentleman. He talked constantly
of Nirginie. He longed for her to be
married. so as to be at his side every
day. While they were thus discourse
ing these letters came.
Lord Terrier dropped the note in
CONSERVATION.
What does it mean, Maude? What
does it mean?'
1T is some new folly Of Guy's-some
madness. do not know what it
means" She sprang to her feet in a
kind of despair. "Oh, Guy, Guy; then
all is useless
In those days Percival plucked up
heart of grace and called often upon
Nirginie. and they took counsel togeth-
or. 1t was we'll on in July; the season
was nearly over. Mrs. Hallowes. who
went in sadness. having lost the most
important persons on her visiting list,
was talking of the seaside. But \lr-
ginie had other thoughts in her head.
She had not yet written to her mother
and her guardian about the breaking
of the engagement. which lasted but a
short fortnight. She was thinking OF
another and a more excellent way OF
telling them.
1t was concerning the more excel
lent way that Percival advised her.
His arguments were forcible, r he
spoke with ~plainness and to no unWill-
ing airs
"Why stay here:" he asked her
"Everything in London will remind
YOU of-of" things you would gladly
forget. You have endured a most cruel
outrage at the hands of your OWN peo'
pie. London will never be u happy
place for You again."
NO, never" she replied. II u ncv'
err think Of London again except witt
pain. And | shall always remember
Lord Terriers Kindness
go out yourself" he went on
"Thc mail starts in IA fortnight. Carry
yourself the news Of your Freedom
She clasped her hands, and her eyes
sparkled.
.'Thcn there is Tom,' the tcmptel
added softly.
She blushed. but replied not.
you do not KNOWN he pleaded tn,
name Of the absent Tom as warmly Il:
if it were his own--"you cannot under
stand the perfect love with which h'
looks upon you. AS for me and th'
rest of use, of course you already kno"
that we love you just as much, bu
Tom, of course, comes first
''Oh, Mr.. rercival.". said Eirginie
with a rosy blush upon her check am