The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-09-20
Her Husbands Widow


Captain Steele Has Stormy Inter,
SYNOPSIS.
Leslie Morne. a goyerness. goes to
walk by the sea and Is spoken to by q
man she does not know. She IL res
cued from his attentions by Victor
Steele, sergeant in the British army.
whom she later marries. She finds
married life wearisome and refuses to
follow Steele to Egypt. Then she hears
Of his death and conceals the fact that
she is his widow. Four years later,
married to Oswald Varney and mother
of boy, she meets Steele face to face
In Jerusalem. He tells her to keep the
past sacret, and her husband announc-
es that Steele is going to sail with
them. She later meets Steele on lin
er and also becomes acquainted with
Mrs. Melas, and learns what jealousy
means.
CHAPTER XIX.
II see" said Jenny. well, l can't
say this is very sudden, for suspected
that you were leading up to propo-
sal Your methods remind me OF the
old gag about Safeguarding the plain
tiff's attorney"
She giggled, as she always did when
disconnected or in doubt how to pro-
ceed. She looked the baronet up and
down, quizzically, critically. He cut
fine and aristocratic figure in his Sa-
vile-row evening clothes, and in the
shaded light of the lamps might have
passed for forty-five or thereabouts.
The suggestion of dissipation about
him was not altogether distasteful to
<~Vv v4A - %hn
gay life.
He shrugged his shoulders. I'm
aware" he admitted. that 1t sounds
mean to give another man away like
this, but you know the saying, "All's
fair in love and war Steele has stolen
march on me-
Sir Ralph waved his long thin hand.
"Oh, my dear girl, know that type.
as a plain, Straightforward, pure-mind-
ed Englishman. No doubt he has rep
resented me to you as an awful ex-
ample OF our effete aristocracy-as a
roue, profligate, Lord knows what"
The woman again interrupted him.
HE hasn't, in point Of fact, but II he
had he wouldn't be far wrong, would
he?"
Sir Ralph took the cigarette from
his lips and blew out cloud of smoke
with an air of impatient contempt.
There's no humbug about me, anyway
never pretended to be a saint. I've
gone the pace in my time and never
grudged the price paid. Do you sup
pose all these outsiders who hold UP
their hands at us in horror wouldn't
do the same II they had the chance?
It's jealousy, mere class jealousy, ! tell
you And my young friend Steele
proves 1t. A pretty story, on my
word! Gets round some poor little dew
IL Of nursemaid, gets her sacked
from her situation, then leaves her in
the lurch."
How do you know he did, '.~,~'
"Well, what's become Of herr" Sir
Ralph thought rapidly. He was an un-
erring Judge of character, and he
knew that Steele would never reveal
| the identity of that nursemaid. ASK
him. he challenged her daringly.
ASK him what he did with her-the
Hastings girl. But what's the use? OF
course he will lie-any man would"
Yes. that's quite true" assented
Jenny eagerly. "All men are liars, es-
pecially about women. and if we de-
ceive them-then oh, my hat!"
Sir Ralph Plays
the Role Of Sweetheart.
Gaveston saw his advantage and
pressed it home quite So" he said,
with q cynical smile, and that's where
you would find an advantage in &C.
cepting me. You wouldn't shock me.
I've had my fling, and I'm not the man
to resent you having had yours" Jen-
ny looked up at him quickly Il don't
know if you have entertained the idea
of marrying this virtuous plebeian,
but if you did, you must expect him to
read you homilies every day on the
domestic virtues and the worth of
true womanhood. Besides he's after
your money" I
you are, you mean," Jennie taunt-
ed him. The Lancashire mill girl was
apparent in her just then.
MY dear girl" said the baronet,
folding his arms on the table and
that l was after, l could always find
some rich woman fool enough to buy
tie title of Lady Gaveston. II you
rate your charms so low as to think
iir only your money that care for,
then. comparing me with Steele, you
must admit that l am able to offer
you that little-a title-in exchange.
You would I-ake a fine Lady Caves
toni" he concluded. with q simulated
burs: Of admiration. He could see
that she reiished the description.
She stood silent. looking into the
darkness. WELL" she said, with
nervous laugh, we've had a very in
teresting conversation. haven't we?
Mind you, I'm not going to accept
what you say about Captain Steele
without questioning him. Do you o5