The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-09-06
SYNOPSIS.

Leslie MOrne, a governess, goes to
walk by the sea and is spoken to by a
man she does not know. She is 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 secret. 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.
Victor Steele stalked out OF the card
room and stared moodily at the fast
receding shores of Sicily. He heartily
wished the voyage was ended. Leslie
had evidently resolved to treat him as
a stranger. That was wise, but 1t
seemed hardly necessary to treat him
as an obnoxious stranger. Well, no
doubt his presence must exasperate
her. Yet on shipboard it was difficult
to keep out Of her sight.
1t was only forty-eight hours steam
ing from Messina to Marseilles, but
acquaintance ripens rapidly on ship
board and at such short range those
diamond-bright eyes might be relied
upon to do a great deal of execution.
It was evident that the pasha's widow
meant to fulfill her threat and to flirt
as we'll as she knew with Leslie's hus-
band. No doubt the Irritation would be
perfectly innocent; but what was fun
to her might be something like death
to Oswald's wife!
Little vixen." murmured the cap
tain. why cant she leave him alone?''
Oswald Varney. as she had remark.
ed. ought certainly to be able to take
care Of himself, 1t was true. But it
was not of Oswald Varney or Of the
newly proclaimed Queen of Diamonds
that Captain Steele was thinking. He
had assumed that Leslie was passion.
ately In love with her husband-he
had taken that for granted as the only
possible explanation Of her second
marriage. 1t was her chagrin at Os
wad's interest in the adventures
which accounted for her feverish ex
citement, even for her display of i'll
temper toward him. Steele. She was
angry with him not only for being
there. but for having introduced this
woman to her husband.
II very nearly wrecked her life y
was his unspoken thought. "Tll be
shot IL Jenny Heston shall!"
He was about to approach the pair
when Leslie herself rose up from the
table. slipped her winnings into her
reticule. and came out on the deck
Not the least trace Of irritation or
bitterness was observable in her face
or manner as she dropped into step
beside Mrs. Melas. keeping her be
tween herself and Oswald She paced
to and fro beside them, her hands
clasped behind her, talking with ami
nation.
she does 1t very WELL" thought the
onlooker, as he turned toward the sa-
loon,
Mrs. Melas Goes
to the Varney Table.
He was hardly surprised to find the
place opposite him vacant at lunch
Mrs. Melas was seated at the other
table facing the Varneys. He wonder
cd whether she had proposed the move
herself with characteristic assurance
or had been invited by Leslie. All
three were plainly on excellent terms,
though Mrs. Varney addressed her re-
marks almost exclusively to the sub
altern, her late partner. Once or twice
Captain Steele encountered Jenny's
gaze She wore mocking smile, which
plainly said, you see am doing 1t in
spite Of you"
She certainly was losing no time.
The conquest Of Oswald Varney was
proceeding apace.
He prowled along the alleways and
came out on deck at the stern. They
were there. of course--he mighe have
expected it. 1t was the quietest, most
private spot on the deck. Varney was
talking in that serious narrative tone
into which man naturally falls when
he wants to interest woman in him.
self.
The Queen of Diamonds, her hands
clasped round her knees, was looking
away from him as though frightened
to meat bis eyes. At times she turned