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

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my Information!
Sir RalpA was By no means . c0x-
ard. but drink. irregular living, and
played havoc with nerve and muscle
alike. They were in Paria. where q
man can be called to account with his
life for IN attack on another's honor.
He went . shade paler as he replied:
Il leave that to your discretion. You
must, however, remember that what
told you had in confidence from
another man, whose name. OF course,
l could not betray."
Il see. It's awkward about Mrs.
varney, for like her, and cant risk
saying too much for fear of it reach
ing her husbands ears. Well, as to
your proposal"
"Yes?" The baronet sprang to his
! and fixed his eyes on her.
well, suppose may consider the
offer open for another week or two?"
"The door Of my heart remains open
to you always" said Sir Ralph, bow
ing low.
vexed at the moment Of his cap.
! ture in the vestibule of Varney' 8
hotel by Mrs Melas, Victor returned
to his own hotel that night grateful
for the distraction Of her companion
ship. He had been profoundly de.
pressed by the tone of Leslie's letter
which Varney had shown him. It was
plain to him that she was passing
through some painful mental crisis.
and. 1t was impossible not to connect
that with one Of other OF the events
OF the recent voyage.
Hes Pays Visit to ee-Ss.,r. s..s.., q. -
the Charming Widow. -..e. A.
Someone tapped at the door. He
was wanted on the telephone. AS
soon as he put the receiver to his ear
he recognized Jenny's voice.
"Hullo! Is that Captain Steele?"
I'm Steele. You're Jenny, l think.
Yes, I'll come round at once.
was coming to say goodbye. l
leave by the midday train"
He found Mrs. Melas in her pri.
vate sitting room. Storm signals
! were out: her bright eyes sparkled
dangerously. as he spoke OF govern.
ment business.
"Oh, the government" Jenny
stamped her foot. Il don't see why
government business should interfere
the very moment l come to Paris.
It's too bad of you, Vicky, to go away
like this"
"It cuts me to the heart, Jenny,
my own" returned Victor in the tone
Of bandinage in which he generally
spoke to Mrs. Melas, but when duty
calls" ~ @ d"
Bother you ana your duty" burst
out his companion angrily There's 8
a woman in the case; that's why
you're going to London-to meet her y
She began to pace the room, breath
Ing hard. He watched her uneasily. -
i've heard something" she said,
through all sorts of indirect chan.
nels." She stopped and faced him.
Its about that girl at Hastings-ah! !!
you do remember"
Tell me first." she hissed, clench-
in love with the girl--who was she
what became of her?
He surveyed her contemptuously.
He felt sure of his ground now. my
dear Jenny. 1 will satisfy your very
impertinent curiosity on two out of
three points. I was in love with her
Who was she?' That, of course, I'm
of her?' She married another man.
Are you satisfied.
mo. I'm not satisfied" she screamed
"You stand there and tell me you
loved her! After you met me! A
wretched pasty-faced little English
nursemaid! She's married-yes. when
you had done with her, don't doubt.
Answer me. Did you do the girl any
harm?"
Victor shrugged his shoulders. II
am not a scoundrel, as you seem to
suggest did not behave toward
that girl in the way you imagine.
Now, perhaps, you will be good enough
to tell me where you heard all this
and why am catechised in this
manner"
Their eyes met. "You know very
we'll why catechise you," she said.
'You know without my telling you
how l feel toward you-how have
always felt. I'm not going to tell
you over again"
He was glad Of the diversion the
confession afforded him, painful
though it would have been and in
tensely unwelcome at any other time.
Its you are the humbug,' he re-
torted, trying to persuade me that
you care for me when you admit
yourself that you are over here to
marry a man of title. From the way
that old bounder Gaveston spoke of
you l should suppose that you had
held out hopes to him"
well, VIII: not:" II cant get the
man l love win take the man that
| 1oves me.