The Washington times., 1918-08-04
CHAPTER XIV.
Like a Vengeful Beast.

in Beechleigh. To her the home OF
l her fathers was full OF sentiment,
and the thought that her grandfather had
ruled there pleased her. How she would
love and cherish it were it her home now!
Every one of these fine things must have
some memory.
Then the pictures of as far back as she
could remember came to her. and she saw
again their poor lodgings in the cheap for
eign towns and their often scanty fare.
And with a fresh burst of love and pride
in him, she remembered her fathers in
variable observation-disclosures and
gayety-in such poverty! And after he
had been used to-this! For, all the de-
scriptions of Captain Fitzgerald had given
her no idea of the reality.
Now she knew what love meant, and
could realize her mothers story. oh, she
would have acted just in the same way,
too.
Dominic had been forgiven by his
brother after his first wifes death, and
had come back to enjoy a short spell OF
peace and prosperity. And who could
wonder that Lady Minnie Borringdon, in
her first season, and full of romance,
should fall headlong in love with his won
derfully handsome face, and be only TOO
ready to run of with him from an angry
and unreasonable parent! She was
spoiled and only child who had never been
crossed.
Then came that fatal Derby, and the
final extinction of all sympathy with the
.scapegrace. The Fitzgeralds had done
enough for him already and Lord Boring
don had no intention of doing anything at
all. so the married lovers crept away in
high disgrace, and spent few months OF
bliss in a southern town, where the sun
shone and the food was cheap, and there
DOOR, pretty Minnie died, leaving Theodore
a few hours old.
And now at Beechleigh Theodore looked
out of her window on the north side-the
southern rooms were kept for greater
than she-and from there she could see
vast stretch of park, with the deer crop
ping the fine turf, and the lions frowning
while they supported the ducal coronet
over the great gates at the end Of, the
court yard and colonnade. 1t was truly
splendid inheritance, and she glowed with
pride to think she was of this house.
So she wrote a long letter to her dear
ones-her sisters at Dieppe, and papa, still
in Paris, and even one to Mrs. Mcbride.
And then she read until her maid came to
dress her for dinner,
Her room was a large one, and number
less modern touches of comfort brought
up-to-date the early Georgian furniture and
the shabby silk hangings. A room stamped
with that something which the most lux
urious apartments of the wealthiest mil
lionaire can never acquire.
Josiah looked in upon her as she fin
ished dressing. He was, he said, most
pleased with everything, and if they we're
a little unused to such company, still moth
ing could be more cordial than Sir Pat
rick's treatment of him.
Meanwhile, on their way up to dress.
Mildred had gone in to Morellas room,
and the two had agreed that Mrs. Brown
should be suppressed. 1t was with extra
displeasure Miss Winmarleigh had learned
of Theodora's relationship TO Sir Patrick,
and that after all she could not be called
a common colonial. There was no question
about the Fitzgerald and Borringdon fam
lilies. unfortunately, while Morella's grand
father had been merely a coal merchant.
Il don't think she is so wonderfully
pretty. do you, Mildred?" she said.
But Mildred was a clever woman, and
could see with her eyes.
Yes, / do she answered. Don't be
such a fool as to delude yourself about
that. Morella. She is perfectly lovely, ana
she has the most deevie Paris clothes, and
Lord Bracondale is wildly in love with
her"
And apparently Freddy Wensleydown,
too," snapped Morella, who was now boil
ing with rage.
We'll. she is not likely to enjoy herself
here" said Mildred, with her vicious
laugh which showed all her splendid,
sharp teeth, as she went OF to dress, her
head full of plans for the interloper's sup
preston.
First she must have few words with