The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-18

carefully. She could conceive of but
one reason for Stephens presence in
her house, and it rather amused her. 1t
was, of course, no friendly visit. He
had come either to threaten or to
cajole. Yet what could he do? What
had she TO fear? She went over the in
terview in her mind, imagining him
crushed and subdued by her superior
subtlety and finesse.
With little smile of coming triumph
upon her lips she descended the stairs
and swept into her pleasantly warmed
and perfumed little drawing-room. She
even held out her hand cordially to the
dark, grim figure whose outline against
the dainty white wall seemed so inap-
proprlate.
''This is very nice of you indeed, Mr..
Strangewey." she began. 81 had no idea
that you had followed your brothers
example and come to town."
She told herself once more that her
slight instinct of uneasiness had been
absurd. Stephens bow, although lit
tie formal and austere, was still an
acknowledgment of her welcome. The
shadows of the room, perhaps, had pre-
vented him from seeing her out
stretched hand.
mine is very short visit, Miss Maui
REL" he said. IL had no other reason
this call upon you"
81 am greatly flattered," she told
him. "You must please sit down and
make yourself comfortable while we
talk. See, this is my favorite place."
she added, dropping into a corner of
her lounge. "Will you sit beside me2
Or, if you prefer, draw up that chair"
"My preference" he replied, sis to
remain standing"
She raised her eyebrows. Her tone
altered.
1T must be as you wish, of course"
she continued; "only have such pleas
ant recollections of your hospitality at
Peak Hall that I should like, If there
was any possible way in which could
return it"
Madam" he interrupted, "you must
admit that the hospitality of Peak Hall
was not willingly offered to you. Save
for the force of circumstances, you
would never have crossed our thresh,
old"
She shrugged her shoulders. She
was adapting her tone and manner tt
the belligerency of his attitude.
"Well?"
, "You want to know why have found
my way to London?" he went on. g
came to find out little more abou
, you"
| "About me?" 4
''To discover If there was anything
. about you" he proceeded deliberately
concerning which report had lied.
/, do not place my faith in newspaper,
!, and gossip. There was always a chanc,
7 that you might have been an homes
= woman. That is why / came to Lon
< don, and why went to see your pla.
, last night"
e She was speechless. 1t was as if h
were speaking to her in some foreigl
b tongue.
e II have struggled" he continued, st
a adopt charitable view of your pro
n fession. l know that the world change
quickly, while we, who prefer to re
main outside its orbit, of necessity los
e touch with its new ideas and ney
e fashions. So I said to myself tina
n there should be no mistake. For tina
reason sat in a theater last night a
f most for the first time in my life.
e saw you act"
t ''Well?" she asked almost defiantly.
t He looked down at her. All splendi
h self-assurance seemed ebbing ava!
She felt sudden depression of spiri
I sudden strange sense of insight
@ canoe.
'. 81 have come" he said, "if I can,
t buy my brothers freedom"
e ''To buy your brothers freedom
n she repeated, in a dazed tone.
my brother is infatuated with you
Stephen declared. 81 wish to saw
l. him."
n The woman's courage began to a.
sert itself. She raised her eyes to hi
N Exactly what do you mean?" sh
er asked calmly. "In what way is an
IL man to be saved from me? If yor
lie brother should care for me, and /, b
" any chance, should happen to care fl
him, in what respect would that be
< state from which he would require sa
v. vation?"
" "You make my task more difficult
III he observed deliberately. docs
m amuse you to practice your professiC
before one so ignorant ard so unappr
ciative as myself? If my broth'
should ever marry, it is my firm intel
ton that he shall marry an hone
Up woman"
ly Louise sat quite still for a momen
A flash of lightning had glittered b
IN fore her eyes, and in her ears was Il
crash of thunder. Her face was su
t. denly strained. She saw nothing b.
a the stern, forbidding expression of Il