Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-03-26

The telegram was brought IN 20
Lady Mary as she sat alone in her 1t.
tie slttlng-room, In the hours between
tea and the dressing bell--houra
which, so far as possible. especially
during the last few months. she tried
to keep TO herself. It had been hand.
ed In at branch Office Ii the north
OF London and contained the news FOR
which she had been waiting;
Elected majority two thousand
heartiest thanks for good wishes.
CHRISTOPHER"
Her first impulse was one OF genn.
Inc pleasure. She started 70 her feet,
meaning TO take Il 20 her father. who
was with MYRTLE In the library. Then
she stopped short and slowly resumed
her seat. That little orange-colore,a
form might have meant 30 much more,
so much food for her ambitions. her
natural and proper ambitions foF the
man she loved. II might have been
such pledge for the interest OF their
life together. such a wonderful life,
brimful OF movement and color In
which she too. might well hope to
take part. In her quiet way. she
had for years looked upon her mar
riage with Christopher. sooner or
later, rs q certainty. without the
slightest desire In any way to mlslead
her, Christopher had subconscIously
encouraged the idea. She knew per.
fectly well that. as soon as his position
was little more assured, he had In
tended to ask her 70 be his wife. Il
was one Of those pleasant yet wonder
full arrangements which seemed 70 de-
velop automatically. Christopher was
wall born. his friends were her friends.
his disposition accorded with hers.
She could never have married an idle
man. Christopher had many a worthy
She was precisely the
wife to further them. Her money and
her social influence would save him
years Of Ruthless labor. He could
cave the bar whenever he liked. and
turn his whole attention TO politics.
And now the dream had crumbled.
rhls slip Of paper was nothing but a
'rlendly message. telling her OF the
OF a friend with whose career
he had no Intimate concern. Her
disposition was too kindly not 10 Feel
certain amount OF pleasure at bis
success. but that very pleasure
brought It's shadow Of personal grief.
The sat looking Into the fire. twisting
he little slip OF paper IN her hands.
The knew very well that she was
ursed with that one terrible and self |
nortlfylng virtue, theA unnlterable
deity OF the woman who permits In /
er mind the thought Of one man only
nd who can never replace him. The
cry thought OF marriage with any one
at Christopher was revolving. II
eemed to her, as she sat there that
he was doomed 10 a career OF love
.ssness and inutility. She might
Ibor In good works TIL her hair was
ireaked with gray and her face lined.
I'D she knew very well the fruIfless-
sss OF all that she would accomplish.
he best work OF a woman. as she
ell knew, Is the work done Tor the
an she loves.
Il was perhaps natural that her
oughfs should turn to Myrtle. She
for a moment. slowly and
Ilnfuliy. at tile Instinct which had
armed her Of coming trouble when
e TWO young men hnd rUid her Of
cir adventure. She had felt II when
st she had seen the frightened child.
hose unspoken appeal for protection
ID met with so cold q response from
r. She had been conscious Of q
uelty wholly foreign to her nature.
those days at Monte Carlo. when
er the name OF MYRTLE was men
med. She had puzzled Christopher !
a her brother alike by her lack Of
Well. she was punished
". The child had Justified all that
e had felt. She had robbed her, IN =
nsciousIy and unwillingly, Of the
eatest thing in life. As she aaf Il
ere. the telegram crumpled up In
r dngers. all that old hardness came
OK 70 her. Il seemed 10 her @ BIT I,
thing that this unknown child I.
1uld have been brought into the
gust household IN which her own
'ene days had been spent to rob her. o
J benefactress. Of the crown Of her O
!, to draw the sunshine from her a
~ and send her down to 8 joyIess
i've. For a moment she was on the
.ge OF q passion. She hated MYRTLE. "a
led the sight OF her gentle move n
nta. the thought Of her and all to F.
with her. She rose 10 her feet with
unaccustomed ERE In her eyes and
ing round--to end that the slight az
re which had disturbed her medI r
Ions had been caused By the en- NJ
nee Of MYRTLE herself IN
(To BE CoNTTNUE0.1 d.