Year: 1874




Beatrice Adams when brought t. an ac-
count Of her mlsdreds, by the clrcum
stantial evidence forced upon her by the
words Of Eugene AliertDn, was for a mo-
me 1t at a loss how % begin her false nara
tive. Then a. she saw that even her hus-
band did not suspect that she was capable
u deceiving him, she said


1T is long story about this man, and
it would prove but an uninteresting story
to Mr Darlington. You shall know all in
due time. Ia the meantime, let me remove
the unpleasantness Of the occasion by
turning the topic Of conversation


1t was said so winningly accompanied by
a gesture so charming that the men sub
mlssively followed her TO a portion of the
room where stood piano. The suite occu-
pied by the newly married guests was one
Of the most beautiful in the city, and the
charges Of the hotel were in proportion to
the massive elegance and the rare artistic
decorations and the splendid furniture OF
the same. verything vas in accordance
with the most refined taste, and the piano
was a splendid instrument in every re-
spect.


At her solicitation her husband lit the
gas, his brief absence AS he attended to
the chandeliers being taken advantage Of
by the false BeatTics to draw a very hurried
conversation with the visitor, Ronald
Darlington, with soft sweep of the keys
OF the piano, beside which he stood


"You are changed, she said, "even as
much as |. If the past has been course
Of deception, | am earnestly endeavoring
to retrieve 1t in the present"


Ronald Darlington looked at her with
lncredulity in his face.


For my husbands sake" she ratified
on, between the notes of the melody she
was playing ''do not refer in his presenct
to that past, will you promise me y


If thought you were changed wo
man, and not the intriguante you we're,
would not speak of it. You must re
member that my best friend was Eugene
AllertOn. 1t is true that Colonel Adam
is bat an old friend of my fathers, yet
would not injure his feelings or bring hin
one single moment of sorrow If coulC
avoid it. My duty seems plain. to me
You have been a dangerous woman t.
society, Mrs. Adams, and have wrough
more than ordinary trouble by your decep
]
you are in real earnest, and sincerely deslr
to make amends for your past, will TO
allude to ito the man whose age alon
spares him from the pain of The disclosur
l should, in duty to the world, make +
him"


81 am sincere, she said


And then As her husband approache,
them she at once dashed of into q waltz
the execution of the same being listene
to by her Two auditors with admiration
and interest, flr she was a most brillian
performer,


Ronald Darlington remained to tn
ele Zant dinner served IN the room, and the
left them late in the evening.


"You will tell me all now Beatrice Z
querried Colonel Adams as they once NOR
alone repaired to cozy corner of the room
and we're very comfortably seated upon tn
sofa.


II will tell you all. J"


All comprehended but brief and falls
statement Of the past. She stated tina
some three years previous she had me
Eugene Allerton at q fashionable watering
place. She had been introduced to hin
had received his attentions in the light c
gentleman who was bent upon an ordins
ry extension of the civilities and courtesie
of the social world in general.


He had--so she said-at last apDroache
her with an offer of marriage. In th
face Of his apparent sincerely she had nc
entirely dismissed him, until she had bee
compelled to do 40, as his attention ha
become entirely Of too marked characte
to admit of it being allowed to proceed an
further


She had therefore in as gentle a name
as was possible rejected him. From tha
time she had know no peace from hi
prosecutions, for such she alleged the
were. He had sought her again and agair
and finally when he had ascsrtsined ths
that he could not persuade her by fai
means, hs had svsn thrsatsmed hsr.