Year: 1873

nificent beauties without, q servant request
ed her company in the drawing rooms be-
low.


"You sent for met" she asked, in silvery
tones. of the Colonel.


'Yes, Miss Durand. As you were q
specially invited guest, and as our really
Oldest friend here, we are going to request
favor of you"


You have but to name it. ".f L can
do anything which will in any way con-
tribute to your pleasure or comfort, or that
of your daughter, shall only be too glad
to do it. ="


You know that Myrtle is a compare
tive stranger to the little social conven-
tionalities which go to make up the sum
total of fashionable lifef'


Il know she is deliciously winning and
/ fresh in her innocence and freedom from
! all guile, returned Miss Durand, sweetly.


But society is infallible in its demands,
and there are many valuable hints which
you may make to her which will be useful
to her, in this her really first appearance
in the social world. As q friendly favor,
would be gratited to know that you will
undertake to chaperone her for the pres
ent"


err


Certainly, why notF' queried the Col
Onel. as the fair beauty blushed with a
very well-feigned timidity at the thought
Of her assuming to become guide to the
innocent young girl whom she was even
then determining to secure as q valuable
but unknowIng accessory to her future
plot for the gaining of her plans


but you know that | am an almost
comparative stranger to your
'As all are to US, you must remember,
my dear Miss Durand. We cannot num-
Der an acquaintance Of two months stand
ing among the few we know here"


II am willing to assume the duties of
hostess, if you desire it. She may consid-
er it resumption in me to do SO, how
ever


ut is my desire, and / know that you
will be considered dear friend by Myr
tie, returned Colonel Adams, warmly.
you will do as have requested"


''At your request, yes"


''The guests have some of them already
arrived You will win my warmest and
most sincere thanks by relieving as much
as it is possible to do 50 my daughter Myr-
tie from the arduous task of receiving the
NlslIOrS IN FORMAL manner.


After the exchange of a few more of the
ordinary civilities, Miss Durand left the
room and went to her room with a glad,
triumphant consciousness that already she
was beginning to gain secure foothold
She was not at all displeased st the fact
that she was to be considered as an old
friend of the family, and she gave bright
er hue to her fair cheeks and a more spark
ling glow to her brilliant eyes as she
thought of the conquest which was to be
so wholly her own.


There was only one thing which was to
her a drawback, and as a cloud crossed
her fair brow the thought of the man who
had so long been her companion and her
tool, Vane Evelyn, came into her mind
In the trip from Havana to New York
Colonel Adams had met Evelyn, had been
introduced to him, but the willy plotter
had observed that the Colonel was unfa-
vorsbly impressed with the man. 1t woul1 |
not do for her to claim more than an ordi- |
nary acquaintance with Evelyn unoer these
circumstances, and she had sought her en- |
issary privately.


''Vane, she said, ''the new friends whom
have made do not seem to be favorably
impressed with you"


at is immaterial to me whether they
are or not, was the sullen reply.


''But it is to me, and as it is policy for
me to cultivate their further acquaintance
and to make friends of them, l expect
your coalition in the matter"


''In what manner


''By protesting to be nothing more than
. mere casual acquaintance.


Ill
with defiant glare


Beatrice Vernon's eyes sparkled with
anger, until her companion fairly quailed
under them.


''You will obey meF


''Yes,' doggedly.


at il to our interests"


''You may play me false, and the result
would be that / would be left to hoe my
own row"


do not believe that of me-" replied
Beatrice Vernon.


And 80 it was settled that the man should
not greet her any more than if he were
but the most ordinary acquaintance. But
it was not a willingness to do so that he
owed his accordance to her will. She was
too precious a comrade to lose, and the
man had gained a fair living out of an un
swerving adherence to her interests in the
past Now he knew not but that she
would desert him, and he was very reluc-
tant to leave her to her own will and way.
There was no help for it, however, and he
submitted with as fair grace as was pos
sible.


In New York they were again together,
but when she left for Virginia she had full
ly determined to dismiss him from her SER
vice.


II wish it to be distinctly and finally
understood by you," she had said, ''that
you do not come to Virginia after me.
have my own plans to work out, and if
require your assistance will send for you.
do not wish to hear from you until
have first written to you. When l have
made n fortune you shall not be without
a generous pcnsioner. You will agree to
thisl'


He had replied defantly; he did not
care were she went, and he did not want
to be source of annoyance to her. He
would seek his own fortune, henceforth;
their interests we're seperate.


The woman of the world was not at q
loss to comprehend the covert threat.
She knew that if she once allowed him to
drift from her service entirely he would
become an enemy who would cause her
trouble. Not at all pleased with
this new phase of the most
obstinate defiance in his manner and
and yet withal relying upon Der peculiar
finesse to hold the man under the sway of
her potent influence, she had left him dis
satisfied and sullen, but was certain that
he would not attempt open defiance to her
she had gone, sending to him as balm to
his wounded vanity . purse containing
several hundred dollars and q little note,
reading:


Zone little quarrel must not be the
means of an open rupture between us. If