Show F A WONDERFUL WOMAN BY MAY AGNES FLEMING S f Katherine h anid taking both her hel hands In his lila and ind Td looking In her eyes whatever b betides for Cor Or good or for ill I you ou will wi Hot ilot draw drw back for back sool for good or OL evil e 1 you ou arc mine She Sho met his e eyes 8 full Cul for tor the tho first time She was palo pale but hut there there- was no tremor In her lid o as she slowly re repeated repeated repeated re- re his words Clearly and firmly the they came camo Yours yours Gaston Gaston yours only For good or for fol evil to the tho end of my I life I you fe-you yours is i's For good or fur for evil ominous words For good or for evil evi tho the vow OW was plighted and she fhe stood Under tho lamps pledged to become Gaston ton Dan- Dan trees tree's wife wIe i CHAPTER En Y V. V Before S Breakfast In tho the bleak r raw v dawn lawn rr et r the tl wet October morning Sir Sh John Danger- Danger tel guests wont vent home While the lamps still sti gleamed among the flowers flow flow- ers elS on the landing and stairways Mrs a or trailing the yellow clow glimmer of her silk sik robe behind her went up to her own room room went went up with wih the fag-end fag of ot a a tune tuna between her hel lips a feverish lustre in iii her eyes yes a feverish feverish fever fever- ish flush not all ni rouge on her hOl checks cheeks looking as a u hopeless adorer at the foot Coot of the stairs stal's quoted In he her hovel lovely silken murmur Li Like o an angel clad cad with wings wings- The adorer adorel had taken a great deal of champagne at supper and hiccoughs interrupted the poetic flow of or the quotation So also had hind lr MM Mr herself Perhaps a little of or the brilliancy of eyes and color were due to the Cliquot but thou then a n n good deal heal more was owing owins l to triumph Ever Everything was wa going on so well well The little litte debt he had waited wait wall ed cd so long Jong to pay oft off or was in a fair fairway fairway fairway way to receive a full tul receipt Peter Dangerfield was pliant as RM wax waxIn in her hands Gaston was the mal mai of all al m men nin n who would hc hav cho ho jm for tor K t at c. c Da 1 affianced husband And Sir John had pase passed the night In a lL sort of ot earthly purgatory Poor old Sir John Johnl the tile little woman woman wo WOe wo- wo man said sid airily to herself Im hIm really really real reul- I ly concerned for tor him He lie le never did Il Ilme me an any harm poor harm poor old soldier How plainly ho he shows his abhorrence of oC mo me in his face foolish uncivilized old mann man If I his precious daughter were not so EO wrapped up In her curled darling darl dan i ing irig she could not fall fail fal to see sec it i. i I suppose ou our handsome tenor enor proposed In tho the conservatory conser What Viat a capital Joke It I would bo be to lot let him marr marry her hel after aCl all al and then speak out I think Ill I'll Il walt wait until the wedding da lay Ah my lady lally my lady Jady You were a u great peeress and a brilliant woman In your OUr da day but youre you're dead now and ami forgotten and anti little Harriet whom you circumvented so cleverly lives still HUl and prospers and hates hales you dead deac as she sho hated bated you alive c al The fire fine still burned on tho the marble hearth tho the glimmered soft soft- sor- sor ly 13 She Sho drew the window curtain curtin and looked out at the rainy morning light struggling feebly In the stormy sra gray sk sky The elms and beeches rocked In Inthe Inthe Inthe the October gale the swaying of or the giant slant trees was like hike the dull dul roar of th sea se She dropped the lie sl n curlain curtain cur cur- tam lain tain with wih a shiver and turned away It I gives give me the horrors she sho muttered mut mut- toned It i it mal makes es me think of old ago age an and l death and the grave Will 1 I Ilive Ilive live lve to become become old I wonder and I will viii I have money enough left lec to pay hirelings to smooth the Jast ast journey journey jour jour- I ney This visit to Sussex will wi surely urel I mae mako m my fortune as well wel as give me mc mem memy m my revenge And AmI when when alt when when-al all is over I I will vill wi go back to lo Paris oh Paris oh my beautiful Paris and live the rest of or orm m my life th there c Whether that life be belong belong long Ions or short I I- shall Ishall at least have enjoyed en en- joyed eVel every hO hour l' l of ot It And m my lady Ill I'll Il be even en with you rou to the last and carry my secret to tho the grave Sho She cro crossed ed over to the tho wardrobe where they had placed her trunks opened one ohe and took toole out a book bool ot cigarette paper and an Rn embroidered to tobacco cae bacco Its no use uso going to bed hed she thought I never can sleep at these abnormal hours hour A cigarette will wi soothe my nerves bettor better beter than slumber slum slum- ber Sho She began besan with wih quick deft deC fingers to roll half hair a u dozen cigarettes and then lying bing back In a luxurious armchair armchair armchair arm arm- chair with wih two slender arched feet upon the fender to Us light t and smoke c One after aner another she smoked them to the tho very last ash Tho The rainy daylight daylight day day- light filled the room as ns she sho flung the tho end of ot tho the last inch in the tho fire firo She arose arose with a yawn extinguished the lights drew the curtains and let letIn letIn letin In the tho full ful light of the gra gray wet morn morn- mor Ing Ins Tho The great trees rocked wearily In the high gale a low leaden sky sley lay over the tho flat Oat wet downs and mie miles away ay the s sea ca molted melted drearily Into the horizon In tho thio pale bleak bleal light brilliant brilant bri- bri bril little looked lant litte Mrs Va worn orn and haggard haggar and ten ton years year older than last night Such a miserable morning What a wretch I must look in this l light ht Captain Devere paid me compliments last night fell fel In lovo love with wih mo me I bel believe be be- l lieve ve at Rt least as a much In love as ns a heavy dragoon ever can caim cal fal fall If I he lie saw w mo- mo now I believe beleve Ill I'll 11 go to tobed tobed tobed bed after all al Mrs wont went to bed and amid her eyes clo closed ed In graceful slumber before lefore be le- le fore tore her head was wa fairly on tho the pil pl- pl low Jow And nd as tho the voiced loud clock over the stables chimed th the quarter past pat ten sho she came camo floating down the tho stairs in a rose 1050 cashmere robe do de matin matin ma ma- tin tn and all aU her liei feathery black ringlets ringlets ringlets ring ring- lets afloat Am Am I I wonder wondel she said peeping In Ah no dear deal Sir John what an early riser you OU always were You dont don't forget torset your military habits habis I I t thou thought though h you arc aro one ono of ot the wealthiest baronets in Sussex She held out one slender blender white hand handal handall handall all al with wih rings H But n as iK ho had refused It Il last night so e o time the baronet refused t tim tho h J offered pi-offered IU th this Is Ho lie stood tuB tall stern cr and grim u its U thu himself 1 drawn n dra to lo his full up UI 1 Cul height Wo Vo are arc quite alone Mr Mis Va Va- vasor ol since you ou hoo o to cull cul yourself your OUI self sot by ly 1 HUH nume and timi we C can cUn n afford to drop private theatricals te I fancied you ou would be down before and amid I 1 have been waiting to for l' l you U here her tom for the time past hour Harriet Harman you ou must leave lea and at at once Sir Johns John's guest had tal taken on a tea toa rose from rein a glass of ot flowers on the breakfast table and was as elaborately aut 11 il it 1 amId the luxuriance of oC her her black hair hall She laughed as ns her host ceased speaking and antl made tho the rose secure ore ere she turned from rein tho the mirror That is an Improvement I think yellow roses always alwa's look well wel In black hair hah What hat did you OU say Sir 51 John Excuse m my Inattention but the toilette be before Core everything e with us 1 I must mut leave at l once Now ow real really m my dear baronet baronet baronet bar bar- onet that Is a a- phase of hospital hospitality it strikes me mo not strictly Arabian Vh Why must I go JO and wh why at nt once Why you ask ak that question queston 7 Certainly I ask i it Why am I not notto notto to tov remain at as long as I pl please plase ase 7 Because the Indian officer said ald frigidly You no are not fit to dwell an hour u it minute un under er the same roof root with with- with with-with wih-wih wih vilh hl my dau daughter If I you ou had possessed a a womans woman's heart hert a shadow of ot heart one spark of ot womanly feeling feel foci ing Inh you OU would never have crossed Katherine's path Again I ask why I 1 have o ha given si you your yoU answer al alread tl- tl read ready You are arc not fit you fit you f-you you aro are no associate for any young youns girl irl I know the thc life you led at Homburg You do And what do you OU know of or that life to my discredit 1 Mrs Va d ln her est malin r I adly r a some malicious ma imia- licious person has hns been poisoning your simple mind my dear Sir John I received a salary at Homburg I admit admit ad ad- mit I 1 lured a few weak-minded weak victims vic vic- thins tims with wilh wih more money than brains to the Kur al I sam gambled bled ever er e so little But Dut what would perhaps myself you ha e have Poor little Ite women must live hive l e. penniless pennies widows must earn their bread brend and butter buter and I 1 labored ac according according ac ac- cording to my light Who vho can cn blame me A gamblers gambler's amblers ambler's decoy Is Js not a aery ery very reputable profession but I did not se select so- so lect It because I liked it As you say sy I here in England EnGland it i was Hobsons choice choice To work I was not able to beg I was ashamed And I gave it i up when whon I heard of your OU good fortune fortune for tor- tune tunc forever fOlO I hope hope I said to m myself my my- self Harriet child why lead led this naughty life Iro an any longer why why why not give e it up pack your our trunks go back to England and vir virtuous Ir and happy Here is your YOu old friend well friend friend acquaintance then then then- I Colonel a baronet now wilh ith a magnificent estate In III Sussex ih and eight thou thousand and u a I year You did him good service once once once-he he is not nol the theman man to forget past favors ors he will wi never see sec you ou hungry or cold any more mOlO And Amid la petite pette is there there the the lIttie lit little lIt lIt- tie tle Katherine whom fifteen years n ago o you tc were so o fond of of-a of or-n or a young oun lad lady To see her and a great groat heiress heires now once a more grown ro n from a lovely English Eng Eng- lish h ml miss what mIss what rapture l She clasped her little littie hands with a and lifted two O foreign gesture great greot imploring eyes to his ils face race Inc rho baronet sighed II hea heavily Heaven help you OU Harriet You iou I If might have been a better beter woman child or anything you ou had loved the else But you OU never loved any human creature creaturo In this world but yourself and amid never will wi I suppose it il is not in your nature Have you ou ever seen the swift swit pallor of or sudden slon strong emotion show under rouge and anti pearl powder It I is not nol nota nola a pleasant pheasant sight After tho the baronets baronet s last words there was a a dead pause and in the tho dull dul chill chi light he saw that ghastly change como over her Never loved any human creature creaturo his words In the world She repeated l slowly after ater him then therm brol broke o suddenly Into a shrill shri laugh Sir SI John Dangerfield Danger Danger- Danger Danger- a fluid field after half a n century of or this lifes life's Ires Ire's vicissitudes tho the power to be astonished astonished astonished aston aston- at anything earthly should have havo left all men and women but hut you OU are arc cC al sixty odd arc are you ou not and If I I 1 chose choseI I 1 could give you Ou a glimpse e of m my past life that would rather take tako you by I surprise But I dont don't choose choose choose-at at least i inot not at present resent Think mo me heartless I unprincipled without conscience e or oi 01 f womanly feeling wh what feeling what t you will will will- wl- wl what does docs anything In this lower world signify except costly dresses good wines anti and comfortable Incomes And that brings bring me back bacle to the point point and I toil tell ou cool coolly I and deliberately and determinedly determined I that I wont won't stir str one I step from Park until 1 so seo fit fit fit She folded her hands ono one over the theother theother other and looked up In his set stern own face Cace with wih an aggravating smile on her It I Is of ot no use your our blustering and threatening If It you ou should feel Inclined ed that wa way my dear deRr baronet baron t It will wi do no good I wont won't go so But Dul you are aro too much a soldier and a a gentleman to even oven try to bully buly a poor little woman woman woman wo wo- wo- wo man like me I have an object In view In coming to when that object Is attained I shall leave leavo not not ono one Instant before And your our object Is is- is is 1 A secret at present Sir John As Asfor Asfor s for 01 your our daughter wIth with sneering I should be he the tho best Judge I think as to whether or no rio I am a af fit f associate for her Miss Dangerfield Danger Danger- field appears to be a young lady in every wa way qualified to take tako caro care of ot otI I I herself And Amid now 1 dear ileth Sir J ih luJ as wp Wt thoroughly each ct cl other suppose we WP take lako Jt it t Is Ia p past st ten len and I am hungry 8 I never breakfast t without ine Inc the baronet answered coldly Mrs Irs abruptly abruptly they 5 say OV every 1 man has his will price will wJ you OU name ever vcr yours ours and leave o Sc r S for for forever or- or Now what an al indelicate wa way way- of or putting it my it-my my I-my my price Sho She lau laughed Well Veil Wel yes Sir John I dont don't mind minI owning much I have as a 0 price Do I Iou you ou know what hat I said sla to f's myself lf last I Inight night when I first entered I sl said I 1 wonder If Ie Sir Sit John would marry marl me mime if it f I 1 asked him And Sir Sir John I wonder If It you ou would Mrs Mis 1 Harman Hurman the oncel answered with wih a 0 look of disgust and contempt lot let us mis tS J keep to the subject In hand hanl If IC you OU please I 1 am In In- 11 no humor for witticisms this morning Which translated mea means Us I pose you ou would not marry inc me me Its It's Js J's not year leap I am aware and my proposal ma may be a little out of o. o place But Just think a moment Sir John ohn- John what what If it the telling of your secret depended do de pen ed on oil It I and I 1 should really like to be my lady Wl what th then 11 n r Mrs Irs Harman if it you say ai word ord of this kind I will wi him lur turn you out of or the house Am I to understand then It Is to t tell have 1 you come coite hither r Ills Ils voice broke a little the lie st strong ong sinew sinewy hand that la lay upon the the- window sill si clench clenched d d. d He lie borc boie himself himself him him- self solf bravely before her hel bet bol there was mortal team fear car and mortal anguish in the theold theold theold old soldiers soldier's blue eyes ees For Fol Gods God's sake tell me the truth h ho he said What hat have you ou conic cono to COmor todo to do 10 I 1 saw tv sw you ou in time the c M sel ot lY last night alone with m my nephew nephew nephew-do do do you mean to tell tel him There was an ens cas easy chair chah close coso to the window |