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Show Crathmore, I have heard Katharyn speak of you bo often." Isabel was stunned to think he would have the audacity to speak to her of one he had treated so heartlessly. He had autographed her programme, and when after several dances he came to claim her, the soft strains of the music, the exquisite floor, the beautiful beau-tiful gowns, and such waltzing, such gracefulness, all tended to change the tenor of her mind. She had never met any one who danced so divinely. It seemed almost like fairyland. She regretted it must end so soon. In Isabel Crathmore's Revenge. BY ALTA MA YE. (Copyright, 1302, by Dally Story Pub. Co.) Society was on the "qui vive." Tonight To-night was Mrs. Larkin's "Grand Annual An-nual Ball" at her beautiful home, 45 Grand boulevard, acknowledged by all to be the most "swagger" thing of the South Side set. She was unquestionably unquestion-ably the leader vivacious, brilliant and such a charming personality. Her face indicated high ideals and such a womanly purpose in life, beautiful in contour and dazzling in the freshness of its tints. Every one loved her. Whenever she gave anything it was a social topic, every one vied with each other in artistic robes. Isabel Crathmore was surprised to find an extra slip in her invitation. She picked it up and scanning it, read: "Dearest Isabel: Do look your very, very best to-night. Harold Varice, my husband's college chum, is to be here. Frank says he is the "Lion of New York;' fancy he will fascinate Chicago. Chi-cago. Want you to captivate him. Lovingly, Jennie Larkin." Isabel thought and pondered. Harold Har-old Vance, where have 1 met him! His name sounds so familiar; I certainly cer-tainly have heard of him. Finally it all came to her. West Baden he was one of her friend's party of twelve, three years ago. She now remembered re-membered it all perfectly. How madly in love her dearest friend, Katharyn Frisbie, had been with him, the long glowing letters day after day telling her of Harold Vance, of his great superiority over other men; that he was "the one and only." Finally they were engaged and how happy she was. They were to be married in the summer. Then came the last letter, and such a sad one telling how cruelly he had left her without one word of explanation. Poor Katharyn! She had never heard from her since. She was doubtless pining away in some nunnery. Isabel's heart ached for her. She thought, how can I meet this man, this monster, who treated ness and great spirituality, she ft thought, a man of implacable temper 'k and imperious soul. Her great love I, for him came before her with such j awful vividness, that her self-right- eousness was overthrown; her pride seemed tottering. "I cannot cover my life with blackness, and leave such a blasphemous lie on my soul to avenge j Katharyn. He is my life, my all. It '! is wicked, wicked, the abominable im- t pulse for revenge is gone and some- thing so sweet and tender has taken Ji its place a something that seems to : lift the promise of hope. To confess J to him now would be cruel. It would jj wound his beautiful faith in me. She must, she would show her love for him, she could not carry out this plan j of revenge." "He loves me, he loves me; that is i surely what he longs to tell me. How I happy I shall be in his love. There ' was only that one shadow on my con- ' tentment and happiness, and I am :J sure he can explain that. It begins to appear to me now like a gleam of sunshine." j She was attracted from her reverie . by a slight rustling of palms, and looking up saw Harold in search of I her. She could scarcely still her heart's wild beating. Every pulsation j seemed like music telling her how ( deeply, how passionately he loved her. I "I have been looking all over for you," J Harold said, as he came up and seated . .,' himself beside her, "and really Miss ' Crathmore, this is the happiest day j of my life." ' "Why the happiest," queried Isabel j with the joyousness of love in every J tone. I "I must tell you," continued Har- I old, "Katharyn Frisbie and I were married secretly a year ago. She is coming from New York to-night. She j is my life, my all, and to-morrow we can announce our marriage to the whole world. Read her telegram."' But Isabel with a strange inarticulate, inarticu-late, "Oh!" had fallen prostrate among the palms. The great strain of the social world had proved too much for her, society said, i mm WILSON fa l "Miss Crathmore, there is something I must tell you to-night" their little "tete-a-tete" alter, she was fascinated against her will by the dark gray eyes of the picturesque youth by her side. There was a touch of embarrassment in his manner now and then that seemed to exact sympathy. On every side was gaity. Men laughed and women chatted. He was telling her of his hopes, of his ambitions. All too soon, she was claimed for the next dance. ReceDtlons. balls, dinners, they met Katharyn so shamefully. But I cannot can-not give up the ball; It is the one thing of the year. What shall I do? What can I do? She covered her face with both hands for some moments, then suddenly arose exclaiming, "I will go! I will do it! Thats excellent! excel-lent! I'll avengo her; I'll make him love me, and oh! I'll despise him so. Then he must ask dear Katharyn's forgiveness." The night was beautiful. Isabel had taken great precaution in her toilet her maid thought she never knew her so exacting. Gowned in her r - - : i ' almost daily, and with the magic of a woman's art, she consoled him. He always had a loyal friend, always had one great comforter. Amid such fidelity, fi-delity, such constancy, Isabel forgot aught else. She determined to make him love her at any cost; she must avenge Katharyn. Finally, Mrs. Larkin's last reception recep-tion of the year, society had been doting on it. The house was brilliint in a sort of a luminous haze beauty and wit mingled. Isabel looked charming in a fairy creation of pure white. What a moving mov-ing scene of enchantment, she thought. After a moment she began to pick her friends out from the maze, in which every one at first seemed confused in one magic sensation. Harold Vance came immediately to her, and speaking low said: "Miss Crathmore, there is something I must tell you to-night." "He loves, me, oh! he loves me; it must be that he loves me," thought Isabel. The reflection restrained her for a moment, but she was mastered by a fear that was . far more terrible. Should he know her love? No, a thousand times, no. She would not fail, she would avenge poor Katharyn, no matter what the cost. She could keep her secret it was hidden in the dark recesses of her heart. Then she began to chide herself for, being in grief when she should be happy. Every plan was nearing fulfillment. She went to the farther end of the conservatory. She wanted to be alone, to think, to cool her burning face against the cool pane. She looked out into the night and asked the wierd, silent vale of darkness to tell her tell her what to do. No sound seemed to be In the transparent air, no cloud in the unveiling sky, just the night creeping off as if in fear of awakening the sleeping morn. She gazed across the soulless immensity, beard nothing, saw nothing but the dark abyss of her own despair. She fell to thinking of her love for him; she could see hig face outlined -against the night. A face of marvelous swet- Isabel thought and pondered. gorgeous robe of heavenly blue she looked dazzling. As she walked into the room she looked brilliantly radiant ra-diant every move of her graceful figure gave an instant Impression of perfection. She saw Mrs. Larkin advancing ad-vancing with Harold Vance. Isn't be handsome, thought Isabel. Poor Katharyn shall be avenged; how I do despise him. Her reflections were terminated by the introduction and Harold Vance saying, "An additional pleasure. Miss |