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Show 1 will! th ate here, I shall tell him all alt. .r ,voice suggested that she was a hou go Into hysterics. I gently go her forward. There was some sort of womans wrap In the hall. I Put it around her. Before she or 1 realized It, she was In my walling Tr, licty in tuiv lj) StatfBittf InterIh - . In i oa trj (P&vwr&as- o( e laho. CHAPTER , pen sen h. to it n con- -, ire, tin,, ihoij'. ri osecntlf; has tif e state who hi' SO !; bad "D.Hi jjd, ' hai b da the 1st'. i Ins i the dls-petre-d, da: wltcn taft i, ler.'eg state a fund i he pay fees, etr to SOE( hat nv u aceoii: ummoi used nount t, 74 da' per 6 l better?" said I, trying to thoughts I had no difficulty pitting to the fore whenever my . were on her. But it !er smile rewarded me. gave place to a look of ner alarm, of terror even, at the ling, or, rather, bustling, of skirts ie hall there was war la the very :b4 and I felt It Mrs. Ellersly ap this is Hartc sued s now." ,n lifted my bead and looked probably much like the leader , horned herd at the scent of dan- - dose a 4CM3-JZS2H- XX. Continued. should be disagreeable ,nvtblng this evening here, she a or done ", ..j want you to promise me that "il strain yourself, and not Bay or that make me any of those things You understand?" hat lar on me. ism always myself." replied I. "I ht be anybody else. different are several Bui you And she Insisted. of self, this evening dont be that ,ase into your eyes aud ;i us coming ir that OTE'MEIUUQE Author v3 DAVID GRAHAM PHUURS. - crla 'at ra,,st b aut of my mind, ml, bearing her husband as a de- trailer Invisibly but firmly She acknowledged my salu--ipled. with a nod, Ignored 1 saw that she extended band. ihed to Impress upon me that she livery grand lady indeed; but, Jemy ideas of what , constitutes a were at that time somewhat be :ed ty my snobbishness, she failed She looked just what she illy. a mean, woman, ' ; i towering rage. You have forced me, Mr. Black- " said she, and then I knew for t what purpose that voice of hers i best adapted "to say to you it I should have preferred to write. Ellersly has had brought to bis s matters In connection with your ate life that make it imperative yon discontinue your calls here. Uj private life, maam? I repeat--1 was not aware that I had a ed stiff-necke- of 72FCtovr$6 CUVMVKf ed to see her erect, defiant. again ea,l8 ... iutPU(1 electric. I p town," I said to my man. Sii6 tried to get out, "Oh. what have I done! What am 1 olng. she cried, her courage oozing away. "Let me out please! "Vou are going with me." said I, entering and closing the door. I saw the door of the Ellersly mansion opening, saw old Ellersly, bareheaded and distracted, scuttling down the steps. 0 ahead-fas- t!" I called to my man. And the electric was up the avenue, with the bell rushing for ringing crossings incessantly. She huddled away front me Into the corner of the right and decent-G- od planted that too dee,, 1 knew ,e for them to be able m seat, sobbing hysterically. that to touch her would be fatal or my ir Th'TT br0lten y Will! to speak. So 1 waited. XXL me a coward, a MOST UNGENTIEMANLY. m y,"h a6nd niade Hhe hld her face hnn?' la Uer As we ueared the upper end of the and sobbed. park, I told my chauffeur, through the Mrs. Ellersly was abont to speak. 1 tube, to enter and go slowly. Whencould not offer better proof of mv own ever a lamp flashed in at us, I had a I, of her progress toward comwith ah.fuWlI1,Uian a gesture, put her glimpse now she was drying her eyes posure down. Then I said to the with the bit of luce she called a hand"You m8 ch008e nw! girl: Woman or now her bare arms were up thing which shall it be? if it u kerchief; and with graceful fingers she was arwoman, then you have me behind and Jn front of you and around you ranging her hair; now she was you. straight and still, and soft, fluffy maIf it is thing God have mercy on terial with which her wrap was edged Your you. your pride drawn close about her throat, i are gone for ever. You will be luce the carpet under his feet to tho man shifted to theopposite seat, for my nerves warned me that I could not whose creature you become. She came and stood by me, with long control myself, if I stayed on where her garments were touching her back to them. me. If you will take me with you now I looked away from her for the she said. "I will go. If I delay, I am of looking at her again, of pleasure lost. I shall not have the courage. realizing that my overwrought senses And I am sick, sick to death of this were not cheating me. Yes, there she life here, of this hideous wait for the was, in all the luster of that magnetic highest bidder. beauty I can not think of even now "Dont judge me too harshlv said pleadingly to me. I koW wllat s 1 thefthat f' e-- iummoip per 4 tO Up i of ti A.1I k liSs and the: clal dey . Sever: ectly .hem bav warns: k,- : trial i 11 dwellis for rate the: county i ay I. S, It la mount a purely nte: !ns life. ns alone with Mr. chock," commanded her mother. At girl hesitated, bent her head, with a cowed look went slowly to-the door. There , she paused, with what seemed a great effort, 4 her head and gazed at me. How ver came rightly to Interpret her it don't know, but I said: "Miss J've the right to Insist that nay." f saw she was going to me, snd before Mrs. Ellersly 4 repeat her order I said: "Now, law, if any one eccuses me of hav-lon- e anything that would cause lo exclude a man from your '. I am ready for the liar and his leave 'Anita, 4 l, that tin era otte to h keep ti ervanti. Haytoe box, t since t are Saa ). Gllnu! Jury k lily Jut" rhlch u s I spoke I was searching the face of her husband for 'planation. Their pretense of out-- 4 morality I rejected at once it absurd. Neither up town nor A aor any where else, had 1 done blag that any one could regard as ch of the code of a man of the Then, reasoned I, they must kind some one else to help out of their financial troubles one who, perhaps, has made this to me the price, or part of the ' f M generosity. Who? Who In Instant answer, up y mind flashed a picture of Langdon and Sam Ellersly arm enter"'K Lewis office. Tom wishes to marry her: and Waonts wish It, too; he Is the " was confessing to me about my swift conclusions. not care to discuss the mat-- , r" Mrs. Ellersly was replying, on Indicating that It was not fit "ub. And this was the woman hardly been able to treat civilly, fating were her fawnlngs and bad old 4- - 1 a? be-m- ? JV" tun the en P1 t(1 RUf beslnf'1 i d , h,eav' tho cried Mrs. a ralll f,anlc under the com- i. Ler onP8. ratll,,r than saw my advan- Press.., It. ,hfy r doln alone it is be I iiid 1 W'd her hand U,,"ar M,,, overher eyes, In it there repulsion that ought exaggerated to me of the iit,!o "K 1C8llr nothin n understand now! sk It Is loathsome!" w 5P Wnaed upon her mother. I echoed, dashing at ",fyou arcnot ulpr ss as. Raln. energy f Bcenit'd M by c," e no" twe out el'M ssnd' I, is j and r open-wal,or- hill upon the old ou are taking orders from Why?" y? Langdon. Phe, l wts conscious that . d been some change In Anita, M her. with startled eyes fc,ie waa vaacln8 to- i maparl jvera' r Coring her and ,.la, m . . gs! S:n." HER FORWARD. Her voice gained strength and her manner courage as she sisike; at the end she was meeting her mothers had gaze without flinching. Sly eyes followed hers, and nty look was taking I In both her mother and her father. I had long since measured them, yet confirmation the credit could scarcely of my Judgment. Had life been smooth and comfortable for that old couple, as It was for most of their acquaintances and friends, they would have lived and died regarding themselves, , kindly peoand regarded, as and tastes. ple, of the finest instincts teHt But calamity was putting to the molded had which on they the system their apparently elegant, graceful off the lives. The storm bad ripped attractive covering; the framework, was rethe reality of that system, vealed, naked and frightful. almost "Anita, go to your room, screamed the old woman, her fury shreds of her tearing away the lust cloak of manners. "Your daughter Is of sge, madam, shs said I. "She will go where ars I warn you that you And pleases. I am not deceived by the Langdons her have I lot powerless, and" herered-ho- t furnaces my Into look a full In pun of wrath "I stop at nothing notm me--at lng those who oppose well-bred- . n aw mother's Anita, staring at her trembling and shrinking In ful ony , fou wicked, fttUh kp',, with nte." mu. outstretched ten Mf Kllury' "Go fades Sf aquivering, devil fish. Clinging to my her to m door, " snC! 0r twce befot n, heard arm. ahe let nte guide apeecn. recovered moher rrP',lslve a female dive- - iioe v "What are you cried. she uimlng her wretchd while "Anita!" 1 Wo'd at Anita, i egpoct- - doing? Are you m ' ,t'ojr' ,f there self-respec- t Kif tt. "'"' without an upblazing of the fire which Is to the heart what the sun Is to a blind man dreaming of sight. There she was on my side of the chasm that had separated us alone with me mine mine! And my heart dilated with pride. But a moment later came a sense of humility. Her beauty Intoxicated nte. but her youth, her fineness, so fragile for such rough hands as mine, awed and humbled me. "I must be very gentle, suit! I to myself. "I have promised that she shall never regret. God help me to keep my promise! She is mine, but only to preserve a.id protect. And that Idea of responsibility In possession was new to me was to consequences. Now have that I think of It, I believe It changed the whole course of my life. She was leaning forward, her elbow on the casement of the open window of the brougham, her cheek against her hand; the moonlight was glistening on her round, firm forearm and on her serious face. "How far. far away fromverythlng It seems here!" she said, her voice tuned to that soft, clear light, "and how beautiful It ls!,Then, addressing the moon and the shadows of the trees rather than me: "I wish I could go on and on and never re turn to the world." "I wish we could," said I. My tone was low, but she stsrled, drew back Into the brougham, an outline in the deep shadow. anId another mood that ntlgj't have me so hurt then It Just me. gered I deeply that to remember It today scar of In the tho ache faint feel to face was not long healed wouud. My bidden M was bers; so, perbapj, iho g o saw. At any rate, ter vmce tried to be friendly us she said: "Well I have crossed the Rubicon. And I don't regret. It was silly of me 'o cry. 1 thought I had been thro1 hu so much that I was beyond such weakness. But you will find me calm from now on and reasonable." "Not too reasonable, please. said L wi'h on attempt at her lightness. "A reasonable woman Is as trying as an unreasonable man. "But we are going to be sensible with each other." she urged, "Ilka two friends. Arent we?" "We are going to be what we are going to be, said I. "Well have to take life as It comes." That clumsy reminder sot her to thinking, stirred her vague uneasiness In those strange circumstances to active alarm. For presently she said. In a tone that was not so as she had tried to mako It: "Well go now to my Uncle Franks, lies a brother of ir.y fitiera. 2 ah ways used to like him best and still do. But he married a woman mamma thought queer.- - They hadnt much, so ho lives away up on the West Side One Hundred and Twenty-seventstreet. "The wise plan, the only wise plan," said I, not so calm as she must have thought me, "Is to go to my partner house and send for a minister." "Not she replied nervously. Take me to Uncle Franks, and we can discuss what to do and how to do It." I persisted. "We must be married No more uncer talnty and indecision and weakness. Let us begin bravely, Anita. To morrow, she said. "But not tonight. I must think it over. I repeated. will be full of Its own problems. This matter-of-cours- e t. Is She shook her head, and I saw that the struggle between us had begun the struggle against her timidity nnd conventionality. "No, not This in her tone for finality. To argue with any woman In such circumstances would be dangerous; to arguo with her would have been fatal To reason with a woman is to flatter her into suspecting you of weakness and herself of strength. I told the chauffeur to turn about aodo slowly She settled back into her up town. coiner of the brougham. Neither of us spoke until we were passing Grant's tomb. Then Bhe started out of her Becure confidence in my obedience, and exclaimed: "This Is not the way!" And her voice had in It the hasty "No," I replied, determined to push the panic Into a rout. "As I told you, our future shall be settled That In my tone for finality. A pause, then: It has been set tied, she said, like a child that feels, yet denies, its Impotence as It struggles in the compelling arms of Its father., 1 thought until a few minutes ago that I really intended to marry you. Now I see that I didn't" "Another reason why were not going to your uncles, said I. She leaned forward so that I could see her face. "I can not marry you," I feel humble toward you, she said. for having misled you. But It is better that you and I should have found out now than too late." "It is too late too late to go back." "Would you wish to marry a woman who does not love you, who loves some one else, and who tells you so and refuses to marry you?" 'She bad tried to concentrate enough scorn Into her voice to hide her fear. "I would," said I. "And I shall. Ill not desert you, Anita, when your courage and strength shall fall. I will carry you on to sefety." "I tell yoti I can not marry you," she cried, between appeal and command. "There are reasons I may not tell you. But if I might, you would would take me to my undo. I can not marry you!" "That Is wbat conventionality bids you say now, I replied. And then 1 gathered myself together and in tone that made me bate myself as 1 heard It, I added slowly, each word But what will sharp and distinct: conventionality bid you say morning, as we drive .down crowded Fifth avenue, after a night in this brougham? I could not see her, for she fell back into the darkness as sharply as If I had struck her with all my force full In the face. But I could feel the effort of my words upon her. Full fifteen minutes of that fright"I will ful silence before site said: And she said It go where you wish. In a tone that makes me wince as 1 recall It. I called nty partners address up through the tube. Again that fright ful silence, then she was trying to choke baejt tho sobs, A few words I caught: "They have broken my will they have broken my will." My partner lived In s big, gray stone hour i that stood apart and commanded a noble view of the Hudson It was. In the and the Palisades. main, a reproduction of s French ebs teau, and such changes as the architect had made in his model wire not positively disfiguring, though amusing. JOES RETURN ' By Frank Hazlewood Rowe (Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.) "Joseph, I have decided to get on alone this winter." There. It was out! The lines became a little more rigid, if anything, and the old womans rocker Increased the cadence of its creaking by ten rocks to the minute, but sill she kept her eyes Inteut upon her work, which, for a knitted stocking, seemed to need an unusual amount of attention. As for Joseph, the look of astonishment, then consternation that came over his face was pitiful to see. He brought down his feet from their place of ease, half turned In his chair till he could see his aunt's rigid expression, and exclaimed In a voice in which all the trouble of his face was reproduced: Alone! Why, aunt, whats the matter? What have I done? Aint I tended to the wood, and aint I helped you wash, and ain't I done everything for yer that I could? Be yer sick of seeln me 'round Why, Aunt, his Voice broke as his eyes filled, why, aunt, I didnt know I wasn't yer. The cadence of tho chair Increased yet again (the only outward evidence of the Inward disturbance), and Mary waited a moment before answering. "Talnt you, Joe. she said finally; Its me, I guess. But I tell yer, Joe, Ive been thinking It over all summer, and If I am an old woman 1 ain't quite laid on thd shelf yet, and I ain't a go-lto be, neither." As she talked her feelings overcame her timidity of speech, and now she Bet forth her views with the force of ten mouths of pent-ufeelings, while poor Joe listened and looked as though the end of the world had come. "No, sir! I ain't quite bedridden yet," she went on. Here I've been this house for 40 years, and never a day but what I was glad there wa'n't no man botherin 'round. Who dug the gardlng and planted it, year In an' year out, before you came? I did. Who threw in the wood an piled - did. It up in tho shed every fall? Whos drawed the water a pall at a time all these years, and who even laid the shingles on the ell an' barn, ten years ago? I did. I did, Joe Ger-risand you know it. Now do you to see my home think Im taken right out of my hands, aV me on somebody else? Well, n n I- I aint. "Rut the rangeraent, auntie, the rangement," said poor Joe, grasping like a drowning man at the only straw In sight; "you know the rangement was that I do the work around and make my home here the rest of my days, and that sometime when you to get through, aunt, I was have the place. Wa'n't that the understand', Aunt Mary?" "Providin', Joe, providin' that at the end of a year everything was satisfactory. Wa'nt that what I said? Didn't you agree to that, now? Tell, me, now, didn't you agree to that?" "Yes, I agreed to It, aunt, I agreed to it,. but I never once 'spected yer wa'n't satisfied with me. I've tried awful hnrd to please yer. Aunt, I've tried awful hard." Turned out! Joe looked around at the homely, old fashioned furniture of the kitchen. Around the kitchen his eyes traveled and Into the sitting-room- , and everywhere were to be seen evidences of his handiness with hammer and saw. ' Ob, but it was hard to be turned out now! Not but that he could continue to do odd Jobs and so earn ft living from the more pretentious neighbors; his services were always In demand. But the old house bad become home to him. To sit down at night and draw off his heavy boots, put on bis warm, roomy Hllppers and after supper, with Dick on his knees or close beside him, think over his thoughts all by himself, was Joy enough and to spare. He little realized the Inner emotions of hts aunt. He little Imagined as he sat thus In pleasant and peaceful thought that though outwardly calm, she was salng that he made her nervous with his sulky ways." A year before he bad come home from Indiana, a man 62 years old, with nothing but a pair of willing hands and a clean name. His aunt. 111 at the time, was nearly 20 years older, and feeling that she had lived alone long enough, had proposed that Joe make his home with her, with the understanding that sometime the house should be his. Thus had the place become home to the old man, and so happy bad he been In this haven of refuge that he failed to see the storm that aa rising, and when at last It broke he felt for the while that his spirit broke as well. So, with only the stars to see, he cried like a child that night before tired Nature at last gave way and sleep claimed her own. December came and went It was a hard month. Great storms piled the streets, snd country, city and shipping ross-EysChauffeur. suffered. Joe Gerrlsh In his one little had luck think Its "Does he really room kept his diminutive stove fierceto meet a crosseyed person? How ly going, and before It he rubbed hi tldlculous!" hand gleefully. "A snug little harbor, Ve. I, theres some excuse for him. a snug little harbor," he repeated over person Its saw The last cross-eyeand over again, as If to make up with was running an automobile, snd h human cheer for the cracked walls, got In the road of It" the hare, rough floor and the scanty furniture. Water. of Consumption So the weeks passed. The 27th of Whcro lamdon consumes 90.C30.000 was clear and bitter, and that a New York water of Janusry day. gallons consumes COO.O iO.OOO. Where lottdon night, down tn the house of Hose 4, a has an area of 111 square miles, Nei group of firemen wa clustered about the slo'e idly 'Vioni wlieu sudJeaiy York bus SCO. To be Continued.) an alarm came In that called them t the suburbs. The fire was In a large, costly stable attached tca flue house on the corner, and even now Its case was hopeless and the house Itself ablaze. Never bad that ward seen such a fire, not for many years at least In half an hour three houses had gone and the fire was still spreading. At last the fire was known to be under control. All eyes were on the men at the pipes and on the ladders,, but In the next street no one saw the desperate battle for a home, for a little, old, weather-beatehouse that would have hardly received mention In the morning papers. Yet a fight there was, and who shall say that those who fought "A Snug Littls Harbor," Ha Repeated Over and Over Again. waged a battle less brave than did the finely equipped heroes In the next street? The cry of fire and thd bright blaze had brought Joe from his bed Into the street with all the speed that he could muster. The fire was near and Mary's house might be In danger. This was his one thought. No remembrance had he that he had been told to "get out," and hurrying along through one street and another he reached the corner Just in time to see Hose 4 come dashing up. Millions of sparks were joining the myriad stars tn the heavens and floating swiftly off, bright and beautiful agents of terror and destruction'. Thbre had been no storm for a month and tho "January thaw had melted all snow from the roofs. Upon these the brands and sparks were falling fast. In her little yard over In Dutton Btreet old Mary Stover was alternately drawing pall after pall of water, throwing It as high as possible (hardly above the windows), and wrluglng her bands In misery and despair, when around the corner of the house burst Jce, his bat gone and coat open to the wind. Without a minute's hesitation he forced In the shed door, pulled out the old ladder and mounted to the roof. Already the shingles were burning In a dozen places, and as Mary drew the water and passed It, Joe threw it right hand and left. Few roofs caught, for nearly all In the neighborhood were slated, and the wind seemed to single out the little old house with Its dry cedar shingles for Its espec'al prey. Faster and faster fell the glowing embers, and where they touched, tiny, flames sprang up. The old man's knees were growing lame and weak; his soaking clothes froze and his hand blistered as with them, while waiting for water, he smothered the fire here and there. At last the water ceased to come, and, looking down be saw Mary sitting exhausted by the well. Her strength bad failed at last and now she could do no more. Not a word bad passed between them since he first came, and of their past differences neither had a thought. Clambering quickly down he took the exhausted womanjn his arms and carried her into the house, then hurrying out again, drew each pall of water himself, and climbing up the ladder, threw it about. Hut, thank heaven! the worst was, over. The fire had eaten Its way along the next street and the dear old house was no longer In the way of flying sparks. The old man wet the last glowing shingle, then slowly and painfully felt his way down from round to round and stood painfully shivering In the snow, looking at the door In indecision. Then he tottered Into the kitchen and lay down, and soon Joe knew no more. It was morning. The gorgeous flush of dawn tnrned the thick, white frost on th kltchcen window to crimson, and Joe opened his eyes to find himself on the familiar horsehair sofa, with blankets tucked In about him and a savory srooll of pennyroyal tea banging over the room. What a blessed sense of rest and peace stole over him. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again Mary was kneeling beside him, the tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. "Oh, Joe! will you stay now? I'm so orry! Will you stay now, Joe? I'm only an old woman, Joe; will you stay now?" Poor Mary a lesson was learned. "Why, aunt." said Joe, "why, aunt. It's good of you to take mo In. 'Course swiftly-spreadin- I'll g stay." 4nd he did |