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Show THE OGDEN 8 4.fi 1W 1 , II.. II i I! (fConnctf from Preceding ' STANDARD-EXAMINE- R SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 5, 19211 - 5 :f, f - if. i r ti ' . 1 TageJt - success. Then she "went over the whole- room systematically; looking in the .most, unlikely places, until ' finally, bewildered and more than a little troubled, she was convinced that her search was in vain. The duplicate key to the safe was "In her hands with a carelessness which made Marcia gasp a - little, Audrey Alden carried a long string of exquisite . pearls and several sparkling, flashing rings 1 4 not there. , , t "v v -- - r r --- It was considerably past noon ,v J . - -. t ;l i VA (V : - A -- y tr.- - m . .x when Marcia left Arliss Mansions end after a moment's heslta' decided. to lunch before goii She had, spent an unp half hour in continuing he: "for the key all over the fU out success.' She did not ' ; ir, know where Mrs.. Alden -- ' '..-:'-' ,,!,-: 'r . ;:i ..: , Was lunching and so could cot her up and after ring ' a while dismissed the matter, from her mind. She ad the one key quite safe. She lunched at a quiet . little restaurant leisurely , and with' as .much enjoyment as possible for one alone. Then she went on to the rather gray dwelling in Bloomsbury where her mother awaited her. - " 1 . ) , latter "was a:8mlf--' patient woman with JThe t'.r. t m trr-- v . U-- v. '. . ' - - ; v i 'quiet eyes and something of her daughter's sweetness of expression. She greeted the girl gladly, and for a moment or two Marcia sat chatting to her, f orcing(, a brightness whicli she was very far from feeling. Her mother was the 'only creature in the world she had. to care for, or who cared for her. The bond of affection between ' them was very strong and the "girl's greatest grief and 'Iff regret were that she could ' not earn sufficient to make her mother's life luxurious ' -as well as - comfortable ik could not buy for her that ; constant care and medical K skill which would have "meant so much to her. But sometimes she ached with a desire to do more; sometimes envied those richei than her self with a fierce ' enwy that overwhelmedher, i . - As she rose to pass in-tthe little bedroom they shared, her mother said: she found herself in T "A letter came for yon with a smothered exclamation and the great man's presyou'd left this morning, dear.' Won't eyes that were bright with surprise. ence. She had sent in "This is a day of coincidences!" you read it before you change? It she cried. "Mum, listen to this: Audrey's note, and he may be important. " : ad'Miss Marcia Halstead She Indicated a long, neatly greeted her with a hint of warmth In his "Dear Madam If you are the dressed envelope on the mantelof Gerald the late usual courteous mandaughter piece. Marcia nodded and picked and Marcelle' Halstead, and ner. it up; as she looked round for a great-niec- e of Clive Halstead, depaper-knife- , she said: He was a thin, worn looking man of arresting personality, not yet ceased, will you kindly call upon "By the way, mum, Isn't it queer? us name was at earliest maiden Rosslaer's reached middle age, with ever-brigyour opportunity, Lady HalsteadP I suppose It's impossible when you will learn something eyes and slender, sensitive to your advantage? that we should be related or conhands. He looked almost ill, but "'Yours faithfully, he had a quiet charm of manner nected?" "'MORRIS & MOORE. ' She spoke quite Idly, more for that was very soothing. bewant of something to say than "'Solicitors He asked innumerable questions, cause she was In the least Interest"I wonder what it means?" made a painstaking and thorough The girl handed the letter to her ed, but her mother gave a M.ttle exexamination, and finally turned his clamation and stirred among her mother as she spoke and the elder .back upon her and crossed to the woman read it eagerly. with anxious cushions.. window. For a moment or two ho stood looking out. Then he came eyes. Then she looked up. "Lady Rosslaer?" she repeated, ' then shrugged. "Oh, 1 don't know. "I don't know! Poor Clive, then back to his desk and sat down. He Halstead's not a very usual name, he Is dead after all! , Ah, well, he picked up a pencil in his long, nervous fingers, and began to write would have been a very old man! but, of course, it's very Improbable we should be connected. She is Marcia, child, it must be something with It on the blotter before him. second more or less good, or they would Lord Rosslaer's His eyes dwelt upon her for a mowife, isn't not say learn something to your adshe? I have a cousin, Ruth ment, then looked away again. somewhereshe" must be a vantage.' You will go and see them, "Er I am sorry. Miss Halstead," good1 ten or fifteen years younger he said at last, "but your condition dear, than I am, though. "Of course!" Marcia' was alIs far from satisfactory. You need had constant rest, attention, no physi"My husband's father only ready pinning on her hat. There two brothers, Clive and Dane was a little unwonted flush in her cal or mental strain. Indeed" Ruth 'was Dane's only cheeks, her eyes were still bright. he paused, "clearing his throat. daughter. Now I come to think of She looked bewilderingly pretty as Somehow, to Marcia, there was a man & believe married she I tento kiss her mother she bent it, something- ominous in the sound. named Ruthven. I 'think it was der good-by-. Her face paled a trifle. Impulsive"I shan't be long, dear, she said. yes, I am sure,' because I always ly she leaned forward. name A Ruth what quaint But don't build up hopes of a forthought "What do you mean?" she asked; Ruthven was. Why, Marcia, what tune, you know. That sort of thing then, quickly, "are you trying to tell is' it?" me that I am ill seriously 111? only happens In the "pictures or. exhad ' a the little That there la pomethlng really For given girl etory books. I'll be back to tea.". wrong with me? If so, what is it?" clamation,, and with, the letter still Nevertheless she ran down the 'Dallas made a slight gesture. half in and half put of its envelope stairs humming a little tune. .The "Your heart. My dear young was staring at her wide-eyewas very bright, the sunafternoon 'I do not wish to startle you, lady, ' I "Then It Is! I mean Lady but you must take care of course, shine mellow and warm, and as she the very greatest care. OtherRossiaer is a connection. Why, walked along her mind was busy wise"again he paused. conjecture as to what the so-- , mother, she must be that very with Marcia drew a long breath: summons llcitors' portend. might cousin!- I know her name is Ruth she repeated, and "Otherwise?" Then she remembered that she Mrs Alden told me and fhe was a gesture. made he had the key of Mrs.' Alden's safe again a Mrs! Ruthven before Lord Ross"Otherwise," he said quietly, still loose in her purse. She slip"the consequences will bedisastiaer married her! What an exped her hand in suddenly to feel it coincidence!" finrous!" was traordinary safe, and as she did so her "You mean." she said, "that X d , "Very extraordinary!" Mrs. gers came in contact with the letshould die?" agreed. "I never met her, of ter which Audrey had written to He bent his head. course. Her father died soon after the specialist, Sir Hugh Dallas. "You have an aneurism," he told mine. The third brother went to Marcia stopped abruptly. A little her. "Miss Halstead, I am. natur-- Africa or Australia I forget now frown wrinkled her smooth brow. - which gold seeking. I have not ally, a pretty good Judge of charShe fully Intended visiting the him of for acter. I think you are brave that do I heard . not great doctor, but she was uncertain years. know even if he is dead or alive. whether to go to him' first or after you would prefer to know the exact truth about yourself?" We were very great friends in the she had seen the solicitors. . She bent her head dumbly, and bid days. I believe I was a great Then, with a nod, she made up Poor of his. he went on: "Well, then, at any Clive! Uncle favorite her mind. "Unpleasant things at any moment, you are liable I wonder time, first!" she told herself. "IH go to to be subject to an attack which She stopped short. Marcia had Sir Hugh, and then on to Messrs. will end fatally. In any case" been perusing the letter while she Morris & Moore!" was speaking,, and now looked up Less than twenty minutes Iter again he paused. Again, with white - - sst-- VK'7 J? -r- h:?y f . 1' A ' '- ' ' ; . ; " ' . : ''' '.' ;ivi r ' . V ' . . j , ' - A - ' ' : . - ' - -x' .,',' j ' t " s. 2 - t J I oTtr-wrough- t. Hal-stea- d ht I . Hal-stea- d, to-day- ?" Hal-stea- d. - i d. - )1 Hal-stea- . " . (C) 1911. eous cruelty Its Irony. She was doomed to die; yet ahe might hut for that one condition have Ured the aix months that were left to her In ease and comfort; might have known that her mother would be well provided for when she was gone. And cow- -She sobbed suddenly under her breath, and, flopping short, looked about her. She was physically exsick to the hausted. very soul of her. She longed for peace, quiet, anywhere where she might face this thing which had c could cot go come to her. home. She 'could cot face her. mother's earnest, anxious eyes yet. Could cot bear her questioning. She looked about her vaguely. A clock nearby told her that it was eight, Tho seething traffic was getting on her nerves; the roar of the streets set her quivering. She must la quiet somewhere anywhere. She must, the told herself desperately. And then her thoughts fashed to ArlUs Mansions. Mrs. Alden wodld cot be back till late. Both maids went heme when their duties were complete, and returned la the morning. The Cat would be empty. Marcia bad her own latchkey. She could get la whenever the wished; end if the went lhert she coald be quiet alone. With tht thought she took hold cf berlf. She was utterly weary, but she could cot bear Inaction, aud the Wilked to the mansions, though It took her nearly half aa hour. She went up by the stairs. No one was about; already the spelt' of qult was upon hr. Very gently the Inserted the latchkey la the lock and passed In. Then, in the centre cf tho hall she stopped thort. The door of the little writing room was rartly ajar. A streak cf llht shone but Into the hall. Frcra Within there came the faintest ttlr. Marcia made gesture cf Imtad patience. So Audrey Alien come home early after all I The loneliness and quiet she craved wis denied her. With a smothered tlgh' sho move d forward. Her feet made no sound upon the toft carpet. She pushed the door a little wider, and then with a tmothered cry, Hps, Marcia waited on his words. "In any case what?" He got up, and, coming across to her, laid his hand upon her Ehoulder. "In any case," ho said, slowly, "you have not six months to live!" CHAPTER III. HEN Marcia found herself again in the sunphlne she was trembling In etery limb. After that first blunt announcement Sir Hugh had been very gentle, very considerate. But ho had made the truth apralllngly plain to her. As she passed slowly along the pavement she lifted her hand for a moment against her eyes? She knew now what a convicted criminal must feel like when the Judge assumes the black cap. The death sentence had just been passed upon her! And there was no reprieve no chance of deliverance. She was doomed. She had, at the outside, six months to live. No more! No more! The words hammered themfelves mockingly upon her aching brain. No more no more! Six months six little, swiftly-passinmonths! And then" A cry rose In her throat. Blindly she hailed a passing taxi and stumbled into IL She felt that her limbs could no longer support her and she eat back tor a moment on the cushioned seat with closed eyes. The demand Pt the driver to know where she wished to go roused her. For a moment sho looked at him dazedly. Then, mechanically, nhe answered, giving the address of the solicitors. Vaguely she felt that an interview with them would take her mind joff the horror that was impending the dread sentencewhlch had Just been passed upon her. If she dwelt upon it much longer in IfltrctlooJ Vtttar g SerttM. Imx rffnt her unstrunir ftage hi felt that she would go mad. For a little while, until sho was calmer, fcha must think of something else. t Yet sho sat staring grimly before her until she reached her destination. And It was with an effort that she forced herself to greet Mr. Morris, a kindly old man with whito hair. As in a dream sho heard him talking. Sho scarcely took in tho sense of what he said. He, too, asked innumerable questions, nodded once or twice; then, as she sat looking at him somewhat stupidly, ho leaned forward. "My dsar Miss Halstead." he said "allow me to, congratulate you. If ytju are prepared to fulfil the conditions of your great unclo's will you will be a Very fortunato young lady." "Conditions?" Msrcla looked up. With a great effort she forced herself to keep her mind clear, to Kite htm her full Attention. Mr. Morris nodded. They are perhaps peculiar. Bat I can explain them in a very few words. Your uncle leaven his whole fortuno to you on condition that, before your twenty-Crs- t birthday, you are married marriej to a man of good birth and who has a certain social position. Beyond that the choice rests with you. If you fall to fulfil the conditions hi entire fortune will revert to hla great nephew, Gordon Ruthven." Marcia caught her handkerchief up to her lips. She had forgotten the doctor, had forgotten everything but this amazing new. "Tell me." , sho said, as If Impelled to ask the question against her will "Is is the fortune large?" Mr. "Morris bent hla head gravely. "Very large," he returned. "Roughly, your income should j like sixty thousand something a pounds year!" Marcia gmaped. Then she began to laugh weakly. Abruptly aba checked herself. b-- "Slity thousand a year!" he re- peated. "And. to Inherit It. I mutt bo marriej ! Married before I am twenty-one- ! Oh, talk about the irony of fate! Talk about a fortune within one's grasp yet utterly out of reach! I Mr. Morris" sho leaned forward, her dark eyes wide, tragic "I'd give anything, everything make any sacriSce to possess that fortune! Not only for myself, but for my mother. But I can't I can't fulfil tho condition! I know no man Intimately. And and the day alter tomorrow la ray tweaty-firt- t birthday." Onco more in the street tho girl began to walk, swiftly, without any were tak?enfe cf where ing her. Her mind was whirling. Her hand were clenched tightly. She could not go home yet. She must havo time to think, to readjust her Shaken mental balanco The world aemed to havo turned topsy tcrvy about her ears. A fortuno was within her and sho could not claim it. graj Those dreams sho had sometimes dreamed had materialized. It would but for the mocking cruelty of fate be In her power to enjoy all those delights for which her young sect craved. Within her power to lire in beautiful rooms, wear be&utlfnl clothes, know the smooth cw of expensive comfort, of la xury , She was so young; to more than usually pretty! And money would mean ao much to her! And then there was her mother. Ease would bo hers, too ea for alayg For always! With a f add en tense cf ahock Mareta rmembred the doctor and. what he had raid. Only tlx months to live. And at the end of thot tlx months her, mother would b alone, with no one to help her or support her. Fhe cried out at the thought and a sick horror descended upon. her. Her train was working more clear-- ' taw the situation In ly now. all its tantalizing weeder It's hid hrteps re-CoH- ed. The door cf the little trcn safe, was open. Before it she taw f man in eTenlng drest. la hla hand the gtltterlcg ring and tea string of pearls that she had placed there earlier la the day. At the found of her exclamation he turned sharply rond and the girl cried cut again, amaied Incredulity, something of horror la eyes and. voice. The man waa Kemptca Rcislaer. To B ContUtutd Nrt Sunday. Cm.r 'i4. lr:U IitmUaal TmT Jar. ! |