Show A WONDERFUL WOMAN BY MAY AGNES FLEMING I She looked down at him Irini with that thai brilliant brilant smile smie that Unit lit l hoi her hol dark face Cace Into something than beauty Come Mr Ir she repeated repeat repeat- ed etl let me nie be cicerone for Cor once ant and show you ou the splendors of It I Is th the show place of the neighborhood neighborhood neighbor neighbor- hood hoo you OU know built buit by a a Danger Danger- Dangerfield field I am afraid to say sy how many mun centuries ago ao We Ye came over with wih William Ullam that his what's you yoi OU know or perhaps William found u us here when he arrived Im I'm Im nol not positive live tive which Wore Were a dreadfully old ok family indeed and Im I'm Im the last daughter daugh daugh- ter of oC the race and I wouldn't be anybody an anybody any any- body boly but Katherine Dangerfield 01 of oC Park for the worl world She dashed under the huge hUJe stone arch of oC masonry as she spoke half hall laughing wholly In earnest She wa was as proud of or the old blood that flowed so spiritedly in her veins of this noble noble no no- ble mansion of the lie princely inheritance inheritance Hance which was wa her birthright Welcome to Mr lr Dan Dan- tree she said as he passed by her hei side under the Norman arch He raised his hat hat Thank you OU Miss Dangerfield erfel Dans-erfel h he said sid gravely and so still b by her hoi side s walked up the elm avenue aye ave flue nue and Into the house His fatal rata I beauty fatal beauty beauty Catal fatal though IK lie was but seven and twenty to man many women women had had done Its work once more Her own hand had brought him there her own voice had spoken her sen semi tence once Gaston D stood under the roof of Hall Hal and until her fer dying hour this day wot would ld stand stanc out Ut distinct from 01 nil ali other days das Ir In rl e D 1 s' s life Ife 1 Sir tl John sat t 1 hi n his library alone alon that letter from Paris still crushed rushed In his hand as ns though it il had been i a as s serpent It I seemed a a. very cry harmless serpent at first sight It I only contained con con- tamed l these lines written In an elC ele gant garit flowing Italian chirography 23 I Paris September My Iy Dear Deam Sir John Dangerfield How delightedly my pen writes th the title A baronet Who Vho would have hav thou though h It I And Park 1 Is yours ours and your our Income Is clear eight elgh thousand a year eni Who Vho could have hav hoped It 1 An And youre you're back In England England Eng Eng- land and und la Ia In petite time the the little Kather Kather- Inc lime Darling little litte Katherine So full ful of o spirit and wIll will self elf wl as a she was when I saw w her last and that Is fifteen years year ago ngo Ah mon muon fifteen wear weary weary car weary years ears My lly clear dear baronet baronet baronet baro baro- net I am coming to see you vou I kno know you rou will wl be he enchanted On the third of or October you ou will wi send your our carriage to 0 Castleford Station to meet the 7 2 20 London express and me And your you serVant se ant will ask for tor Mrs Irs I wi adapt my names as I do my convers- convers conversa- conversa to my company and arid among th the aristocratic county families of oC Sussex let me be aristocratic too m my baronet for or the present and allow me to subscribe myself by the time old and alas plebeian cognomen of HARRIET H. HARMAN HArMAN P S TelI S.-TelI Tel S.-Tel Tell m my ray pet Katherine I Iam am arn for me coming Kiss Kis the darling child He Ho me had sat cat l for Cor hours as he ho sat now that l letter crushed In his hand a grayish grayish gray ray ish pallor on his face race his eyes eves lookIng look look- Ing lug blankly out at the drifting rain at the tossing blown Ind trees The lightning leaped forth at Intervals the summer thunder broke over tho the roof the summer rain rin beat on the glass gla He neither saw sav RW nor heard he sat like a man stunned by b a great and sudden blow And I thou thought ht her dead he lie mutt mul- mul t red once I hoped she was aH dead I thoughts ht after fifteen years years' silence I r us ste safe and anti now now oh oh God will wi tho ho wicked wish never be granted He sat st them them-c still sti a as as' he had sat st since he lie left leCt the breakfast table when the door loor 1001 was WUI flung wide un and Kath Kath- dripping like a mermaid stood before beCore him May I come Comb in In papa or havo have you OU fallen aln ast asleep eJ Do you know it Is 2 o'clock and past patt luncheon time line antI and that I have brought home a it guest II It I Is MI Mr Mi papa you papa you remember ber bor him you know know and and he lie wants want to see ste the tho h house use and I want you to be civil to him lies He's In tho the blue drawing draw draw- in ing room a id while Im I'm changing my nay I wish you ou would go up und and entertain him Papa She broke oft of H 11 catching catching- sight of or his irIs al altered Rl ai- tr d face ruce What hat Is h tho the matter muter You lo look lock k like tko your our own ghost IIii Hl rose up ut stIffly as us If Ir his limbs were ere cramped crashing the lie letter leter more tightly still sti In his hh hand He lie le turned away from the window ow so o that hat his face was hidden from her as a ho he answered I am a a little litle cold Who ho did ay say Ny was WES waiting Katherine Oh yd yes the tho singing man man aston man Gaston Gaston By Bythe D BYthe the tho b by Kathle fathie tell tel Harison to prepare prepare preparo pre pre- pare paro one of or the front chambers for aa u a ua ua a a lady an lady on old friend of or mine who who Is to visit tt us She will be beher hero here her on on the tho evening c of or the tho third of ot October Oct ber next and her name namo naro Is MrS Mm n asor CHAPTER II I. I Mrs Ir YU 1 r. r The London express due at Castleford Castleford Castle Castle- Caste ford Cord station at rushed In ih ihan an unearthly shriek like Iko Sinbad's black blac m monster with wih the one red rad fiery fery eye ey There ere were wore five passengers for forthe forthe forthe the town town tour four men and a n. woman The Te train disgorged and then t. t 0 ned lied awn away shrieking once mote mOIe Into I the black October ni nightA night hl A wet and Rusty gusty autumn evening ablack ablack a n black and starless starles sky ft owning frowning down upon a black blace and sodden earth A bitter bIter blast blasl blew up from the sea and whirled the dead leaves In drifts before before be be- fore Core It It- I. I The station staton dreary and anc isolated Iso Iso- as u it I is In the nature of oC stations sta Jo o 0 be looked drearier than harm ever tonight Far off or the the thc lamps of or the time town glimmered athwart the rain and ando fog o specks of ot light In the eerie gloom The he four Cour male passengers who had ha quitted the time train trin hurried with wih their portmanteaus buttoned to the chin and with wih hats slouched forward over their noses noses honest honest shopkeepers of ol Castleford but looking villainous l In th time the light 0 of the station staton lamps Only the te female passenger remained re re- re- re and she came tripping up ur I the hit platform with a little satchel In Ir I her hand crisp and anti smiling to th the chief station official I beg your pardon sir si but can car can you tell me mc If IC the time carriage from flom Scars Scars- wood Park Is waiting for me She Sho was mas a beautiful little woman Two Jr great t dark eyes of or lustrous Ugh light beamed up in the officials official's face am ama and andI anda I a smile smie that lit hit l up tho whole station staton with wih its Is ra radiance lance dazzled him Sh She had feathery black ringlets she ringlets she haca had hac hada a brilliant brilant high color well color color wel well a trifle too high probably for Cor some sonic fastidious ious bus lastes she tastes she had teeth white while am and more glistening than anything the official of of- had ever seen outside a dentists dentist's dentists dentist's den den- showcase showcase she she had tho ho tiniest little figure In the world and she hacas had hac hadas hadas as as far as the time official could judge for Cor the glitter lter oC her of-her her whole appearance appearances appear appear- ance s ance-s some m mO three and d years With the tho nash flash of or her white while t teeth th the sparkle of the time black eyes the glow glov of the rose-red rose cheeks checks she dazzled you ou like a sudden burst of ot sunlIght and you never stopped to think until afterward how sharp and rasping was the voice olce In which she sue addressed you The carriage from No It had not not that that Is to sa say the official did not know whether It I had or not not Would the lady be pleased to si sit down there was a fire Ore in here anc and he lie would go o and ascertain I certainly expected to find It waitIng wait wait- wai- wai Ing lug the little lady said Eald tripping lightly light light- ly after him Sir John knows I I am an coming tonight ht He lie Is such an aim old ok I friend of mine Sir mine Sir John Its It's Is I's odd now the carriage Isn't waiting waitIng tell tet them when the they do come conic Mrs Va Va- vasor is here The Time carriage has come announced um the time official on the moment moment This wa way madame if It you please The close chose carriage Its lamps s glowing glow ing nJ like lc two red eyes In the darkness its ts hor horses cs pawing the coachman coachman coachman coach coach- man stiff and surly on the box was wa drawn up at the Iho station staton door The official held the time door open she open she thanked thank thank- I ed him with wih a radiant smile smie and then therm Sir John Dangerfield's carriage was flying the tho darkness of oC time Iho wet October night over tho the muddy high road to Park Little Mrs rs wiped the lie blurred gla glassand glass glav I and strained her hei bright black eyes as the time vehicle with whirled led up the time avenue lo to catch the first glimpse of the time house I It loomed up UI at last Jast a big black shadow hadow In iii the time darkness Lights ht gleamed all al along Its Is front windows and the distant sound of or music floated out In o the night Mrs Vu fascinating face fuce was wa at Us Its Is brightest the the sparkle In her eyes sparkled I more moore than everA everA overA ever over A party party party-a a ball bal perhaps Let me see sw the time third of October October why why Ia In petites petite's birthday of oC course Miss Dan- Dan gorfield heiress s of oC wood Scars is Just 17 tonight How stupid of me t to U forget forget for for- get It I. I Sho She laughed In the darkness and solitude a little low laugh not pleasant pleasnt to lo hear I wonder how poor dear 1081 Sir SI John will wi ihl meet mee me and what account cs' cs he will wJ give of oC mo to hl his hla daughter It I couldn't have been pleasant pleas pleas- ant alit for fOI him to receive m my note I dare iare say MY b by this time ho he thought me rue dead had She he stepped out a a. moment In Jim the time therin rin ruin mini then into the lighted vestibule then ihen into tho the spacious entrance hall haJ where Mrs rl Harrison in fn a gray grab sIlk Ilk lk gown frown own and white laco lace cup and und all ul the time I dignity of housekeeper met her court cour cour- t Mrs Va I think maam ma'am 7 Mrs Ir enchanting smile smie answered an arm- in tho time affirmative Sir Johns John's orders are arc every ery alien alien- ion tion ton maam ma'am and he lie was wa to bo be told tho ho minute you OU arrived fh This way If Ir Yell ou U picas and amid youre you're to wait here maam ma'am until ho comes to you Sho She led the wa way ay up upstairs and und threw open the door of oC a lit half elegant anti and carpet of oC blue and gold old How low lower very er nice Mrs re re- marked glancing pleasantly around and you ou are the tho housekeeper I suppose sup sup- pose ose my m good soul And your young youn lad lady ady is having ii a 1 party part on her birth birth- night light How pleasant It must bo be to tobe be only 17 and handsome and rich vich md and a baronets baronet's dou daughter I Mrs r. r Va r laughed that sharp I little laugh o of hers hem hen that rather grated I Iun m Wi sensitive ears cars Cn Miss Mine 11 Dangerfield la is handsome no rio doubt Mra ah Ir t ah nh- nh Harrison maam ma'am time the housekeeper r responded en rather sti stiffly And nd Miss Mir 11 Katherine Catherine is Isor very or indeed ir In n my t eyet H Ill I'll toll Ill toll tel Sir John youre you're here here tore maam ma'am at circe If I you'll please sit It down But nut It I Mrs Ir to stand she sho turned up the the lamps lamps until the Iho room com rom was w flooded d with wih light then I walked wall over to a a mirror and amid looked at herself a f l and andI I lon long 0 n g. g Fading sho she said fading Rouge Roule French I coi coiffures enamel and anti the rest ret oC of It It are aro er very well vell wol but the they cant can't make over n a woman of or 37 into a a girl of 20 0 StiLl Sti the time life Ive I've Ive led she set s t h t. t teeth like Iko a little lion lon Ah m Jl what a bitter fight th time the b battle tlc of lifo h imam been for Cor me If I I wore wise I would POCket my wrongs wrong forego my my vengeance von ven von s keep my secret seret ard and ami live Ivo happy happy happy hap hap- py in limit Hal forever a after Cc I Iwonder Iwonder Iwonder wonder If IC Sir 51 John would marry mo j if IC I asked aked him The Time door opened opened find Sir John lm Cle CleIn canto came In Little Mrs Irs turned round from tho glass folded her small smal hands and stood and und looked at him with Uh a smile on her face He Ito le was wa very er pale palo and grim rl l as s the grave So for Cor a a. a moment they stood like hike two duelists walling waiting for the word In dead silence Then Thon the time lady Jady lad spoke How low do you do Sir SI John When we parted I remember you ou found me admiring myself in the time gla glass when we meet again after fifteen ater years ar how old it I makes one feel you you find me before the glass again Not admiring myself this time you Ol un un- un I sad sadly fear tear I T have n old and ugly In all nl those f hard years But Dut you yoU youre youre you're not a a. a day daj older and Just the same handsome ha stalwart soldier I remember r you o Wont Won't you ou shake han hands handsor s for or or the sake sak of or old times Sir John and say say- sy you yoi are arc welcome to a poor little woman I who has traveled all al time the wa way from fron I Paris to see you ou She held out her little gloved li glo hand lie Ue drew away with a 0 gesture of rc id I and crossing to the piece leaned upon I It his faco hard hare hard arid and set In the time light of the time lamps Why Vh have you come como here h he I asked aked t s sAh Ah Aim CJ del l hear him such him such a 0 crue cruel question queston And after tC en rears cars I st stand all alone Ilone n in this othi big pitiless world i a poor little Ille friendless and I I come t to 6 the tho gallant gentleman oman who mho fifteen years cars stood my friend such such a n friend friend and and he asks me li In iii that cruel voice why I havo have come That Thal will wi do Mrs Irs this this li linot Is not a n nor nor r am am ann I an arm live tive lve audience Tell Tel me the truth I it I you can let can let us have e 11 plain speaking Why hy hy have havo p ha you come here here Wim What dc o you vou want That is plain language certainly I I have come here hore because you are me irmy In ir m my power power absolutely absolutely and amid wholly In ir irmy my power And r 1 want nant to stay here hero as an honored gu guest t Just as as long hong Jori as asI asI I please Is that plant to satisfy satisfy sat sat- you or wo would ld you you like hike 1 me Input to In put it I still sti |