| Show A WONDERFUL WOMAN BY MAY AGNES FLEMING I I 1 awa S smoke when I talk talle If iC possible pos pos- sible and ntH the lie story I have to tell Is Isa Isa isa a somewhat lengthy one Wont Won't ont you load and light up UI also also I I see your our little JUlie black pipe there on tho the nc ncy ney No Youre You're too anxious i I perceive anI and nobody can enjoy a 1110 or manila and ami listen lIston ly at the time same samne time Well before beCore I begin I must extort another promise No matter what I tell you you arc are not lint to speak of It until I give Ivo you leave Dont Don't look alarmed your yom your prohibition will not last long only long only until Katherine s 's wed wedding da day Is It a n promise It Is Go on on- on ono on-go go o on ont Draw closer ea- ea then Ho obeyed and und little Sirs Mrs leaning buck back In the easy asp choir chair to tho time fire In mouth began and at once the story she sho had como romo to tell teB The Tho Christmas festivities at Scars- Scars WOOl wood were er very ga gay indeed and Mr 11 Peter Dangerfield missed a cr very pl pleasant pleas us- us ant evening by sta staying away avay Perhaps Per Ier Imps haps though on tho the whole he enJoyed enjoyed en on- joyed himself quite as much In his bachelor 1 lodgings 1 at teto a teto eto with wih Mrs The he long drawing rooms looms were ablaze with wih light and f festooned with wih Ivy an and mistletoe and amid gleaming with wih scarlet ties rles A very elY large company compan were assembled as as- as- as It it was an understood thing timing that Miss Dangerfield appeared in public pub pub- lie lic lc no more mOIe until she appeared as a bride She was looking very ven well wel tonight ht her her large eyes ces full ful of lustrous light her hel animated face dimpling ever Into radiant smiles smiles Her silken robe of 01 white shot with pal palest cst rose blushed 3 a she walked cel large larAe Oriental pearls clasped claspell back the floating brown hair and shone in cloud cloudy splendor on her slim throat throat Not handsome never handsome never that that but but bright with wih health youth and perfect happiness Since the lie la day of Mrs dep de- de p the days and weeks lay behind be be- hind her In a golden mist Time never flew fiew as fast Cast before beCore How noiseless fall foI the feet of That calmly tread read on fowers Tho only onh thorn In her rose lOSO crown had been removed removed papa papa looked hooked contented contented contented con con- tented or or If I not contented resigned Gaston was all in the way of oC a n devoted de do- ell ell- voted Romeo the tho most exacting Juliet could wish Then there had been the trousseau to order order order-a a trip to London to make endless new dresses and bonnets bonnets bon bon- nets nn and presents and altogether Christmas eve had come conic with magical quickness On New Years Year's eve just eve Just one ono week from tonight tonight she sho would be Gastons Gaston's wife wIe and the happiest bride I the lie wide earth held helel The They were to be married at 11 in the forenoon in Castleford Cas- Cas I 1 church Edith Talbot to be bc first filst bridesmaid and her brother chief groomsman and after the wedding breakfast the happy happ pair were to start on their heir hon honeymoon Journey journey journey-a journey journey-a a along long delightful continental trip which was to extend far fat into the spring pring Then hen would como come the tho return the bonfires the tho ringing bell bel the feasting of tenantry tenantry ten ten- antry and she and Gaston would settIe sette settle set set- tIe tle te down seigneur and chatelaine of or and life Ufe would go on forever forever for for- ever a perpetual round of or London seasons seasons sea sea- sons presentations at nt court P Paris winters win at at operas bauM ami iM 1 tf of t life Ilk That was tho hi rr Man I n proposes you proposes you ou know knon- leno the lie proverb rho Tho ante matrimonial horizon ju Just l at present ent looked cloud a c a iol violet t tk set with wih gold stars stars not not a n cloud in all allIs its Is dazzling expanse e. e And nv five miles mies away at Castleford a man and ond woman sat 1 plotting her lifelong misery miser djs djs- I grace grce and amid ruin Mr Dantice ee was in great force to tonight to- to night night hIs his voice and anti looks his whole I worldly wealth at their best best He lIe had been the worlds world's football a long time timea a a. a scapegoat of r so society iet f his way inch b by Inch Inch and now the lie goal was v won Fortune Fortuno su such h as a he lie had imad never hared dated dream of or hope for had como conic to him him eight eight thou thousand ali a year car carand and a title tto in e prospective And all thanks to his suave skinned olive skinned olve-skinned beauty and anel J like hike e voice oice Only one week weel more Gaston mon fils he ho said ald to himself exultantly as ashe ashe ashe he whirled homeward home with wih the time Talbots Talbots Tal- Tal bots and then let Fato Fate do her worst she she cant can't oust mo me from Crom amid n m my wife Unless Unless always unless unless ulles Marie should t take ke It I into her jealous head to come como over O hero and hunt me up I wonder vonder what she sho said aid 01 or did liI when she hie got all al her letters back I know what sho thought hought there thre could be bo no two opinions on that I subject Poor POOl passionate proud litho lit lit- lt- lt ho an aim unmitigated atel scoundrel I am to bo be bp sure Tho The nearer nearer nearer near near- er the tho wedding da day draws the time more I seem seeni to think of or her the hier-the he the fonder Condel I Irow grow row of her her all hor-al hor all because Ive I've given her up forever I suppose suppose But fondness for any human creature creaturo crea- crea turo ture was not a weakness Mr would over ever er e allow alow to stand In his way to fortune Jealous and exacting as nature had made the lie baronets baronet's daughter daugh daugh- ter ter her accepted lover hover lo er gave O her no shadow of excuse fa for I either lie le played tal his i. i role of Romeo to perfection tion ton if it bored him insufferably sue she never saw it I and now now now-It It was only one ono wee week Ii and once her husband why all aU this thus untiring devotion might reasonably rca rea cool down a a rifle trie and tho the continual tender nothings s of courtship courtship court court- ship Shill give place to the cairn cain friendliness ne ness hess of 01 humdrum married maried life lre She cant can't expect a fellow to dan dangle dankle lo loat at her apron strings all al her da days s 's Mr thought If lC she does docs she's mistaken that's that's all al Im I'm Im ready to call cal all al tho the gods to witness winess th that t I adore time the ground she treads on on bo- bo before fore tho the words arc are said all and tho the nuptial mump mump- tal knot tied but afterward my bon bon- lon lon- you'll youl have to tako take It i for granted or do lo without Men love lo e most the tho wiseacres s say before marriage marriage mar mar- riago women most n-most after How will wl it I be with me I wonder who hio dont don't love lovo at all al 1 It I was Jon long past midnight when the time carriage of the last guest rolled away awny from tho time portals of Sears Scars wood and amid tho the lights were fled the garlands dead l the tho banquet hall hail hal de do- sorted And Mid KatherIne trailing trIng her hot brilliant brilant silk sik after her hey her Jewels gleaming in the fitful light eyes shining shin shin- lug ing and checks flushed went vent up to her room Through the oriel window window win win- dow hoW at the head of the stairs stalls the full ful winter midnight moon shone glorious glorious- 1 ly hit The Tho To Bloody Hand and antI the crest of or the tho a a falcon rendIng rending rending rend rend- ing a dove shone dove shone out vividly through the painted panes panes- panesA A black frost held the tho earth in hands of or Iron the skeleton skeleton ton trees waved gaunt aunt striped arms In imi the park the tho wild wid D December cember wind whistled shrilly up tip from Crom the coast and amid overhead o spread that blue star- star studded moonlit sk sky Katherine leaned against the lie glass and gazed up at that shining shinIng- sliver silver orb and her thoughts drifted away from her tier own supreme bliss bUss to that hat other Christmas over or so many hundred years ago aJo when the first until anthem era was sung by tho the angels angels an an- ami- ami gels o over or r the tho blue hills his of Galilee door Katherine Her fathers father's opened and amid her fathers father's voice olce called You will wili wi take cold to a n. dead certainty standing thorp there I thought you ou hall had gone gono on to your OU room Im Im going papa pupa pupa-I'm Im Im I'm not In the least sleepy sleepy-I I u never er am tim n sleepy y 1 t think on bright moonlight nights night like 10 this I wonder If my brain Is 18 touched touche like mee other lunatics at the time full tul of the time moon 1 Why are you not In bed 1 Papa with a 0 sud sudden en cry cr of or alarm alarm- a a. suel sudden cl spring forward you are not well Ills IUs face was of or a n strange livid hue fue there was wn a a continual nervous twitching twitching twitch twitch- In ing of or the ho and ll hits hit eyes had a n murky bloodshot look Papa darling darlng what Is It I Arc Are you ill 1 Not very wel well I fear fer I havo not been well wel for days day but I r feel Ceel worse tonight ht than usual And nd I think I ought to tell ten you you you-if you you-I If anything should happen Ho lie paused and put his hand to his forehead in a n confused sort of ot way vay M My head feels all al wrong wronG somehow somehow somehow some some- I how tonight Katherine if It youre you're not sleepy come como in In-I In I have something of Importance to say Bay to you She followed him in some wonder wondel and more alarm Ills his Ils face had changed from its Us dull duJ pallor to dark dok red hi his voice sounded Rounded Incoherent and husky What did ll it I all mean Sho Shio entered his room watching him with wih wide wondering eyes Sit Si down down ho lie said Impatiently shifting away from her hor glance and amid dont don't stare In that lint way child I dont don't suppose I its it's anything to be alarmed about only only 1 i think I ought to tell tel Youre You're going to be married and anel you ought to l know now Then the burden a and anil l the secrecy will wil be bc off of my conscience and you oU can tell him or 01 not as a you be affair and please That will wH your If he lie deserts you you you- He lie le stopped again again prese pressed his hand nand hard over his forehead as though the thread of his ideas had hod broJ broken en Theres something Qu queer er the matter mater with m my head he lie half halt muttered r I dont don't seem able to talk or think somehow some how tonight Then I wouldn't try papa Kath Kath- erino interrupted more moro papa anti and more mor alarmed you arc are looking dreadfully Let Lot me ring for Cor Francois to see you yot and send for the doctor I am sure sun you arc aro not fit ft to be up imp No no no-don't no don't dont send send send-at send t at least no not yet I havo ma mado maJ Q up my mind to tonight tonight tonight to- to night and if 1 I dont don't toil tell tel you now I Ima Imay ma may never summon courage again agin You ought to know child you child you you ought ough t tto to know You are not safe for tor an ai hour It I is like living over a n I lighted mine mimic until unU that woman Is dead You Yoi ought to tell tel him that him that fellow Dan fehlow-Dami- fehlow Dan tr tree e. e you know lenow If I he ho deserts you a aI as asI n I said better beter to do It before the time weddIng wedding wedding wed wed- ding day than after I know It is th the thc money he wants wants wants-I I know hes he's a coward cow ard and a humbug and a fortune fortun hunter and anti it I may be the greatest mercy for you child if ho lie does docs leavE leav you bolero before the wedding day started to her feet Papa she cried passionately thiis thi him is too bad too bad too cruel I thought you yea were never going to speak against Gaston again you again you told me you not surely not surely he lie has done one nothing t tc deserve it i. i This day week is my wedding wedding wed ding da day anti and you talk of his hi deserting desert ing lug me Papa If such a thing thins happened hap could I would kill could oud happen happen I ki m myself I sel I I tell teU you I would I would never survive such disgrace race He lie sank into a chair In a n daz dazed d helpless flo s sort oC or 3 way 4 ft What shall shaH I do do he lie saUl said all wearily what shall hal I do If I I had only told toh toll her her- years year and years cars ago aso Now CW it I im too late She stood and looked at him pal with wih wonder and vague vague alarm Told mo me what Is It I tho the secret that Mrs holds Why hy no nol nolt t tell l me then 1 Whatever it I Is Is I car cai cal bear it it-I it I-I I I can cn bear beam anything your hard hall words of or Gaston your tall of his deserting me Tell Tel me me my fa a. a ther Imn thel Im Im I'm not a child or a coward can cnn bear it whatever it I is You think so so but you ou dont don't know you dont don't know lenow You hate that worn wom an and you yol are ae so proud proud so so proud You can not bear poverty you povertY you told me mo that that and and I what I-what what can I do I Ican can not mint save mare you ou from from t His Incoherent words died away hl him away hi head fell fel bae back Katherine sprang t this tu te tuis his is side with a scream of or terror Another An other instant and anti she flew lew to the bell beU ringing a peal that nearly tore i it 1 down Oh what was this His Ills face had Imad grown rown purple purple him hi whole form Corm rigid what rigid what he had feared feare so long had befallen at last He lIe le wa wm with wih apoplexy The Time room loom tilled filled fler with wih servants After Anel tho the first shock al all senses came back b. b ck She Sh dispatched a man at once to Castleford Castleford Castle Castle- Caste Caste- ford rOId for the time family doctor Sir Sli SI John Join was vas conveyed to lu bed beel undressed ant antall and andal andau au all al the tho restoratives they knew how to tc uso use applied All Al in vain With Hi the tin dawning of or the Christmas lay day Ia time the stalwart old soldier lay Jay before them breathing and quite fulte senseless Doctor Graves Gracs and his attendant ayoung ayoung a n young man Mr Otis Oils a- a arrived acl cl and amid pronounced the fit lit apoplexy at once The They sent the palo pale girl in tho the festal dress the he shining pearls and amid the wild wide eyes out of the tho room and die did 11 their best for thi tho master of that hat grand old ohl house But the they labored In vain the he long bug hours wore away and away and still Sir John la lay rigid and s senseless 5 where they had first laid him No love loye I will ivill wi sta stay but a moment moment See Sec it Is midnight Weird hour with wIh a shrill laugh Are Arc 10 there ghosts ghosts do you OU know at Such Sucha a dear dar romantic old ol house ought to tobo tobe tobe be bo haunted you l know no noto to make it I complete com coin I suppose every hou house e as the tho poet says sas where men and women have lived and died is haunted and we all al carry carr our ghosts sho ts with wIh us through life Ir But I wont won't turn prosy pros and amid lI metaphysical meta Ih physical on this happy night night Ah darling aln Kathie what an enviable girl you are how are how brightly brighty your life has been heen ordered Seventeen rich flattered d caressed and beloved I suppose you OU have never ne er had a single wish h un ungratified in iii your our life |
