Show I IA I A WONDERFUL WOMAN I BY MAY AGNES FLEMING I I Grateful my Peter murmured Mrs as she took the glass but I scarcely expected anything better I can enn dispense even evon with your gratitude while I hold hoW your promIse promise promise prom prom- I ise to pay ten thousand down remember her ber the very day ay that makes malos you Sir Sh Peter Poter You rou ou shall have havo It Go in heavens heaven ns n's name Dont Don't let that girl Kather giri-Kather- Kather- Kather inc Ine you know see know see you or I believe well we'll have a second tragedy before the night nigh t Is over ovel lie He left her as h he spoke On the tin I threshold hohl he turned to S say a fi last lasi I wor word Drive tho trap back to your our quarter quarters quarters ter III in Castleford Ill I'll see sec you OU tomor- tomor row let It things end which way they will vIli Im I'm going to Sir John now G Gat Go Goat Gout at ut once once good good night He lIe ascended to the baronets baronet's room Dr Graves was waR there Katherine am and ancl l Il Miss s Talbot The stricken soldier hat had been laW laid upon his bed undressed and everything done llone for him that H it was waR possible to do 10 He lay hay rigid am and stark starl his heavy breathing tho tim only sign of or life Well Vell Peter said Mill the tin word In a strained tense sort 01 of oC voice and looked with eager agel burning eyes at th the medical manI man I 1 can give no definite answer 3 as asyet asyet yet Mr 11 Dangerfield Dr Graves an answered answered an- an coldly and turning his back bad upon him ilium Peter drew a n long breath Death was written on every overs line of or that ghastly bloodless face After a brief brIer five live months' months l reign Sir Sh John la ha lay dying dying-dying dying dying childless J ant anthe and he was at law J lIe He looked hooked e furtively at Katherine She was standing motionless ss at the foot of or the tile bed bcd gazing on that rIgid form She Sue had removed nothing nothing not noi noia a a flower not flower not fower-not not a jewel not jevel-not not even her hoi gloves vail gloves val gloves vail laces and antI silk sik still floated about her Her 11 face kept Its Is changeless changeless change change- less calm her calm her eyes yes their still frozen look It I was as horrible It 1 It was wa fearful Ho lie le turned awn away awny with a n shiver ant antI and softly quitted the room Of or all ni the ways was In which I thought though she would woul take tale It I I never thought thou ht ol or of this he said to himself Are vAre al nil ni is she unlike al all women like her or al women I never understood her her her- tonight I understand her least of al all It I was midnight now He lie le paused t a moment at the oriel window to lO lookout lookout look out at the night Th The storm ha had ex ex- its Is fury fur the rain and anti sleet hall had wild north wind was blowing blowing blowing blow blow- a e A ing It was turning bitterly cold Up Ui above the tho storm drifts were scudding before the gale a a few frosty stars stan glimmered anti and a wan an moon lifted its iti Is pallid face Cace out ou of oC the distant sea The Tho New Year gave 10 promise of dawning brilliant and bright And Amul this was to have have been heen her hei wedding day and the bridegroom lies les dying downstairs I would not spare span her hel one pang If I could but I must own Its It's f's Jang hard on her He lIe went softly down the long stairway stairway stair stair- way and Into the lower lowel room where when I 1 hey they had hal borne Gaston Mr Otis was with him still tI and anI and anti D De Dc ere Yer ereIs Is I he lie dead Mr Dangerfield domand de do- e- e mand ed He lie looked e like I it They he had washed away the blood anti and bound up UI the tin wound He ha lay with his eyes closed and breathing faintly but hul lead dead m am amIn t tIn In ill his cult look awfully corpse never nevel more ful a cOpse lw than than n I Mr MY lr 10 his qulA eyes Not dead teal Mr 11 Dan not Dangerfield-not tot pol even cven likely to die so so far as ak I 1 can car see Ste What hat is to be done with wIh him him him- wh what what what- atlie at- at He lie stopped and recoiled for Into thor ther midst t a white while figure glided am anti and straight up UI to 11 the wounded man marl II It I she was ns Katherine Everywhere ore went that shining hike bride figure seemed to contradict the idea Iden of ol death Ileath Her leI ero eyes had hind a fixed xe sightless sigil sight less sort of oC stare like stare stare-lle like the eyes eye of oC a a sl walker sleep walier ep-walier her face was tho the hue ol bf snow no Noiseless soundless 1 like Ilce a a a. spirit she mo e moved in her white robes until she stood beside the man she had hadloc loved lo looking down own upon him hini as he helay lay hay The man she hind had loved 10 l He lie hail had treated her biu brutally or worse worse than but bul man ever treated woman before there was no uio anger in II her lien face or 01 heart hoart There was not sorrow there lucre was vaI not even pity pity all ai all feeling seemed IU numb and anti lead dead within her She only stood and anti looked at al him with wih a sort of or weary wonder Three hours a ago o he had been so full ful of ot life lre of oC youth ot or strength of beauty and now no nohe he 1 lay laymore more helpless than a new-born new child What mOe a narrow narrow step divided death from froni rom life Tho four men stood too silent awe awe- stricken She neither seemed to heed nor see sel them theta Mr Otis summoned courage at nt last to approach and speak Miss he lie said with wih grave gravo ls respect reaped you oti should not be here This Is no sight Ight for you Let Mr lr Dan Dangerfield lead head you OU back to your YOUl father She lifted her heavy eyes eye and seemed 11 to see him him for fr the lust l time line die tile Will Ill he lie I II 1 hope 1 not not not-I I trust not But you yu ou must not be lie hero when he recovers consciousness ou to do with hat What do you mean wih him 1 she asked In the same low lo here monotone lIe He le cannot stay Will 1 you OU Ol take lake him away He lie looked at nt her doubtfully Take him where him where To tho the hospital hos hos- pital do you Ol mean No not to the hospital I should rather you OU did diL not take tako him him there Can he lie be iC removed without much Cn once Well cl yes Veil cles yes es If f ho lie is removed cc nt at favor Then r Mr Otis will wi you OU do co me a Anything in m my power Miss Dangerfield Dan Then take him to lo your our own hou house e. e o II It I Ks Is II a great favor or I 1 ask but you will wl do o it I I know The Tho expense shall b be bemine mine I dont don't want him to die A sl slight h shudder pas pasted passed ed over her as sho Silo said ll It I and anti there Is no one ono else I Ican Ican Ican can ask Will VI QU you do llo this for fOl me mc She laid her hand on hl his arm and anti looked at him A great compassion tilled filled his heart for this girl 11 so cruel cruelly bereaved through no fault of or her lien own II I He could not lut refuse It I shall be he done I will wi have him removed immediately and if IC he dies it will be no un fault of or mine I lr wIl knew I 1 might trust you If J It I Is possible I will wi go there and see him I IHo Ho lie must not die Mr Otis Otis Otis-he he must nut not lut A sudden sUllen swift swit gleam came caine into lien her lead dead eyes lIe He le must r recover cover and anti he must leave leavo here Take rake him nt at once and thank you youel el very much Then rhen th the lie tall white while figure flitted awa away and was gone and antI the four tour men stood confounded cd and looked hooked blankly Into each ach others other's startled eyes ces What hat does he she mean De Do Vero asked hat What docs does sue sho want tho thio scoundrel to recover reCO for Egad tho the null only creditable thing he lie has ever evel done dono on In iii the world will Ill wi be his leaving f it It I is or o. o her fathers father's woke k doubtless doubtless doubt doubt- doub- doub less Ics suggested Squire Talbot albot Nothing of ot the tiie sort ort Interrupted Peter Dan She Sho wants Dan Dan- for Cor lien her own If It she tn tree c to recover reco he I i I I I h has entirely I- I Ione done domie one with Ith wih him Im I'm Im greatly great great- 1 ly Iy mi mistaken laken I 1 wouldn't stand In lantree's Dan Dan- trees tree's shoes when he recovers recover for Cor the crown of England Sue Sho Sio is In an unnatural un un- unnatural un- un natural state just now shell now now shel shell she'll awake arake after aler a little and amI be all al the tho more terrible ter ter- for her present calm What will vf your you our mother say sa Otis when you OU turn her house Into a private hospital Whatever I do llo is good and admirable admirable able in my mothers mother's eyes I will wi trouble you Mr Dang to the carriage anti and tho the quietest horse In Inthe inthe the stable Every Evory moment we lose now nouv is I of vial vital Importance Mr 11 Dangerfield Tho The carriage car ear singe ringe was brought round the wounded I mal man carefully covered from lom tho the cold raw night air ni carried carrIe out alit ou nn and laid amon among the tho cushions cushions Squire Talbot with wih little love for Cor the tho stricken manet manyet man yet vet et accompanied tho the assistant Into Castleford Cast Cord Gaston had beer been bEen his gU guist an and though h after his lila base Imse and ant dastardly conduct tonight lu lie could never nevel again cross cros tim tho tw thre threshold hold of or 0 mb he still felt fel bound lound toc to tt see c him safely ly to his destination Captain De Dc Vere Verc remained behind al mit at nt th the solicitation of or Mr 11 Danser Danger HP He le co could ld not return to his lodgings while things were In this Uncertain uncertain un un- certain state neither could he ho remain alone How lion would this his night end endi Would Voul Sir SI John recover again or oi would the new now year eQ morning breaking breaking break break- ing already see ee him lord of or this noble domain And Anti upstairs In the sick chamber the lie dim night lamp flickered rIele and only the ticking licking of or if clock sounded In the 1 lead dead hush Sir She John lay hay motionless Dr Graves sat Fat beside him his hits wrIst vrIst between his hi- fingers no counting the beatIng boating heatIng heat boat Ing of or that sinking pulse An eminent I physician had been telegraphed for to It London hut but It was uvas more than doubtful doubtful doubtful doubt doubt- ful If It he lie h would find the baronet alive upon his arrival And if It Gaston Dan Dan- tree died would It not be as well wel so so Beside him at nt the foot of or the bed looking like Ice the cho ghost t of some dead deat bride In that spectral light Katherine Kather- Kather ine me sat st st. She Sho sat st quite quie motionless her hei eyes rarely leaving the face tace upon the tin pillow her hands clasped on her lap hap her hel face II like e marble At one fell fel rel swoop she sho had hal lost all all all-all all all-al all home friends fortune lover Ca father ther 18 name me anti and yet It I Is doubtful if IC in these first firs hours she suffered muCh much Sho could coult not hot realize it I yet yet the the su suddenness dennes am and horror of ot the blow had stunned her hysterics and tears and and womans woman's Uttermost ut uttermost uttermost ut- ut agony asony might come hereafter now nouv now she sho sat still and calm Her Hei leI heart hert lay Jay like a a. stone in her bosom a a. dull dul heavy pain vain throbbed ceaselessly ceaseless ceaseless- ly In her heath head but her misery miser was tearless q and anti dumb thumb Dr Graves watching her uneasily and furtively wondered what manner manne of or woman this girl was urns So unlike al nil al others he had ever ver known sitting slUing here hen without one ono complaint one sob one om cry cr of oC pain wl with her bridegroom lost los to her on her hel bridal night nigh the father who had adored h her dying before he her yes Anti And while the tho night light ight flickered and andl the two pale watchers sat st mutely there the Url bright wintry Int sun arose arose arose- fose the tie happy happ new lew year ha had begun A As AsIs Its Is 11 ret rays stole In between the closed cbs clos cosel cos- cos ed el curtains curtain the sick mans man's eyes opened opened open open- ed anti and he rallied a Jle little Ills His glance fell fel upon Katherine a a. swift gleam o of Intelligence lit lt his eyes his lips moved moved moved ed and anti a few Cew Incoherent words came cam forth ru In an Instant she sho was wa bending above aboe him lieu her ear to lo his lips D Darling papal aIJa yes what Is it I Il o halM to p nl but Lut again o ll l that tat muttered d Incoherent sound But the girls girl's quick ear had hind caught caugh three words Indian cabinet will cabinet will Ills His Ils thickening thick thick- ening failed his dim eyes ey s looked hooked look hook ed cd with wih piteous spee speechless agony UI up In hersA hersA hers A will wi In the Indian cabinet cabinet ls Ii that it I It papa He lie nodded ea eagerly a ell ell-a a Hash flash of oC light crossing crosing his face SAnd And nd you Oti 01 want me mae lo to get It I foi fOl or you OU Ho He nodded a again in Quick he hc sale said all huslI huskily a and she sho arose and anti left lee tho th ho room in Time The Indian cabinet was wa in the lie li Ii- Ii I- I There the lie lights still burned brightly anti and there on tho time her lover lovel had stood tood-tho tood the lover o el for COl whom sho she hind hall been ready to give tip up the thie world and all aU its Is glory glory anti and who mercie mercilessly I cast her olf ott She looked darl darkly ly that limit wa way once He Ite will wi lve live sh Sill sho all to he herself elf under her lien breath Awl And I will wi remember i it Then she sho cros crested ed to the thc tall tal cabinet opened Out drawer a after r another and ant searched among the lie papers thero there for rOl or the paper paper pa pa- 11 per she wanted Sho She found It I without much hou trouble le cosell closed an and amid l ell the tho cabinet and anti returned to lo to the sick sil room Sir John till s-till tJ la ha lay breathing laboriously with wih a hungry eager light in his gleaming eyes Shall I read lt I papa papa papa-Is Is that limit what you ou mean He lie nodded once more She opened the he paper it it was very yel er short short mind and read clearly and anti distinctly I Its contents content It I bequeathed to his beloved adopted I daughter nu Katherine the time hum suni m of lt three pounds the lounds-the the portion of oC his late wife and amI was unsigned She wie nl understood un tin- UI- UI Instantly what it was he hewish hC wished wish ed You want to sign this tb do you ou not Another eager enger nod nOlI another husky q She Sho laid the tue document upon tie the blotting book before him hun on the the bed bcd and amid placed lie Iho pen in his hand Dr Graves Glaves hastily summoned Captain D Dc D I Vero Vere and tho the two men stood by as us witnesses es while the stricken man es essayed es- es sayed to sign Es Essayed Essayed and in vain The Tho pen pel dropped useless from from flom his lits fingers Again Kather ine lifted timid and placed It in his hand hand again again no ho io Tho The e effort olt was futile futile it It fell el from his fingers finger and anti wih with a low how moan o of agony hl his nerveless nerve nerve- less les arm dropped by his side It I Is of no uie use use nil use use-al all vital vial power I Is gone He never nc will wi sign Ign hl his name again Dr DI Graves Gla said sall he lie I Is ex exciting ox- ox citing himself dangerously and u use e- e lessly lesl The he lying dying man heard hearel and anti un under linden r- r stood Ills His Ils |