Show A WONDERFUL WOMAN BY MAY AGNES FLEMING Katherine he lie sal said do lIo go on the stage You'll be an ornament to th the profession lon anti will turn an nn honest penny That speech that attitude e. e that hat gesture that tone were worthy the he Immortal Rachel herself her With the stage tage lamps lamp anti and an appropriate costume cos- cos ume tume turne a n speech half so o mole dramatic would bring down the house And if It you ou tIle lie you'll haunt me Dont Don't die tile youre you're Cathie youre you're too clever a woman to tobe tobe tobe be lost to the tile worl world And ghosts my lear ilear dear went out of fashion with the tile Castle of Otranto and anil the Iho Mysteries of or U Udolpho Think oven my proposal m my dear lear and good night night He looked back at her once as he stood tood there the leaping heaping firelight fullin full tulI tulIon Oh in on her white face and black robe andas and andas as he saw sav her then ho ha saw hel her sleepIng sleeping sleep- sleep Ing ng or waking all nih tile the rest of his life Then the tue leer door closed close an and was vas once more alone CHAPTER XVI XI Before Midnight ht Th The hours of tho tile evening wore on Sir Peter Dangerfield Dang had shut himself up In the tile lower rooms Non Oli the watch however for an any sound upstairs He lie had iad had his revenge revenge revenge-he ho had offered one of the tile proudest girls in England the he most deadly insult a man can offer otTel a woman It was the tho hour ilour of or his triumph but in ill the lie midst of or It all nIl he cit Celt strangely ch nervous and uneasy Dead or alive I will vill have my re re- re The he ominous words haunted him ilm In Iii the tho mouths of or other girls they woul have hn been heen melo inelo and anO meaningless Ilu but Dangerfield Dangerfield Danger Danger- field was not nol like other girls She them and would move nove heaven and earth to compass compa s her ends In her pretty wax-lit wax huhg hung room oom Katherine stood long and mo- mo s where whelo he lIe had left len her hem Her loo loosely ch clasped hands still sUII hung ilung before her her darld darkly brooding eyes yes never left tile the lire fire Her face kept its white changeless calm her calm her lips were set in III that hat hard hartl resolute bitter blUer line The sonorous clock over the stables striking eight awoke her at nt last from her trance She started up crossed tho the room oom like e one roused to n a determined and rang rang- the bell lell Ninon came Im going out Ninon Ninon-I Ninon I am going to o Castleford It may ma Inn be close upon midnight before I return and the house house will probably be shut up Walt Wait Waltor for or me at the lie door In Ill the southern turret and when I knock let me In lii But mademoiselle the girl cried to Castleford so late Inte and on foot und and alono alone I i dont don't mind the no lateness no one will molest me nie For the tho walk I canti can ti lo llo It in iii an hour and a quarter Do asI ns as I hid bid you Ninon and say Ray nothing to toan an anyone one of or my absence rhe The French girl knew her mistress too oo well to disobey but she lingered for or a moment at the door looking lookingback lookingback back wi wistfully II She Sho loved this tills Impetuous Impetuous Im ml- young oung mistress who scolded col cd her vehemently one instant and made it up lii the tile next b by a present of oC her best silk dress She loved her as all nIl the tho I servants In lit the house did and an never ne so well tell a as now jiow If oh Ir If oh Mademoiselle Inc lne dont don't be he an angry I but If Ir you ou would ouid only let me inc go Co with you Tile The way wn Is Iss isso s so o long lon and alIt so lonely and coming home It will be so 0 late Mademoiselle I I beseech you youl let me mu go too You foolish child ns child-as as If Ir 1 I cared for forthe forthe forthe the lateness or tho the loneliness It Is only onh happy people who have anything an to o fear All that Is past for tor or me Go Ninon and amI do precisely precise as ns I tell you youIr Ir If f you OU are still so sill silly as ns to have ilave an any lovo hove left for tor or such as I I. I Tho The girl obeyed oboe reluctantly hoverIng hover- hover hoverIng hoverIng Ing aloof on eu the landing In five e utes 1108 the door opened and Miss Dan Dan- wrapped In a velvet mantle mantIc and wearing her little black velvet hat a appeared You here still Ninon Do you QU know If IC f Sir Mr Sir Peter she Dangerfield Dangerfield she she set her lips hard as she spoke the tile name name nanie Is anywhere in the passages below 7 lie He is in the library mademoiselle ile shau not So much the better better we we meet then Lock Locle m my door Ninon and keep the kc key until m my return She sidell down the tile stairs ns as she he spoke dark antI and noiseless as a spirit She Sho met no one Sir Peter was busy over nor papers tho the servants were Vel In ill their own quarters tho house was more silent allent than a tomb SoW Softly sue she open opened ll and closed the ponderous portico door and Hilled d out Into the night It H was vas clear nn and cold and time the the moon had not yet et arisen I It In that light no one she sue met would b h be likely to recognize her The Januar wind In blew keen anti cold and she drev rew her lined fur velvet closer ClOSel about herand herand her and sped on with swift light elastic clastic steps The rile walk wail was unspeakably lonely Until the lights of the town forth through the starry stany darkness sin she shedid did lid not Ilot meet m et a soul She Sh had so rapidly that she idle was out of brentland and in Iii a n glow of warmth She slackened slack slack- enc ened her pace now flOW making for tor or r a ade de buck back street and paU pausing finally before tile the quiet room roomy old old- fa fashioned known as tile the Silver Rose HO Does Docs a lady named Mrs 18 Ya asor lodge here The Tile landlord of the Silver Rose Ros started to his 1115 feet feel as tile the soft accent ac fell upon his ills ear The next moment momen he lIe was tas bowin bowing boving low lO before leore the lie slender black robed figure and the tile two grave lave gray eyes The Tile heroine of the lla day the talk taik olie o othe or orthe the lie town the lie reputed repute daughter of Ih tin late Sir John Dangerfield stood before him Yes Miss Katherine Please cornIn come corn comeIn comeIn In bout hout of the he cold Mrs Irs Ya asor does lodge e here but bul at al present sh happens to lo be he bout hout Will she sue soon return 7 Well Miss Katherine I really couldn't say but I think It like likely She dont don't hoften be he hout hoven as late as this tills If Ie you would please to comeIn come COlliC comeIn In and walt wait looking at her lId doubtfully doubtfully doubt doubt- rUll fully anti and pausing If It ii you will show me up tip to her room I will wait the thc young lad lady answered I fIr must list see her tonight If you knew where she was you might send The landlord shook his head I r dont don't kIlO know lenow Miss Dangerfield She goes roes hout ver very seldom anti and never stays slays s 's long Tills This way If It you ou Ho lie held helel a candle aloft nn and led letl Iho tho way say upstairs and flung open a door on Oil tile the landing above This be he 11 1 Mry I room Take fake a s seat cat lJ by the fire Miss f J and 1111 I 1 shell she'll be bo soon lIe He went out closed the door Katherine stood In the tile center of or the room and anti looked about her with a certain amount of ot curiosity In her face Tile The room was furnished after the lie stereotype fashion of such rooms I A few fow French novels about were wele the only things to betoken the tue Individuality of the tile occupant The Thedoor loom door of or the chamber opening from flom the apartment stood ajar and 1001 looking In with the tho thome same me searching searchIng- gaze something some some- thing familiar caught the Iho girls girl's eye at once The bed bell was wa an old fashioned four- four poster hun hung unwholesomely with curtains curtains cur cur- Beside this bed hed was a little table scattered 11 over o with eared dog-eared novels fashion fa books bonI bon- bon I hand mirrors and ani other womanly litter In the center stood an Indian box of or rare beauty and und workmanship recognized It in iii a n moment It was one of or hers iler h a farewell ell gift from a military friend when l leaving India She remembered how ho more mOlO than once Mrs Irs Va asor hall hail admired a it among tho the In Indian In- In han dian treasures In her iler room how all all all' I at once It had vanished mysteriously anti and now no hero here II it was was short upper lip curled scornfully So she sho sail said alt you ou are a thief ns as aswell well ns as an nn an ess You havo Ilave stolen m my ny box Let Letus Letus Letus us se see e to what use you ou have ha put poor little Brandon's Ensign gift She Sho walked deliberately Into the tho sleeping room au and amid took look up UI the casket It closed and anti locked with a secret spring sprin spring she she she touched It and tho the lid flew back It contained a slim packet of letters tle tied with ribbon and an old- old fashioned miniature painted on Ivor ivory in a ca case e of or velvet ornamented with with seed pearls In ever every nature there are arc depths of ot evil that some somo to lo light under r the lie in influence Influence In in- fluence of adversity Who Vho Is not virtuous virtuous vir vir- vir tUU who who d-who who is not honorable honor honor- able untried The rho dark side of or Catherine's Catherines nature that lint might havu have lain aln dormant and unsuspected even b by herself forever In the sunshine of prosperity was asserting asserting- Jt Itself now She Sho he deliberately read the lie address onlie on the lie letters The Tho paper was ws yellow ollow I ISho with time the time Ink faded but the f bold fun firm masculine hand was perfectly per pcr- legible still Miss lIs Harriet Le Le- lachem 35 Rosemary Place l Kensington Reusing Kensing ton ton that that was tas the tho address She turned from rain the letters pres pressed pressec d the Iho spring of tiC the Iho picture case ant and looked at the portrait within Like the tho letters tune time had fa faded ed it It but the bold masculine bo boyish face Cace ace smile smile-i up UI at her hel with a brightness that lint ever even evera evena a score of or years could not mar I Iwas It II was tho lie eager handsome handsom beardless face of or a youth in the tIll first Hush 01 ci or manhood with lips that smiled am an and ande e eyes es that were alive A A brave gentlemanly face faco Katherine Kath Kath- erine thought What hat could a mm mar like this ever evel have had hati to do will with her hel Is this the lo lover lor r she he spoke of from front whom m my mother part parted her herAle Are Ale the these e letters from him him Was Vas her hei name Harriet Lelacheur instead o 01 of Harman Barman You may muy keep keel my m In box Mrs MIS and welcome am ant antI amI and andI I will wili keep Its contents With the tho same Mme steady deliberation she put the lie letters and picture picture- in hot hei pocket ami jack back Into the thic other room Thero vasta n hard liGht ill Iii her hel eyes an expression on II her fac o not ilOt pleasant to see On the road I am am walking thc then thre thenIs rt Is no turning back To accomplish 1 tho the aim of or my life I must do O U to C Cothers others other as J 1 have havo been done b by Mrs 1 an and Peter Peler Dangerfield shah find me an apt pupil Ah at Ah-at at last here she Is She Silo turned anti and faced the lie door A Ashe As she did so so It was thrown Impetuous open and tho lie woman sh she hated hate stood stood before her liei It was Mrs last night In Castleford Castleford her la last t night she he made macic up her mind forever It was all nil over The romance and revenge and the tho triumph of her hei life were ele finished an and done She had wrought out her vendetta to the ito bitter end dId Her lIer price Illice had hud been paid twice tice tYer With twenty t thousand as her hor fortune she would return to tt Paris launch out Into a n. life lifo of or splendor splendor dor and end n by marrying a title still handsome I r am still young young still by by gaslight t. t she used n standing before tho he mirror und anti an surveying herself herself her her- self critically I 1 am one of those fortunate women omen who wear ear well antI and light up well eli The French are mu right in saying Ing you OU cant can't tell toil a woman from Crom froma Croma rain raina a gnat by b lamplight With my m twenty t cn t ty thousand pounds my knowledge of this wicked world orld my host of or friends what ilat a life liCe lies before mo me in my own delightful city cily of or sunshine Yes tomorrow to- to morrow I will ill go there here is nothing 1 lo to linger in this stupid plodding country country coun coun- tr try town for fOI longer unless longel unless unless I. conn-I. It bo be to see eo h her hei r in her downfall She paced softly up and down n the little sitting silling room Tho rho hour was early twilight an nn hour Mrs Va hated Hero here were no iio tender lender twilight memories to come with the tho ml misty ty stars Gaunt specters of crime an and shame and poverty CIt haunted horribly tho lie dark record that lay behind this So the lie curtains were drawn ind the lie lamp lit and tile the firelight on OIl the masses of or braided ll black hair hail and the tile trailing robe of wino vino silk r I should like hike to tn see ee her In the tho hour Ilour of or her downfall sue she repeated I 1 daugh- daugh h- h should hould like It to see sc cc her mothers mother s and pain 1 I havo o I. I leI Cl in iii tho the poverty PO felt rett And I shall one duy 1113 lla but not net Somehow Somehow-I Somehow I am nm neither superfluous super super- riot nor a a. co ar coward hut but I feel halt half to meet that girl I can can see ier now ns as she came Caine gliding forward In n that ghostly way in her bridal dress i. i f. f white stone and those of or hat face wild wide S ee eyes Ah m my la lady y my myad a hour of your triumph Ind ad ady In tho the day low Ow little you ou dreamed that m my 1 come too t o. o and down a n. She walked softly up alit anI subtle nn and most evil smile on boyark her boy ark Jark small face The striking of the tho if little Ittle clock on the mantel aroused her hOl it was wll eight anti and she sIte had an errand In Castleford before all the lie shops closed for Cor th the Iho night 1 Sh She Sho put on her hor bonnet wrapped herself In a n large fluffy shawl and tripped away awny She was barely in time lime whither she was lo to C reach the station bound before till tho locked 7 his door She Sho bade him good g night In her sweetest tories tones and arid w wJ walked J ed i at the tile great grent homeward arll glancing up winter stars burning in the lie purple bright t sl sky An Anti W Sh John is dead and anti Sir Peter Petel reigns ns Sic transit gloria mundi mun- mun di dB Poor little pitiful wretch It was like wringing his vcr very er hearts heart's blood to part with hl his ed guineas to tu tomo tomo mo yesterday L I I- wonder Iwonder how iio he lie nUll anti uncrowned un tin- tr m my haughty my queen crowned get Jot on UI together up UI nt fit the tho great leat hOIl house c. c anti and I 1 won wonder vonder cr how Ill my handsome Gaston does this cold Januar January January Jan Jan- uary nl night ht Ugh She shivered rel un under under un- un der her furred wraps Sho She was a achilly chilly Chili little woman This beastly British climate And to lo think tt lo III think that thai but bul for or me inc she Silo would ho bo far Car awn away avay In fair fall foreign lauds lands by hy I j this time enjoying her honeymoon the tho bride brille of a man she he adored Yes Yc J 1 I may |