Show r COPYRIGHT BY fly O I k h fl e c y j d. d j j a 1 5 oj 1 L ADY AD MURIEL 1 P. A was ac k noy 1 to be a very cry beautiful girl ir rJ t e eby L by her ber enemies She smiled as she the slowly descended the tho st stand stairs and md entered the room where C Gor dou clan a some handsome mar man of and t a awaited her Hope llope I haven't kept you w lit lit- I ng ing Gordon she ehe s said eaid d with the A easy east composure of o thc the mod girl rJ Dear Door me mc how serious thus vou looV loot I 1 feel 1 replied tho man taking the Jim plim aristocratic little hand in r r his I have something to ti tell teIl you vou Oh She flushed a little and arid laughed Well please dont don't Bay ay nn anything t ling serious be fo fore we havo haro tea a. a If you jou ou do clo I shall collapse k The tea t arriving g at this t is juncture jun turc ehe she J ed cd to dispense it talking gaily Gad the thc while i a and rather h as M if to ward wro-d off the thc sos soi some tIllO thing serious as long as 38 possible I nut But at ht last her stock of small talk was triS ex hausted d. Tea was disposed of an and with a F si Figh of resignation sh she felt she was face I c to f with rith it I Shall I begin b ra now he asked f Please Plea e do she ahe lie murmured and let ns us heit he ho hoit hope it isn't int anything very cry terrible Of Oi o course he was about abou to propose She v c 19 quite sure of that And she ehe had very cry neat nea made nade up her mind to accept him nut But why t the d did V he set t about it in this ridiculous ri fashion W V Vh r do men n never nc understand that it is difficult i ia for a girl to say r ry Yes ills His v vs was wasn n enough h to frighten the courage out of any gi rl Something has happened within the Is Ia Jast twenty four four hours hou which must affect my who whole j life me he hc began be n. n I Oh m my a tone exclaim c UI the J girl rJ I 1 am sorry he said still gravely Gra eh but I cant can't help it Muriel T I think think-I I am am sure y yc rou must nus have seen that I love Jote you yoa oa I was going I to ask aek you ou today to lo give si yourself to me to me to b become be- be come COne my wife wile She held her breath Gordon arl tl iii the rising barrister was a n. man mm of tact tac as anil a rule ruh Now ow there was lS something awkward almost ba bemus in his manner I Before I can do that however cr he went oi Oil I I have bue a n queer tale talc to tell I have e been bee C brought up to believe c that m my name is Gordo Gordon It is not I am am Gordon Masters Master the facts arc are tb these e 1 was 15 m n mothers mother's name The man she married was Mas ai as an dealer art named Harold Harol Masters rasters About s a year after r I was born bom he be e got cot into difficulties di forged another mans man's name for a large Ja e sum of oi money and was sentenced to seven years' years penal servitude S silent All tIl the t e eIt He Hc paused Lady TAd Muriel 1 was w s Ci I cJ had bad gone bone out of her face The The Tho shock killed LilIed my wy mother went on the It n a tand Jn her only on brother took charge of inc m. 1 J n JUB n out that I l' Iwa was the son of a lJ hi his who had kid died n abroad road My Iy uncle moved ri t tout oi out ou ouo o of the district in which he had always lived for lor t the e purpose of oi co co wring my my- myreal real identity it It and he be had been fond omi W was s In my mothers mother's r wish and of herAll her herAU herAll All AU this of court cour c happened man ninny many years ago o but I had always a notion that there was vaa connected with birth Now v my 5 some ome o e mystery by b merest chance the truth has slipped out hours a ago no I discovered d than twenty four Camberwell Workhouse father in father in s ir r my i A low exclamation broke b oke from froID the girls girl's slips lips The lne air was as charged with tragedy I UI brought brou ht him away wil with wilm m ino me yesterday lY evening enin he added gravely ely lie He t lIc is 18 now living with iu me inc j in my flat fiat silence of Then lien there were several sc minutes pale pale as as pale as lady T i Vin face bee was very understood the thc character char char- els el's had become lIe He acter acLer of oi the woman he bc loved fd better than she ix L. L know knew it herself herscH She was WIlS not romantic nor There was s a n ambitious sentimental she was m their respective h e stations wide margin behn between n the daughter of oi a wealthy peer pro proud d She hie was her liar prejudices in all aristocratic In and of her race of plain dices He lle was the n adopted nephew a n f. f gentlemAn with a small but comfortable country be fortune Her husband whoever ho he might e. e lIe He mus must have bare must have mind an and character distinction in himself and in m Gordon of the future instinct inE 54 a man say saw her woman's womans wonderful with wilh to he her attitude He lie understood accuracy d lightness 1 ht ness After all 11 he be observed obet WIt with h forced force I business isn't it 7 it is rat rather lc a serious Her lIer face was c grave did not answer The girl The atory he had told her was ras alm almost t ludicrous instinctive feeling at lot It 11 bewildered her bel and her the W was c that it made marriage ir Gordon nn an impo we yo jump t to conclusions he hc w won ent on In nn an almost cheerful tone I think I know the t c ext extent nt of your our ambitions Muriel el I sos I times hm s I have bow borr you would regard rae me if I 1 failed Dont Do t. t talk like that also said sharp Then in 10 a slightly altered What tone ear say to you 1 am ao very sorry sorry- T I I. I have found my father inquired Yin Yin- V chart raising his e eyebrows If lie he had been 1 wealthy man even cn though ho had been the b i gest rogue in hi England I suppose c would have me mc and he would bare ha been cen r received cc ed everywhere with ith open arms arni s As It is IS 11 he it is a dear m old oh fellow not fot n. n bit more nor viciouS than yo or I I can I bel be- be l ve that t this is one lapse lape of Isis hig was the sins sin le lec c crime me of a lifetime lie strikes me as being t thc kind of man who blunders into oto wrong doin through h sheer she s of will But Dut of cour all tIlls is 19 the point I am going ns to toa Jt lea l c you yon to think hh the matter over oter You musts musti mustn't male make up your our mind too quickly Muriel there is IS no going back May Ia I call caU afternoon Tomorrow is always s n a long way off when os osis one is i twenty one ca and d she agreed eagerly It we sees seem ed to M i her hr that she could arrange her ideas wi wil with case se before belOre four twenty four ty hours passed So 80 Gordon went away with a curio curious smile about the corners corners of his hia clean mouth I think Fhe he be loves to e me he lie whispered to I h his own awn heart and her love Jove will iU stand tand this teat teat o 0 qi O 0 0 o oThe The twenty four hours passed slowly and hea v. ly and for once the young barrister barris r found it difficult to bend his mind to work orIc Hut i his watch indicated an hour hoUrat at nt which 1 F he hemi mi night ht venture to call at Square I JI rA Ia Lady Lally Muriel at home he inquired No Xo sir her hor ladyship has gone one a abroad rond SI Sli She and ind her maid left for Paris this morn morning there And And there is no message The only message sir was that if Mr rr Vii Vir Vin art lart should call I was to say she he had gor gon broad abroad for some pome time and didn't know she he would return Thank oU you Good afternoon said paid Gordon Gordo indart with a timbre tim re in his voice that madic madiso mad made iso ic smug manservant ant jump lie II muttered Thus Tha So that is m my answer is the precise market value 10 of a n woman woman's love lo o e o 0 o oTen Ten o'clock Raid lUid old Mr Ir Masters with r rance n ance at It big bili sons son's prove grave nwe face Dinner had beer been enro in the barristers barrister's pl pleasant lant bachelor lint Hat md id sd the two men had been e n sitt sitting n chatting for foi me time o over er the fire tire cr Whatever Gordon Gordor is as suffering from the blow received that after after- noon ion on his hi father saw nothing of it Gordon I want ant to ask you OU something he lie 61 VI id abruptly Ask sk on sir sir faint blue luo eyes were turned on him 3 Wi Will Viii mv my my-my my coming here ller do O you OU any harm I like to injure you my boy My f It is g not not a creditable one People might taUt talk t n tusk tl Vj ut ehe r. r hold my y own 0 easily e n here father makes me mo very et happy ba ni a have von vou think you are nrc not welcome n nhe or all nU the world orid The he old oM m nuns nun's ng lips lip bem nn as R he be rose fros the chair with wilh the help of his non's sona arm ann You m might ht want to pet get ct married he be sai id A girl might no not care to t marry mury a n an man n 55 father was was was-was was like mel melVe me We Ve will speak of Jf that when vh n the t. t time lime le comes id 1 I Gordon still speaking lightly h I I give you yoa In word sir air there is n one in jn the world who Vl is nt it all ll likely to come between en you and nd me The lie he old fellow smiled and shook Ins his head not to bo be bee boe b that I ought feeling I-i I I T have ha a n e Gordon Gor on he be said It seems too good to last t. t Good night my boy Goo Good ni night t. t sir bir Gordon returned to his scat seat by br the t e fire Cro uI lIe He must never ner break k his the truth he lie murmured It It would bre hC rt s I later Inter the barrister returned to toI evenings c Tw wo day in ill court his I chambers after a t wearisome TIis S i servant met tact him with nu an anxious face u Anything wrong Sadler No sir air only only a o Mr MJ Masters went left this morning nn and h he out b soon after you ou nt come back bade lie ITo Ie left heft a n note not for you sir lr Gordon Jordon tool took the mi missive and hIS hia face whiten whiten- he read It was a letter of farewell cd as concluded it U Dont try to to trace me mc Gordon never return but I shall lill aln always s 's rember re re- r ber our om happy limo time together to ether anti and an hope God II 1 bless my boy and ond all nIl Isis his work ok oklIe On OnS forward Cot into the sitting lIe Ie Lie went Chatterer a week week- table lay n a copy of The uThe the S illustrated journal It lay open at a page deo do do- 11 society gossip The barristers barrister's face ace as am o cd ted cl to V t io I L f fH J H S. SU L 47 t c 0 J Sil 4 T s 's I fifO Yr A 77 ff reEL 7 7 2 ro 1 Ad certain turned bi hid bia eye fell upon a paragraph from white to furious red We Va regret wrote VIole the part that an engagement which we te rather anticipated having baying soon to announce is not likely to ma trul- The couple concerned a a well known and brilliant barrister and the beautiful daughter daugh daugh- ter of a wealthy and distinguished nobleman nobleman- were svere on the point if of f bc being ng engaged when a strange thing happened Our brilliant young oung barrister discovered that he lie had a n father an and of all places in the world his father was in the workhouse Moreover cr the tho fathers father's past life hie seems to have c been not altogether free r from rom a knowledge of one of his Majesty's prisons Our barr barrister stel far from rom ignoring the existence of such an un undesirable parent brin brings s the old od fel let letlow fellow fellow low home makes him royally welcome and proceeds proceeds proceeds pro pro- presumably to acquaint the lady Jady of his choice with his good goad fortune 7 the daughter dau of the distinguished nobleman rushes off to Paris with all haste hoste where here so EO rumor has hasit hasit hasit it she listens to the compliments of an Austrian Prince who may or may not be the superior of our barrister with the time big he heart We Yc make the spoiling spoil no comment further than to say that in ing of or what promised to be a n pretty prett romance b is 3 a matter for lor sincere regret S 0 o 0 0 to Paris is and aDlI Lady Muriel 1 stayed a month in then returned not home home not however howe to Square but to Frayne Manor Imor her beautiful country scat seat fied with wilh herself The first fast She was iI di dissatisfied sati thing that greeted her on her return to England was The uThe Ch Chatterer Of course she he was very cry ashamed felt more than a little also she angry She had her own ideal of what a woman oman should she felt Celt that she had fallen far do and be be and short of it had Besides an on in uncomfortable conviction con that her affection for Gordon her crept over o had b be be- than she reality reaM was a Q greater hum humiliating discovery and it lie cd It was a n smallest smallest small small- came too loo late She could ne never er make the est cat advance nd towards reconciliation and it was certain that he hi would never ne do so bo possible from these tb e To get away as much as to an nn unwonted un Un- gloomy reflections she forced herself berscH her tenantry and in conse cons consequence wonted interest in m car became a familiar tho the big touring quence l along the lanes and object crawling noiselessly halting at cottage doors tIme the inevitable in Returning one evening c to the Manor fanor evitable accident happened While hile negotiating awkward ward corner an au old man appeared apparently ap apparently ap- ap an nn down under and went from nowhere the district the There being no hospital in car and put to tobed tobed tobed taken straight to the Manor he was the In Iu short time a doctor was on bed there a of the unconscious figure figure fig fig- scene Ills Hia examination broken he bones ure nrc was brief There were no would be con- con said Mid but the shock hock to the system tem and time Ho lie must lie sUB still for some somo meantime it would be bewell bl bewell be bc kept quiet In the who ho he was ascertain if possible well cn to lo overhauling Lady Muriel was present at the tIme and WIDe sonic papers his hia pockets There were ere of po cards Glancing at atthe atthe atthe old visiting three or four on the latter Lady Muriel the Harold liar Har Tho The name was vas started and turned pale old Masters Jast I LOlL al alone Lady und eat down do and turned 0 over the bundle of papers In so 80 doing she came upon a 1 square leather case c containing a piece of oi old oM parchment covered co with faint old old fashion fashion fashion- cd writing ng and azul a miniature The Tho latter was a a. K beautiful work of art mounted mount d in a 0 gold Jold frame frome set Het et with jewels It displayed the portrait of alady a alady lady ln in the dress of Charles II's period Lady Muriel gazed at it jf in astonishment It was waa a aP au P portrait of her ancestress the same ame which hung in the u i long Ions lon gallery at Manor How lIow came it it into such hands Her agitated mental ues question on was fully answered answered an nn by a perusal of tho the accompanying manuscript manu- manu script The Thc story sory of the miniature briefly told was this In the days of or the great Civil War there were two neighbors neighbor One of them was Sir John Frayn her ancestor and nd tho tim other Harold Masters Sir John Frayne had bad a very Tery b beautiful the lady of the tho n miniature When the war wl broke out Sir John went to London on business and i begged be cd his friend to take charge of hi house during his absence One day a n troop of or horsemen appeared They Th y were j ill disciplined fellows commanded comm by b a man of ill re pule These were lawless 8 times and Harold Masters persuaded his friends friend's wife Kile to secrete herself m in a secret chamber The troopers drank freely of the cellars cellar's store sto tor and then demanded that the Lady Muriel should Uld appear and play host hostess Masters Mastera foreseeing for foreseeing ein the worst flatly re |