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Show I I UPS I THAT WERE I 1 SEALEDl M III I IWHIMHIIIIIIIIIIimill " m :; Alma Martin Estabrook : H Author of "Mp Cotutn Patricia" H H 1 PICTURES BY A. WEIL m iftttttttttttttttttttttttitJ H (Coyyrlicht, by J. II, Upplncott Co.) B (Continued froM last week.) H dlsrovoert, niul tiat you wcro without H oven tlio Boinhlnnco of honor. Ho nri H in lit cd UiIh with (lingular roluctnnco, H Mr. Ankony, for t think you know that H ho trusted you ns not ninny men iiust H their follown," H Alio paused, hor oyoa on his face. H II In muttered reply was not coherent, H unil alio wont on'at onco! H "When ho saw-you at last as yoi H really worn, ho determined to prono- H cuto you; but thoro :am) IiIh hint lout; H illnuss and IiIh death, and nfturwnrd H my heart kad softened a llttlo to you Hj und I bad not tho mind hotildo to put H Hhtuno titul corruw upon your mother, H no I did nothing. Hut whon 1 hoard H the a matting news that you hnd .ro H peaed to marry a 1rl llko Ilarbra H lleinlsgray, I crhio back to Aiuurlcn H to tell jnra tltaft ysu uuct give " 'P H or the delayed proacut!oB will begin M at H Then he apokn "You understand B what thin ia you nuk of tuef" he anld H H, "Perfectly," alio nodded, nful hor H tone waa'lewn unkindly. "If I did not H know Juat how awcet and lovely and H full of graoa and Innocoueo hIiii Ik, I might perhaps havo stayed away and H loft you to your wooing." H There was a long alienee. H "You demand largo interest, Mrs. H Dines," he said. H "Accumulated Interest la always ' H large," ahe retorted. "Hut I do not H wlah to humiliate you any inoro than H la necessary. You iniiHt, of course, H bring to an Immediate end thin uufor- H tuuatu nnKHRtimonl I believe you H 21!?ril t bAve boon married at noon, r J r --V rayou not?" 8he glsuced at thu H clock. "You have not much tlmo. H Homo part of the truth Minn Hem- H ingray must know. Hut you may iniiko i H your own explanation nsldo from that H 1 only exact that alio nhall ho made to H undoratnud that whatever nbnsu ot B obligation nha may have outortulnmt H for you la dlsHlpntod," H Ankony colored painfully and made H reply. B "1 nhall not lutrudo upon you fur- H, tlior", nlio Huld; "hut I dvalrn you to H undorntnud Umt 1 am pnpnrcd to do H) nil that I any I will do In cuuo you H do not yield to my ntlpulatlou. I huvo Hi with me tho papor which Icavo no H room for doubt n to your kuIIL flhull H 1 ttlvo thorn to Mr. TwIuIiik. your H attoruoy?" H( "I am tho attorney of thu company H' of which Mr. Ankony la tho prosldont, H madam," I aald; "but In no oiihc " H "It la not worth while," Aukony In H Mra, Much bowed. "My own at tor- H noy, Mr. Dean, ban oxamlnod thu pa H", puru, and ho will toll you" B '" "If ho hau not ulrondy donu ho," H ,' Mian WluativnK' uuturod, aa hor one H llttlo shot B ! "That 1 am nblo to carry nut my H plana," Mra. DIuuH tlulHhed. "Ilut I H think you will boo tho wlttdom In fob H lowing tho lusa nsKroHulvo couro," B ' "You lenvo mo no choice In tho mat- tor," ho aald bitterly, "1 am tho un M dor dot; In thu tlcht" H "Tho under doa la ofton to blame H 1 for tho tight." aho aald, toraoly. H vt She apprtinched thu door, and I Hril, bold It open for her, H !f "Do you anil alone by the lloutwoh- H f laud, Mr. Ankony?" hu uakml, turning. H He Hiulled grimly. H "I shall 8iU,nlon." ho said. H CHAPTER XI. B Onco In thu corridor Mm. Dines pufy H . out an unsteady hand to her friend, M I "My tablets, Henrietta. It la so an- H 1 hoy I u C to bo wooh." H c "Weak!" echoed Mlaa Wlnatnnley: H '"you were mnKntllcent!" Sho clicked M -open her bos und prtduced a small M vrhlte b . wliose ltd aho quickly Hj nllppcd, oxtendliiR H to tho Hutferlng m lady, while t begKod them to conio m Into my otlUn until Mra. Dluoa had B i rosted nnd folt a llttlo rocovcrvd. Hut H f Mrs, Wiu'h declined. I H ' "Wo muat go to Harbnra at once.", W 8ho eald. "Why, tho poor child ! k-P' probably RottliiR Into her wedding-' Hf ' KQWn ul (h,s m,m(t0' ?" of -t H ' ' Ankony will co to hor, of course, with H v Homu oxplanatton; but aho muxt have H ', onnutsh of tho truth fiom us to prevent Hi any further mistake." Km a "And oh tho blessed relief It -ilV to nor J" breathed Mfaa Wfnatnnlpy. "You forget that nho may love him," I suKKcatcd. Mra. Dines spun round on me at that llko a huge, lahorloualy nplnnlng top. "You think that poaalblo? Oracloua hcavon, I hope not! 1 came to bring her happlneaa, not to break her heart." "You need hare no fear an to thnt," Mlna Wlnatanley hantened, nnsurlngly. "You hare done her a aorrlce beyond words. You aeo, h has beon very clever In cnrrylng forward her p.irt of tho hideous program which nho mapped out, and her cleverness has deceived Mr. Twining. I am willing to atako everything I havo that nho dociin't lovo Ankony, and that aho does" Hhe paused, her significant glance full upon me. Mrn. Dines lifted her brows, and, comprehending middcnly, held out her hnnd to mo with gratifying and unexpected unex-pected warmth. "I hopollonrlotta In right, Mr. Twining" Twin-ing" sho aald; "I do Indeed." You cannot hopo It as I dV I re-pllnl re-pllnl earnestly; "but I have non-s of her aenurnucc, and a groat inr.iy douhtii." "Wo ahnll moo," declared MIbh Win-ntnnley Win-ntnnley bltlhcly. Wo wont down to tho cnrrlngo In nllonce. Thero, wo found tho Wlnntau-ley Wlnntau-ley conehmnn about to ascend with u tp'.egrnm which a houno servant hnd Just brought, knowing his mistress wan to make her llrnt visit to Ankony nnd hoping to find hor thoro. 8ho cllir.bed Into the cnrrlage, opened tho mcnHnge, read It, wont so white I wnn mire she wna going to faint, and held it out to me without a word. I read It with amazement and a conscience thnt gnvu mo noinc decided decid-ed twlngos. "Married;" I oxclalmed;' "Hlshop Wlnstnnloy married! And to tho Blntlno!" "What!" cried Mrs. Dines; "did I sraro him llko that?" Her pallor gave way to a rush of color, and, lenning back, she laughed till bur eyes fairly brimmed with tears. Thttio was no altltudlnl.lug about It; aho was simply overcomo with the humor of tho altuatlon. and I ho,vd earnestly that tho blshbp'H aisle would gradually yield herHelf to It alao. At present nho showed no ilgna ;Of it. "(let in," ahe said to me; "we can't ilicuis It here." Obeying, we rolled decorously off. Mrs. Dines' hand went out and cov urel her friend's. "Mr dear, can you aver forgive mr for precipitating auoh a thing aa this' she asked anxlotislr. Mlas Wlnstatoley shook her head "You you didn't do It," abo mur mured; "he has been--been carrying . ! pressed rotten; I uuppono any one el( vnuld havo known what that meant but Idenr heaven, how could l be llcvo such a thing?" aho walled. "And i to elopo oh, Hnnuuli, think of It Charles to olope!" Mrs, DIuoh' laugh rumbled forih ho . ' contagiously that to save mn I could ' not help echoing it softly. "That's Just what I am thlnl h.K f, , dear," uhu said. "To think of hlH iuuiK I Inthg that ho had to tly from poor me i , llko that! It's no funny! Oh, do try to moo how very funny It Is, Henrlot-I Henrlot-I ta," and she sobbed In her enjoyment I of tho nfTulr. J I "It u ubnurd and unforgtvable, Bald i Miss Wlnstnnloy austerely. t Tho large hand tightened ovoi hers, tind Mrs. Diuen' tones became iturlouH. "You aro not to hold It against him. . Promise, mo that. Take It out of mo, ' but don't spoil his happiness by con- surlug htm. I'm tho one to bo pun- ! Ished, for anybody can see thnt the ' j hastening Is entirely duo, to mo. I j J nupposo If I had any vanity- I'd be get- j I ting my punishment right uitlw, but, I unfortunately, my sonnu of fiYe humor-I humor-I ous outwolghs my vanity and l can onlyonly--oh, Henrietta, for good-hobs' good-hobs' irnkrt, Inugh!" A faint a very faint twinkle lit In Mtss Wlustanley'a hurt eyes. "It la absurd for him to run away j from ub llko this," sho said. "For you know, Hannah, I was arrayed with , you." Hor friend nodded warmly, laughter laugh-ter dancing oyer her face and in and out among the copious chins. "Sho Is really a charming girl," 1 mi i, "Who Is she, anyway?" asked Mrs. Dines. "To think of my not asking that before!" "Miss Streeter." said I; "a cousin of Mra. Jack Ankony." "Not Cecelia Streeter! You don't tell me! Why. Henrietta, dry your eyes; this match was mado lu heaven. Sho wna born for the bishopric bishop-ric Think how ahe looks tho part." "So I am alwnyB reminding Miss Wlnstsnley," I ventured. "Then that's nil sho ever does," yallcd her slster-ln-law miserably. "Oh, by no means. You greatb mis-Judge mis-Judge her," Mre. Dines conteuded. "Sho Is calm, 1 grant you, but a bishop's bish-op's wife should bo calm. No, really, Blnco your brother wouldn't hae me, I don't kuow whero he could have I done better. Hesldos, she's prodigious ! ly rtcm, you know. What! You dldnt j know? Oh, yes. Immensely so. My . i oor llttlo dot looks small beside hera She doosn't talk aboot IL i - ' ' r 1 i ' "To Run Awayl" She Moaned; "at Charles Aae-" uuoii nne iniK uuuui nnytninftr , Inquired. "Sirs. Dines shot mo an amused ginnco over her friend's head. i "tillenco Is nn excellent oualifloittou for a bishop's wiro, I'm sure. Mr. Twin lug; then she isn't always getting her-Bclf her-Bclf and thu diocese Into troublo. Now, neo hore, Henrlottn. eonslderinc her looks and her reserve nnd he; money, surely you might forgive her for letting your brother run off with her." "It's vory good of you to try to cheer mo up," Miss Wlnatnnley responded, re-sponded, vaguely., "And It'B downright foolish or you to hold out against so beautiful an arrangement. ar-rangement. To my mind this la as admirable a match all round as I have known of In a very long time. So do cheer up and bo glad. Don't you agree with me, Mr. Twining?" "Most heartily, as Miss Wlnstaaley kaows," said T. That llttlo lady was not. however. 1 ready to yield herself at onco to taa , sudden situation. "To run away!" she moaned; "at I CharlM' aso!" "Out don't you see that It's a great compliment to mo?" smiled Mrs. Dines. "Let me gqt thnt much out of it, won't you? It shows how much confldenco he has lu my getting what I want You nee, he didn't know what Brought tu'toVUnerlca, and, fob lowlag ea tho auehfw my proposal to him, it really seemed, you know, that I was coming to cnarry him, whether or bo. You can sou for yourself how the peer dear man muat hnve foil D.'d an imagine, I- wonder, that i? everything else failed I should kldnai him? Well, I forgive him oven that And I want you to forgive him, Hen rlotta. You must That's a good. Bcnslblo alstcr. And now It's quite time wo cumu back to our mutton. Tell the mas to drlra uo to tho Hem-ingraya', Hem-ingraya', will you, Mr. Twining? It you don't feel up to going in, Henrietta, Hen-rietta, I'll go alone, but ono of u must certainly seo Barbara at once." "Then you may lot mo down ut the Fifteenth street corner or the Square," said 1. "I'll get along back to the oHlco." Ab tho carriage stopped, Miss Win-Stanley Win-Stanley bent forward, looking eagerly after a fast-disappearing figure. "Isn't that Dan7" Bhe cried. "Can you overtake him? Ho Is the one to tnko her the word." I sprang out and caught up with htm, within tho block, although he wan swinging along nt nn uncomfortably brisk gait. i "On your way tothe house, are you?" ho asked when ho saw me. "It must ho pretty nearly time for the wedding. 1 was afraid I couldn't mnkoit in time, but 1 caught a flyer within the hour after I had Barbara's message," "Miss Wlnstnnloy wants you," 1 said, nodding to tho cnrrlage, thnt had turned and was bringing up to tho curb. . Ho wns surprised to sec 3Jrs. Dines, and greeted hor with n boyish afToc- tlon that must have warmed hor heart. : "All on tho way to the wedding?" I he Inquired after ho hud shukon bunds, "There Is to bo no wedding, Dan," Miss Winstnnley said, gently. He hnd paled before sho could explain. ex-plain. , "Nothings wrong with HarbarnT" he asked, quickly. j "No. no; cverythingJs Just coming right for her. Get In" with a glnco j toward tho coachman. "We are drlv- ' iug to the house now, and Mrs. Dines ! will explain to you. Then you must tell Harbnra what Is to be told. We'll , wait outside, and If she wants us wo'U I ronie right In. If not you must tell us. and we'll go away again. Don't ' roil will you" "I must tell yoifgood-by," 1 said. As 1 started off norgss tho Siuare, Miss Wtnstanley called after wo that ; ihe would gend for me later In the lay. Hut I w "v- : ,.v;or. tOwui'. her '" v and ir o'clock found m RTaP5PsewewejeeHPTejMpeBPiPesi ucps, tne door opened and Dan ctuno ( 2t, hurrying down and slopping at light of me to wring my hand. He aa beaming. I had not seen him so much llko his old self in months, nnd It diet my heart good. Somehow It ilao seemed to presage well for mo. All his buoyancy had returned, and be waa onco more the charming, Irresistible Ir-resistible fellow we all loved. "EverythiHg'a all right at last, Tom," He cried. "I don't deservo It, but I'm iown oa my knees giving thanka for It, Just the aaaao, and if evor " he lowered his velce. looking over my houlder at soitee ono who wan approaching ap-proaching "ir eVer I get any of yon Into such a muss again, may I be haaged! Oh. It's hcn awful! You'll never know. Hut Ifa over, thnnk QodJ nd now it's up to me to make good. And that's what I'm going to do. old man. Who la this confounded fellow :omlng? I wanted to lalk with you a minute, but 111 look In after dinner. If you're to be at home. There's a. Jeal to tell you," and ho was off. An ecclesiastical-looking gentleman mounted the steps with me, inquiring for the bishop, whllo I went In to Miss Winstnnley. She wnB flushed nnd smiling nnd bright-eyed. "Did you think I had forgotten you? HIcbb you, no, Hut there hnH been jo much to do. We only left Hnrbara, poor child, an hour ago. There wcro messages to bo sent for her, orders co countermand, nn'' " "Then uho Isn't going with hlm7" I broke In. "Oh, did you think Is It possible you gavo her credit for so little" "If Hho loved him" Sho caught mo up sharply, "Of course Bhe didn't love him. I always ' told you that, but you would go on In your stubborn unbelief In my Intuitions, Intui-tions, you foolish, foolish fellow. My, hut she was gallant, though! She had I mo almost bewlldorcd at first; but tho moment she found that she could have dono with all protease and that her funded obligation to Ankony was at an end, thon how aho changed! It was pitiful to see her. One understood under-stood -the terrific strain she has neon under. I'm not pretondlng to say whether or not sho cares for von .Mr j (To bo continued.) |